Samuel Needham

{{short description|Recipient of the Victoria Cross}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}} {{Infobox military person |name=Samuel Needham |birth_date={{birth date|df=y|1885|8|16}} |death_date={{death date and age|df=y|1918|11|4|1885|8|16}} |birth_place=Great Limber, Lincolnshire, England |death_place= Kantara, Egypt |burial_place=Kantara War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt |image= Samuel Needham (1885–1918).png |image_size= |caption= |nickname= |allegiance={{flag|United Kingdom}} |service_years=1914–1918 |service_number=203329 |rank=Private |branch={{army|United Kingdom}} |commands= |unit=Army Service Corps<br>Bedfordshire Regiment |battles=World War I |awards=Victoria Cross |relations= }} Private '''Samuel Needham''' VC (16 August 1885 − 4 November 1918) was a British Army soldier and an English recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

==Details== Needham was 33 years old, and a private in the 1/5th Battalion, The Bedfordshire Regiment, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 10/11 September 1918 at Kefr Kasim, Palestine, one of the patrolling forces was attacked by a significant enemy force with heavy fire support. At a critical moment, Needham turned back to face the enemy and rapidly fired at roughly 40 Turks at only 30 yards range. This action halted the enemy and granted the patrol commander enough time to rally his men again. Despite casualties reaching half of the patrol, they managed to recover all of their wounded.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=30982 |supp=y |page=12803 |date=30 October 1918 }}</ref>

He took his own life, being killed by a self inflicted wound (ref: Mick Brand){{Clarify|date=March 2025}} at Kantara, Egypt on 4 November 1918.<ref>[https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/475164 CWGC entry]</ref><ref>Death Certificate</ref>

His VC is displayed at the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regimental Collection at the Wardown Park Museum, Luton, Bedfordshire.

==References== {{Reflist}} *[http://www.bedfordregiment.org.uk/5thbn/needhamvc.html Regimental Bio]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Needham, Samuel}} Category:1885 births Category:1918 deaths Category:British World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross Category:Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment soldiers Category:British military personnel killed in World War I Category:British Army personnel of World War I Category:Royal Army Service Corps soldiers Category:People from West Lindsey District Category:Accidental deaths in Egypt Category:Deaths by firearm in Egypt Category:Firearm accident victims Category:British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross Category:Military personnel from Lincolnshire Category:British military personnel who died by suicide