Stitt, Samuel George

2410 Shoeing Smith Samuel George Stitt - 10th Light Horse Regiment

Samuel George Stitt (also went by Richard George Mann) was born in Taree New South Wales in 1874 to Elizabeth Mann and George Stitt. His mother was unmarried at the time, though later he took the surname Stitt. 

He was educated in Taree and after leaving school he took up a blacksmith apprenticeship with Mr. E. Whitbread for five years duration. After finishing this apprenticeship Sam continued working as a blacksmith.

Samuel served in the Boer War in South Africa with the 3rd New South Wales Mounted Rifles. He then moved to Western Australia in the early 1900's and found employment at Day Dawn near Coolgardie.

He married Anastasia Duncan in Beaconsfield Fremantle in 1907 and had three children, Stephen (1908), Vera (1910), and Andrew (1913).

Sam was working as a Blacksmith in Fremantle prior to the Great War and the family was living at 176 Holland Street East Fremantle (Later renumbered 105 Holland).

On the 7th January 1916 Samuel enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was accepted as fit for service, with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 8 inches tall;

Weight - 125lbs;

Chest Measurement - 31-34 inches;

Complexion - Fresh;

Eyes - Brown;

Hair - Brown.

Upon his successful enlistment Sam was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp. He had a month in No.44 Training Depot then on the 16th February 1916 was transferred into the 16th Reinforcements to the 10th Light Horse Regiment. He trained with this group in WA for the next few months.

On the 16th May 1916 Sam and his group entrained for Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship HMAT Surada. The ship then set sail for Egypt, arriving there in June 1916. After being disembarked Sam was sent into the 3rd Light Horse Brigade Training Regiment.

On the 12th August 1916 Sam joined the 10th Light Horse Regiment and served with them during the Turkish attack at Romani.

Due to his blacksmithing abilities Sam was soon promoted to the rank of Shoeing Smith. This was a rank like a Farrier and it took care of the shoeing of the horses.

Sam saw action with the 10th Light Horse Regiment at Magdhaba in December 1917 and at Rafa in January 1917. At the Rafa action Sam was shot in the shoulder, and was then sent to the 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance for treatment. He was patched up and was then sent to the 24th Stationary Hospital at Kantara. He was then transferred to the 31st General Hospital at Port Said and on the 30th January 1917 to the 15th General Hospital at Alexandria.

He remained there for a few more weeks, then on the 2nd March 1917 was sent to the 14th Australian General Hospital at Abbassia. The medical staff found that the damage done to Sam's shoulder was to severe for him to be returned to action so it was recommended that Sam be sent home.

On the 8th March 1917 George boarded the transport ship Willochra and set sail for Australia, reaching Fremantle on the 25th April 1917.

After returning home Sam was medically assessed at No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle. He was then discharged from the AIF on the 7th September 1917.

Was living at Railway Street Cottesloe in 1917 and was granted a military pension of 30/- per fortnight granted from 8th September 1917. On the 14th March 1918 this pension was reduced to 20/- per fortnight.

He also resumed employment with Fremantle Tramways.

In 1918 his brother-in-law Reginald Duncan died at the base hospital in Fremantle.

In 1921 Sam and Anna got divorced though it appears they may have patched matters up as they were both living at 21 (now 9) Crandon Street Fremantle in 1930.

Sadly Samuel died in Victoria Park WA on the 18th December 1930 aged 55. He was buried at Fremantle Cemetery plot Presbyterian MON EE 0820.