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Rifleman Samuel Francis Haughey
Description
TitleRifleman Samuel Francis HaugheySummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionSamuel was born at Southbridge on 16 September 1886, youngest son of Samuel and the late Marie Haughey. Before enlisting he was farming near Rolleston and it was noted that he had earned the respect of all who knew him and he had a large circle of friends. He had previously been rejected for service because of a bad left eye. He was 5ft 8¾in tall with a dark complexion, blue/brown eyes and black hair.
Samuel enlisted at Darfield on 15 December 1916 and was assigned to the New Zealand Rifle Brigade Reinforcements, G Company. He embarked with them on board the Ruapehu from Wellington on 14 March 1917, arriving in Devonport 21 May 1917 and marched into Sling Camp on the same day. Exactly a month later he left for France and marched in to Base Depot at Etaples on June 23. He marched out to join the Division in the field on 8 July and was attached to A Company, 4th Battalion, 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade on 11 July. Barely three months later on 15 October he was sent to hospital sick with “trench foot” a medical condition caused by prolonged exposure of the feet to damp, unsanitary, and cold conditions. The feet become numb and change colour as a result of poor blood supply and may begin to smell as the skin rots or ulcerates. He was treated at No.11 General Hospital at Camiers and then sent to recuperate at Trouville beside the sea. He was finally fit for duty again and attached to the strength at Etaples on 31 December 1917. He re-joined the 4th Battalion in the field on 26 January 1918 but a few months later on 16 March he was again sent to hospital, this time with Pyrexia of Unknown Origin, otherwise known as “trench fever” or “quintan fever”, caused by infected body lice. About a quarter of soldiers on both sides suffered from trench fever during the Great War, caused by the cramped conditions and inability to wash or change into clean dry clothes. He was treated at No.53 General Hospital at Boulogne on 18th March and then sent on to No 1 Convalescent Depot on 30th March. Once again he was released back to the Depot at Etaples on 20th April and sent to re-join the Division and 4th Battalion in the field on 2 May. On 6 May he was detached to join the 179 Tunnelling Company but re-joined his unit on 7 June. He was killed in action 13 days later on 20 June 1918, aged 32. He was buried in the Bertrancourt Military Cemetery, Plot 2. Row C. Grave 5. In New Zealand Samuel is remembered on the Springston War Memorial. His colourised photograph was one of four found beneath the stage of the Rolleston War Memorial Hall.
Bertrancourt is a village in the Department of the Somme. The cemetery was used by field ambulances in 1916 and 1917 and again by corps and divisional burial parties in the critical months of June, July and August 1918, when German advances brought the front line to within 8 kilometres of Bertrancourt. There are 416 Commonwealth burials of the First World War in the cemetery. Many of the graves are of Yorkshire or Lancashire regiments. The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.First NameSamuel FrancisLast NameHaugheyFamilySingle Youngest son of Samuel and the late Marie HaugheyDate of Birth16 September 1886Place of BirthSouthbridge, CanterburyDate of Death20 June 1918Place of DeathFranceCause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death32
Samuel enlisted at Darfield on 15 December 1916 and was assigned to the New Zealand Rifle Brigade Reinforcements, G Company. He embarked with them on board the Ruapehu from Wellington on 14 March 1917, arriving in Devonport 21 May 1917 and marched into Sling Camp on the same day. Exactly a month later he left for France and marched in to Base Depot at Etaples on June 23. He marched out to join the Division in the field on 8 July and was attached to A Company, 4th Battalion, 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade on 11 July. Barely three months later on 15 October he was sent to hospital sick with “trench foot” a medical condition caused by prolonged exposure of the feet to damp, unsanitary, and cold conditions. The feet become numb and change colour as a result of poor blood supply and may begin to smell as the skin rots or ulcerates. He was treated at No.11 General Hospital at Camiers and then sent to recuperate at Trouville beside the sea. He was finally fit for duty again and attached to the strength at Etaples on 31 December 1917. He re-joined the 4th Battalion in the field on 26 January 1918 but a few months later on 16 March he was again sent to hospital, this time with Pyrexia of Unknown Origin, otherwise known as “trench fever” or “quintan fever”, caused by infected body lice. About a quarter of soldiers on both sides suffered from trench fever during the Great War, caused by the cramped conditions and inability to wash or change into clean dry clothes. He was treated at No.53 General Hospital at Boulogne on 18th March and then sent on to No 1 Convalescent Depot on 30th March. Once again he was released back to the Depot at Etaples on 20th April and sent to re-join the Division and 4th Battalion in the field on 2 May. On 6 May he was detached to join the 179 Tunnelling Company but re-joined his unit on 7 June. He was killed in action 13 days later on 20 June 1918, aged 32. He was buried in the Bertrancourt Military Cemetery, Plot 2. Row C. Grave 5. In New Zealand Samuel is remembered on the Springston War Memorial. His colourised photograph was one of four found beneath the stage of the Rolleston War Memorial Hall.
Bertrancourt is a village in the Department of the Somme. The cemetery was used by field ambulances in 1916 and 1917 and again by corps and divisional burial parties in the critical months of June, July and August 1918, when German advances brought the front line to within 8 kilometres of Bertrancourt. There are 416 Commonwealth burials of the First World War in the cemetery. Many of the graves are of Yorkshire or Lancashire regiments. The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.First NameSamuel FrancisLast NameHaugheyFamilySingle Youngest son of Samuel and the late Marie HaugheyDate of Birth16 September 1886Place of BirthSouthbridge, CanterburyDate of Death20 June 1918Place of DeathFranceCause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death32
Connections
CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageSpringston War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph
Military Service
Memorial or CemeteryBertrancourt Military CemeterySpringston War MemorialRegiment or ServiceNew Zealand Rifle BrigadeEnlistment Details15th December 1916 at DarfieldService Number44111Embarkation14th March 1917Place of EmbarkationWellingtonTransportRuapehu
Attribution
Researched ByL. M. Seaton
Rifleman Samuel Francis Haughey. Selwyn Stories, accessed 16/03/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/364
