MORTIMER, Samuel Alan (1892-1967)
MORTIMER, Samuel Alan (1892-1967)
Samuel Mortimer was born on 4 November 1892, the son of William Mortimer and Mary nee Riordan. He was enrolled at Geelong College in 1909, leaving in 1910. His address at enrolment was the Royal Hotel, Queenscliff. He became a member of the 1st Cricket XI in 1909 and 1910.
In 1915, he married Nina Frances Keir, daughter of Richard and Annie Keir, of Footscray, and they were residing at St Kilda Road, Melbourne at the time of his enlistment (No 2949) during World War I. He enlisted on 12 October 1915, in the 5th Field Company Engineers and embarked as Sergeant S A Mortimer on HMAT A40 Ceramic on 24 November. He was in Egypt from Christmas 1915 until March 1916, then transferred to France where he received his commission on 27 July 1916, as reported in the Geelong Advertiser on 30 August, then transferred to the 4th Pioneer Battalion.
He was Mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig’s Despatches, gazetted 15 May 1917, the citation read:
'During the last six months he has shown exceptional devotion to duty, and by his coolness and cheerfulness under fire he has materially assisted in keeping his men together and getting the best work out of them.'
He was again Mentioned in Major-General E G Sinclair McLagan’s Despatches, of 9 October 1917, the citation read:
'In the Ypres sector this officer carried out a daring daylight reconnaissance and set out a location for Communication Trenches under heavy hostile machine gun and shell fire, following the attack beyond Anzac Ridge on the 26th September 1917. Later at night he displayed great coolness and initiative in placing his men on the work, enabling an important Communication Trench to be dug. By his courage and cheerfulness he set a fine example to all ranks.'
Promoted Captain on 1 January 1918, he took leave to Nice late that month, before transferring to War Records Section in May 1918. He had suffered severe attacks of dysentery from January 1918, was invalided to England on 1 April, and then returned to Australia on 28 August 1919 on HS Kanowna.
During the Second World War he served as a Major in 44 Australian Infantry Battalion up to the time of his discharge on 14 September 1944.
Samuel Mortimer moved to Perth, Western Australia in the 1920s and was a registered voter there until his death, aged 74 years.
Ad Astra in February 1968 noted:
‘served as an officer in the AIF in both wars. After the First World War he accepted a business appointment in Perth and later became General Manager of the Royal Automobile Club. He was a foundation member of the National Safety Council and was prominent in tennis and bowls. He died in Perth.'
Samuel Mortimer was born on 4 November 1892, the son of William Mortimer and Mary nee Riordan. He was enrolled at Geelong College in 1909, leaving in 1910. His address at enrolment was the Royal Hotel, Queenscliff. He became a member of the 1st Cricket XI in 1909 and 1910.
In 1915, he married Nina Frances Keir, daughter of Richard and Annie Keir, of Footscray, and they were residing at St Kilda Road, Melbourne at the time of his enlistment (No 2949) during World War I. He enlisted on 12 October 1915, in the 5th Field Company Engineers and embarked as Sergeant S A Mortimer on HMAT A40 Ceramic on 24 November. He was in Egypt from Christmas 1915 until March 1916, then transferred to France where he received his commission on 27 July 1916, as reported in the Geelong Advertiser on 30 August, then transferred to the 4th Pioneer Battalion.
He was Mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig’s Despatches, gazetted 15 May 1917, the citation read:
'During the last six months he has shown exceptional devotion to duty, and by his coolness and cheerfulness under fire he has materially assisted in keeping his men together and getting the best work out of them.'
He was again Mentioned in Major-General E G Sinclair McLagan’s Despatches, of 9 October 1917, the citation read:
'In the Ypres sector this officer carried out a daring daylight reconnaissance and set out a location for Communication Trenches under heavy hostile machine gun and shell fire, following the attack beyond Anzac Ridge on the 26th September 1917. Later at night he displayed great coolness and initiative in placing his men on the work, enabling an important Communication Trench to be dug. By his courage and cheerfulness he set a fine example to all ranks.'
Promoted Captain on 1 January 1918, he took leave to Nice late that month, before transferring to War Records Section in May 1918. He had suffered severe attacks of dysentery from January 1918, was invalided to England on 1 April, and then returned to Australia on 28 August 1919 on HS Kanowna.
During the Second World War he served as a Major in 44 Australian Infantry Battalion up to the time of his discharge on 14 September 1944.
Samuel Mortimer moved to Perth, Western Australia in the 1920s and was a registered voter there until his death, aged 74 years.
Ad Astra in February 1968 noted:
‘served as an officer in the AIF in both wars. After the First World War he accepted a business appointment in Perth and later became General Manager of the Royal Automobile Club. He was a foundation member of the National Safety Council and was prominent in tennis and bowls. He died in Perth.'
Source
The West Australian (Perth) 17 October 1950 p9; Ad Astra February 1968 p 4; 'Geelong Collegians at the Great War' compiled by J. Affleck. p269 (citing Pegasus; National Archives).