Samuel Thompson Sandwith was born in Ballarat and was a Driver by trade when he enlisted in the 8th Battalion, 16th Reinforcement on 28 January 1916 at the age of 23. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A23 Suffolk on 1 April 1916. After a brief stop at Suez he reached France in June and joined the 8th Battalion in July. On August 18th 1916 he was wounded in action but was able to remain on duty. He was not so fortunate on April 14th 1918 when he received severe shrapnel wounds to his scalp and right arm. He was evacuated to the Clandon Park Hospital at Guildford in England and it was five months before he could rejoin his battalion on September 20th. After the war he returned to Australia on the Port Darwin, reaching Melbourne on July 27th 1919.
Tree No. 2047