A Scholar, Engineer and Distinguished Territorial Army Officer
Samuel Arthur Leivers achieved a degree at the extraordinarily young age of 19. He came from an educational background, his father being the headmaster of New Swannington Council School in Coalville, Leicestershire.
Samuel was born 12 December 1907 at Nottingham, the only child of Samuel Leivers (1883-1948) and Annie Kathleen nee Butler (1882-1975).
On both the 1911 and 1921 censuses the family were living at 49 Vaughan Street, Coalville, Samuel Arthur’s father listed as Head Teacher in 1911 and Elementary School Teacher in 1921. However, newspaper articles show that Samuel Leivers was head teacher at the New Swannington school until his retirement in 1946, Coalville Times Friday, 12 July 1946, p. 5e.
University of Leicester, Special Collections Online
Education: Samuel attended Belvoir Road Council school in Coalville, the Coalville Grammar School and then Loughborough College. He spent four years at the college where he was a student in the Department of Chemical Technology and received the degree of B.Sc. from the University of London and Graduate’s Diploma of Loughborough College.
Marriage: In 1933 Samuel married Edna M Beardsmore and they went on to have two sons, at least one of whom followed his father’s footsteps and joined the military.
World War II: During World War II he served with the Royal Artillery.
Military career summary
- June 1937 – Commissioned into the 44th Anti-Aircraft Battalion, Royal Engineers (Territorial Army).
- The unit was a specialist searchlight anti-aircraft formation.
- Leivers was among the technically qualified officers suited to this role, having a B.Sc. (University of London), Loughborough College Diploma and later membership of the Institution of Chemical Engineers.
- 1937–1939 – Served with the 44th Anti-Aircraft Battalion RE as a Territorial officer.
- 1939–1945 (Second World War) – Mobilised and served continuously with his original anti-aircraft unit throughout the war.
- The battalion was transferred from the Royal Engineers to the Royal Artillery and became the 121st Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery.
- Served in the anti-aircraft branch, specialising in LAA/searchlight duties.
- January 1942 – Promoted from Captain to Major, Royal Artillery.
- 11 November 1945 – Demobilised after completing wartime service.
- Returned to civilian employment with Leicester Corporation Gas Works, where he was Deputy Superintendent of the Chemical Department.
- 1947 – Rejoined the reconstituted Territorial Army.
- Joined 579 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery (TA) on its formation.
- Appointed Second-in-Command.
- Served as President of the Regimental Institute (PRI).
- February/March 1948 – Left Leicester for Northern Ireland to take up his civilian appointment as Manager of the Chemical Department, Belfast Corporation Gas Works.
- Departed 579 LAA Regiment after more than ten years’ association with the unit and its predecessor formations (1937–1948).
- Presented with a silver cigarette box by all ranks in recognition of his continuous service and contribution.
- Late 1940s – Joined the Ulster Territorial Army following his move to Northern Ireland.
- By 1951 – Became Second-in-Command of 247 (Ulster) Light Anti-Aircraft/Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery (TA).
- 1951 – Appointed Commanding Officer, 247 (Ulster) LAA/SL Regiment RA (TA).
- Commanded a regiment in the same anti-aircraft/searchlight tradition in which he had served since 1937.
- 1955 – Awarded the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
- At the time listed as:
- Lieutenant-Colonel S. A. Leivers, TD, Royal Artillery (TA).
- The award appears to recognise his distinguished Territorial service, including wartime experience and senior regimental command.
- At the time listed as:
- 1956–1957 – Served as Deputy County Cadet Commandant, Down and Armagh Army Cadet Force (ACF).
- 1957–1969 – Served as County Cadet Commandant, Down and Armagh ACF.
- Continued senior military service through the Army Cadet organisation for more than a decade.
- By retirement/obituary (1985) – Referred to as Colonel Samuel Arthur Leivers, reflecting his senior military standing and long association with the Territorial Army.
Engineering career: In 1947 Samuel moved to Northern Ireland to take up his position at the gasworks. His military training led him to joining the Territorial Army in Ulster. He became second in command of 247 (Ulster) LAA/SL Regiment RA. In 1951 he was appointed commanding officer of the unit.
In 1955 Samuel was awarded the OBE and the Territorial Decoration.In December 1955, in the white and gold State Ballroom at Buckingham Palace, Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Leivers Royal Artillery (T.A.) received the insignia of the O.B.E. (Military Division). Belfast Telegraph 6 December 1955 p. 5b.
He later served as a deputy county cadet commandant of the Down and Armagh ACF from 1956 to 1957 and then as commandant to 1969.
Samuel died at his home in Wiltshire aged 78, after a distinguished life and career. From graduating with a BSc at the young age of 19 and then his World War 2 service and career in the Territorial Army, his life combined academic achievement, a successful professional career and more than thirty years of military service.
