Sam (Simcha) was born on 29 October 1920 in Stepney, London to Ukranian born parents Louis and Fanny (Frumer) nee Menuchin and he had an older brother Jack and a younger sister Hilda. Their father Louis worked as a tailor’s presser in Mile End, London.

Sam was a fireman and trimmer on the ship S.S. Tremoda which was travelling with general cargo and war stores from London to Douala, Cameroon. At 02.05 hours on 27 Aug 1941 the Tremoda in convoy OS-4 was torpedoed by U-557 west of Achill Island and was last seen drifting in 54°08N/15°28W the next day. The master, 25 crew members and six gunners were lost.