Samuel (Sammy) was born on 20 February 1915 in St George in the East, London to Polish born parents Henry (Schalter) and Betsy née Cohen. The family surname was changed from Schalter. Henry worked as a master baker and died in 1937.

Samuel was the youngest of nine siblings, Benny, Isaac, Simon, Celia, Millie, Israel, Mark and Anne. In 1939 Samuel is listed as living at the Fire Station, Commercial Road, Stepney where he was a volunteer with the Auxiliary Fire Service. It states that his job was a fancy goods shop assistant.

Samuel was the wireless operator on Whitley P5023 which departed RAF Stanton Harcourt on a daylight training exercise. The aircraft banked south east of the airfield when the port wing struck a tree causing it to crash near Eaton Berkshire.

All the crew were killed.
Flight Sergeant C C Levitt
Sergeant W R Crowther, RNZAF Sergeant S W Slater
Sergeant G N Leadley

Samuel is buried with his older brother Simon who died in 1942.