MEMBERS of a Sanquhar church have taken part in a TV documentary about a soldier who went missing 100 years ago during World War I.

The remarkable story of Captain Hamish Weir Samson, MC, also has a Cumnock connection as his family home was Glaisnock House on the outskirts of the town.

Serving with the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, the 22-year old fought in the Battle of Arras in northern France, a conflict that claimed 18,000 Scottish lives.

On the morning of May 3, 1917, Capt Samson led C Company in a daring dawn raid on two German trenches, which was not a success, and failed to return to British lines.

An eyewitness reported seeing the captain fall to the ground — his body was never recovered and the family were told to expect the worst.

But his father John Samson, who was managing partner of Sanquhar and Kirkconnel Collieries, and lived at nearby Burnfoot, never gave up hope that his son was somehow alive.

Following a number of letters and telegrams between his family and the War Office, they were told that there was a ‘remote chance’ that he might be a prisoner and wounded.

All hope seemed lost on July 22, when they were informed that Capt Samson had been killed, but a few days later the family got the news they had been praying for.

Capt Samson, known to his army mates as Sammy, had been captured and was in a Prisoner of War Hospital in Germany, having been shot in the arm and side.

He wrote to the family himself to say he was alive and being treated well in the circumstances.

“The camp itself is quite a nice one, though necessarily confined so that we do not get much exercise.

“I am living in a room with two other English captains and we endeavour to make it as comfortable as possible during our stay here. Though we are at the disadvantage of not knowing when we may be ordered to move,” he added.

After being moved around several POW camps, he finally returned to Scotland in December 1918 and took up residence at Glaisnock House, the family home.

To celebrate his son’s astonishing survival, John Samson made a large donation to St Bride’s Church in Sanquhar to extend the building, which dates back to 1824.

An oak-panelled chancel was constructed in 1929, which has a stunning stained glass window and features a plaque of thanksgiving for sparing the captain’s life.

Minister at the church, Rev Bill Hogg, said: “The chancel was built as a sign of thanksgiving, endurance and love. It’s an inspiring story of family loyalty and hope coming to a joyful conclusion.”

Session clerk Duncan Close added: “We are fortunate that we know so much of Capt Samson’s involvement during the war, and his survival and return home indicates a very brave and resolute soldier.

“From the terrible scenes from the trenches and Arras, the new Chancel took shape. Today, 100 years after Captain Samson’s miraculous escape from death, we have a truly magnificent memorial to one soldier’s survival, and the family faith that refused to believe he had been lost”.

It is understood that Capt Samson worked for a spell in his father’s mining company before training as a stockbroker. He was married and had two children.

During World War II, Capt Samson served in the Home Guard in Inverness.

He moved to England in later life and died at Hove, Sussex in 1971.