Seaman Samuel Jordain, Royal Naval Reserve, was born on the 7th of November 1880 in Brixham, Devon the elder of two boys born to Samuel and Alice Jordain (née Snell). Both of his parents were born and grew up in Brixham and like his father and grandfather before him, Samuel was a fisherman. He had been an indentured apprentice fisherman since he was 15 years of age, from 1895 till 1901.
Samuel married Ethel Miller in 1903 in Brixham and their daughter Alice was born in 1904.
He enrolled in the Royal Naval Reserve 1st January 1902. As a member of the RNR he was called up at the outbreak if WW1 and soon after found himself part of the Royal Naval Division. The Division was formed on the outbreak of war when the newly-mobilised Royal Navy found it had too many men and too few duties for them. The unused sailors were formed into battalions, joined Royal Marines Light Infantry and Royal Marines Artillery and thus was formed the Royal Naval Division.
After barely six weeks of rudimentary training the first elements of the division were dispatched to the Continent to bolster Belgian forces holding Antwerp. They had no engineers, no medical services, no logistical support. Many of the men didn’t even have canteens or packs. But in the first week of October 1914, the division was thrown into action in Belgium to hold the crucial port of Antwerp.
It is not clear when Samuel joined the crew of the Laurentic or whether he made it to a lifeboat but we do know that his body was recovered and is buried St Mura’s Churchyard, Fahan, County Donegal, Ireland

THE LOSS OF THE LAURENTIC CORN’ISHMEN AND DEVONIANS AMONG THE CREW.
Among the crew the lost their lives was Mr. Alfred William Norrish, aged 47, chief gunner instructor, of Torpoint. Deceased in early life worked on the G.W.R. Newton Abbot, where he was well known. He served in the Navy, from which he was a pensioner when he rejoined. He married a daughter Mrs. Clampit, Quay-road, Newton Abbot. A sister of deceased is Mrs. Widdicombe, South Devon-terrace, Newton Abbot. Three Brixham Royal Naval Reservist* (Messrs. S. Jordain, T. Bulley. and H. Dyer) were lost on the Laurentic. All three were with the Naval Brigade at the fall of Antwerp. The body of Mr. S. Jordain was recovered and buried on Wednesday. It was found by Skipper Sidney Campion. R.N.R., T. section, of Brixham. The three men were well-known Brixham fishermen, and each responded the call for service the beginning the war. It is feared that Mr. Stuart Honey of Looe, went down in the Laurentic. Up to the time of joining the Navy was engaged the Lerryn School as assistant teacher. Messrs. J. Pocock and J. Pitman, Brixham, were saved. Lieut. J. T. Perrett, Brixham was transferred from the Laurentic to the Royal Naval Barracks, Devonport, prior to the sailing.
Cornishman – Thursday 08 February 1917

Sources:-
War History Online http://www.warhistoryonline.com/reviews/the-hood-battalion-royal-naval-division-review-by-dr-wayne-osborne.html
Census Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881, 1891, 1901 and 1911. The National Archives of the UK
Royal Naval Service Records: National Archives of the UK
General Register Office England and Wales http://www.gro.gov.uk
The British Newspaper Archive http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk