Military History

Sidney is listed as dying of wounds on 11 Oct 1917. It is believed he was wounded on 9 Oct 1917 and the 4th Battalion war diary entries for the period evening/night of 8th to 11th Oct are transcribed below. He would have died at one of the three, 4th, 47th or 61st, Casualty Clearing Stations in Dozinghem

Front Line Trenches N of Langemarck  Oct 8^th 1917: During the night tapes were laid out in front of the line for the companies to form up on.

Front Line Trenches N of Langemarck  Oct 9^th 1917: 2.30am – By this time companies were formed up on the tapes as follows W Coy left, X Coy right leading wave, Y Coy left, Z Coy right second wave (? Capture 2^nd Objective).

About 1 hour after this the 1^st Newfoundland Regt arrived and from up about 150 yards in rear of our lines. It had been raining hard during the preceding 24 hours.

Zero hour was at 5.20am when it was just light enough to see our way. Battalion frontage about 500 yards. The barrage started at 5.20am moving at the rate of 100 yards in 6 mins. The Broembeek stream was crossed without difficulties, though it was sufficient obstacle to cause a good deal of disorganisation among units.

The leading Coys (W & X) gained their objectives to time, about 6am, although meeting with a good deal of opposition the advance was not hung up. During this first advance touch was kept with the Coldstream Guards on left and 2^nd Lancashire Fusiliers on right.

News that first objective had been captured reached Bn HQ at 6.15am by wire. At 7am BN HQ moved forward to Namur Crossing V.18.b.2.9. The barrage halted for about an hour in front of first objective and then moved forward at the rate of 100 yards in 8 minutes to the second objective. The second line companies pushed on close to the barrage and captured the 2^nd Objective with rather less opposition. This line was consolidated and touch gained with the Irish Guards on left and Royal Fusiliers on right. The 1^st N.D.L.D Regt then formed up behind this line and when after an hour the barrage moved forward again they followed and captured the 3^rd Objective.

The Bn took 6 Officers and 200 O.R. prisoners and captured 5 machine guns. We lost 2 Officers & 20 O.R. killed; 5 Officers & 107 O.R. wounded; 40 O.R. missing.

The enemy barrage was dropped about 10 mins after zero and was very heavy, chiefly along the Broembeek. At night the Battalion was relieved as follows: The two Coys Y & Z on the 2^nd objective were relieved by the 1^st N.F.L.D, the two Coys W & X on 1^st objective were relieved by 7^th Bn Lincolnshire Regt.

Front Line Trenches N of Langemarck  Oct 10^th 1917: Relief completed by 3.50am, Companies then marched down to Harrow Camp near Elverdinghe. At 9.30am they entrained & disentrained at Internation Corner and then marched to Sarawak Camp.

Front Line Trenches N of Langemarck  Oct 11^th 1917: Weather very unsettled. Day spent checking casualties and cleaning up etc.