South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

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The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Corporal 17077 Sydney ESSEX - 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment

Died of wounds on Wednesday 19th April 1916 aged 26


Military History

     
Theatre of War Campaign Medals Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France & Flanders 1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medals Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial
     
Arrived in Theatre Bravery & Conduct Medals SWFHS Area Memorials
30 August 1915 in France ~ Leamington Spa War Memorial
    Leamington Holy Trinity Memorial
Action, Battle or Other Reason Died Date and Place Enlisted  
Local trench warfare at Ypres Aug 1914 in St Albans Other War Memorials
    ~
Place of Death Previous Regiments or Units  
Ypres ~  
     

Circumstances of Death

Sydney is listed as dying of wounds on 19th April 1916. The 8th Battalion war diary entries for the period 16th to 20th April are transcribed below.

Ypres – 16 Apr 1916: Relieved 13th Rifle Brigade in left sector 16.I.B sector.
HQ & C Coy La Belle Alliance,
A Coy 5.18.a, B17, B16.
B Coy 2 platoons Willows, 2 platoons Willow Walk
D Coy 2 platoons Willows, 2 platoons D.20 & A.21

Ypres – 17 Apr 1916: In trenches as above. Wounded Lt. Col H.C. Jackon & 1 O.R.

Ypres – 18 Apr 1916: In trenches as above. Killed 1 O.R.

Ypres – 19 Apr 1916: In trenches as above. Wounded 2 O.R.

Ypres – 20 Apr 1916: In trenches as above. Killed Capt Quilter, 2/Lt Cartwright, 2/Lt McMichael. Wounded 2/Lts Vipond, Plages & Charles. Missing 2/Lt Squires.

O. Ranks – Killed 32, missing believed killed 97, wounded 65.

Relieved by 2/York & Lancaster. Battalion moved back in support and dugouts on Yser Canal.

On night 19/20 Apl after 2 hours keen bombardment Germans attacked and gained a footing in trenches. D20, Willow Walk and S.18.a. D21, B17a and B16 still held by Battalion and line Vicars Lane – Clifford Tower – Ganthorpe Road strengthened and reinforced.


 
 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/Place Baptism Date/Place
Oct Qtr 1889 in Leamington Spa  1 Jan 1890 at Leamington Spa, St. Paul                                
   
Parents Names Abode
James Stephen and Charlotte Essex 30 Oxford Street, Leamington Spa        
   
Schools Colleges
  ~
   
Address History Employment History
1890 - 39 King Street, Leamington Spa 1901 - School age 
1891 - 39 King Street, Leamington Spa 1905 - Office Boy for Hunt Edmunds & Co
1901 - 39 King Street, Leamington Spa  1911 - Plumber
1911 - 10 Covent Garden Market, Leamington Spa 1913 - Plumber
1914 - 19 Chandos Street, Leamington Spa  
   

Sidney had a troubled youth with a number of theft convictions (at least 4) between 1904 and 1913