No.66045, Gunner, Sidney John SMITH
Aged 31
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Sydney John Smith was born in Burrough Green on 13th May 1885 (Newmarket Q2-1885 3B:537), baptised in Burrough Green on 28th June 1885, son of Alfred and
Lucy SMITH (née TAYLOR).
1891 census...Aged 5, he was at The Green, Burrough Green, with his father Alfred SMITH [34] farm labourer; his mother Lucy [32]; brothers James [10], Alfred C.[8], George [7] and Victor E[4] and sisters Lucy E [2] and Maud [10 months]. All were born in Burrough Green except his mother Lucy who was born in Carlton. 1901 census...Aged 15, an agricultural labourer living at New Cottages, The Green, Burrough Green with his parents; brother George (blacksmith's apprentice) Victor (agricultural labourer); sisters Lucy and Maud; brother Stephen [9], sister Margaret [7], brother Frederick [5], sister Annie E [3] and brother John T [1]. All the children were born in Burrough Green. In 1906, in Bridlington, he married Esther SANDERSON [8-3-1890] 1911 census...Aged 26, married, a dairyman, he was with his wife Esther [21] born Bridlington, and their daughter Annie[21-1-1911) born Bridlington, at 62 St John's Walk, Bridlington, with George and Mary SANDERSON (his father and mother in law) and their daughters Elsie [13] and Louie [9] and his brother Victor Smith. His parents, brother Frederick, sister Annie, brother John and brother Arthur [9] were still at New Cottages, Burrough Green. His mother had born 13 children but one had died. Sidney and Esther went on to have 2 more children, Frank [11-4-1913] and Elsie [26-6-1915]. |
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He enlisted in Bridlington, he had lived at 55 St John's Walk, Bridlington. Being Artillery it is difficult to be sure where he was killed, but the 106th Brigade were in action around St Eloi and the Messines Ridge at that time. As one might expect, 3 men of C battery died that day, indicating the same gun crew (2 buried in Railway Dugouts and one with an unknown grave). |
photo: Rodney Gibson
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