CHOAT, Sidney Herbert


No.5837164, Lance Corporal, Sidney Herbert CHOAT
Aged 22


1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment
Killed in Action on Friday, 25th August 1944


Sidney Herbert Choat was born in 1922 (Risbridge Q3-1922 4A:1584), son of John Joseph (born Ridgewell, Essex) and Alice Elizabeth (born Horseheath) CHOAT (née HAMMOND).

In 1939 his father John [3/5/1882] was an engine driver on farm; mother Alice Elizabeth [10/4/188], his brother Leonard A [2/6/1916] (butcher carcase dresser); sister ? Ivy G KIDD (Choat) 22/9/1918 and brother William T [17/9/1924] (Errand boy) were all at 5 Little Wratting. There are 2 closed entries in the register

Sid attended the Council Schools and was a member of the 1st Haverhill Scouts. After leaving school he began his working life as a milkman for the Haverhill Co-operative Society. He married Lucy C TOMLINSON in 1942 (Newmarket Q2 -1942 4A:2960),their daughter, Katrina was born on 9th December 1943.


Sidney with his best man, Tommy Turner


CWGC have him in the 1st battalion, Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Regiment but that battalion never fought in Europe in WW2, so it has to be the 1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment, as per the UK Army Roll of Honour.
In July 1944, the Battalion was deployed to Italy where it joined 66th Infantry Brigade and became part of the 1st Infantry Division. Florence was taken by the Allied forces on 13 August 1944 and became the centre of the Arno line and the point from which the attack on the German Gothic Line defences in the Apennines was launched.The Battalion moved into the frontline on 19th August, relieving 6/13th Frontier Force Rifles to the northeast of Florence. After being on the frontline for just six days, Sid was killed in action near Florence on 25th August 1944. From the grave concentration report it seems that he was one of three members of the 1st Battalion Hertfordshire Regiment to lose their lives on this date. They are buried in graves that are next to each other.
Sidney was re-buried in Florence in 1945, presumably one of the 83 graves that were moved into the cemetery from nearby Arrow Route Cemetery, when it proved impossible to acquire the site in perpetuity.


photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission



Sidney Choat is buried in Florence War Cemetery, grave 5:A:8
also commemorated on the Haverhill war memorial

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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