Name
Sidney Fortnum
10 February 1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
22/12/1916
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Driver
T/277534
Army Service Corps
662nd H.T. Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Searched but not found
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
APSLEY END (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD
Against North Hedge.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
TO LIVE IN HEARTS WHO LOVED IS NOT TO DIE (Inscription on Private Family Grave)
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary's Church Memorial, Apsley End, Hempstead Town Memorial, John Dickinson & Co Memorial, Apsley Mills, Apsley, Abbots Langley Village Memorial
Pre War
Wartime Service
Biography
Sidney Fortnum (known as Sid) enlisted at Watford in November 1916, and shortly after, during his military training, he developed pneumonia and died on 22nd December 1916 at the Royal Herbert Hospital at Woolwich.
Sidney, was also known as Sydney in some of the records, however was recorded as Sidney in the 1911 Census, at his Baptism and on the head-stone of his grave. He was born on 10th February 1893 in Abbots Langley, the child of Dan and Mary Fortnum. He was baptised on 2 November 1902 at the age of 9, at the St John the Baptists Church in Aldbury Herts. his brother and first-born son, Daniel, died in infancy in 1890.
From the 1901 Census we know that the family were living at No. 1 Doolittle, Apsley End, where his father was working as a Paper Cutter at the Paper Factory (John Dickinson & Co) at Apsley Mills. His parents had met at Apsley Mills when his mother, who had worked as a 'Paper Folder' near Aberdeen, moved to Apsley End for work. When Sid left school in 1906 he also started work at Dickinsons and was employed as a Clerk in the "Counting House"
The family remained living at 1 Doolittle, near the Red Lion Public House in Apsley and the 1911 Census records Sidney was working at the Paper Factory (John Dickinson & Co) as a Ledger Clerk. His father, Dan Fortnum, worked as a Paper Cutter in the Stationery Department at John Dickinson’s Apsley Mills. He remained working there until enlistment.
Sid initially enlisted in November 1915 with the Royal Flying Corps, but his service only lasted four days before he was discharged. (N.B. This was not unusual as about 45% of recruits were deemed unsuitable). A year later he enlisted in November 1916 and joined the Army Service Corps, 662nd Motor Transport (MT) Company.
He developed pneumonia shortly after beginning military training and was admitted to the the Royal Herbert Military Hospital, Woolwich. His parents were informed and when they visited, he was in a critical condition. His mother remained with him and was by his side when he died on 22 December 1916, age 23. His body was brought home to Apsley by train and taken to his parents' house on 28 December where it remained until his funeral on 30 December 1916, when he was buried in the churchyard of St Mary's, Apsley End, Herts.
Sidney Fortnum was not recorded in the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour or listed on the War Memorial. He was recorded on the John Dickinson War Memorial, the Hemel Hempstead War Memorial, and was buried in the graveyard of St Mary’s Church in Apsley.
Additional Information
TO LIVE IN HEARTS WHO LOVED IS NOT TO DIE (Inscription on Private Family Grave). A war gratuity was not admissible but his father did receive his pay owing of £2 3s 5d. His mother received a pension of 7s 6d a week. N.B. There seems to be no record of medal entitlement, presumably because he served insufficient time.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Brenda Palmer
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk, www.hemelheroes.com
