Name
Sydney Thirkell Innes(*1)
1874
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/10/1918
43
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
18540
South African Infantry Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Searched but not found
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ORS BRITISH CEMETERY
B.7
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Royston Town War Memorial, Not on the Hitchin memorials*2
Pre War
*1 Sidney Thirkell Innes served in the Boer War as Sidney Thirkell Innes and in the First World War as Sidney Thomas Harding, we have no explanation for this, but the names appear to come from a combination of his parents’ names.
Sidney was born in 1874 in Royston, Herts and his parents were George Harding Innes and Mary Innes (née Thirkell), they married in 1867. He was from Little Woolstone, Buckinghamshire and Mary from Frittenden, Kent.
In 1871, before Sidney’s birth they were living in Market Hill, Royston. Present were both parents: George (32) and Mary (32), George recorded as ironmonger employing 4 men and 2 boys. Their children were Elizabeth A Innes (3), George H Innes (1), Augustus M Innes 2 months. Also present were two boarders Irvin Todhunter (24) and Rebecca Giffin (17) and a servant Fanny South (15).
The 1881 is confusing as the family were transcribed as James (not Innes). They are also recorded as at Chapel Farm, Lenham, Kent, and George as a farmer. In short they would seem to be a different family. However, the parent were recorded as George H (42) and Mary (42) and their children as Elizabeth Ann (13), George H (11), Augustus Montague (10), so with all names, ages and locations of birth matching, it must be the same family. New children were Mary Louise (8), Sidney T (6) and Baversham Chapman (4). Also present were a Cousin Naomi Boorne (20) and a servant Ellen Hatch (20).
Whatever the reason for them being in Kent in the previous census, by 1891 George was widowed and he was back living at Market Hill, Royston. George working as an agricultural engineer, iron and brass founder and an employer. Of the children previously listed, present were Elizabeth, Mary, Sidney, now 16 and an apprentice in his father’s works. Also present were a nephew George T Foreman (28), and servant Amy Hicks (17).
Sidney enlisted in 1898 at the age of about 23, becoming Private 3962 in the Dragoons of the Line, and he served in the Boer War, receiving the Clasps to the King’s South Africa Medal 1901 and 1902. He also served on the Cavalry Divisional Staff. He served under the surname Innes and it is possible that Sidney stayed in South Africa or returned there later. He certainly served with the South African forces in the Great War.
In 1901 Sidney’s family remained at Market Hill, Royston. His father George had remarried, and his new wife was Ellen (47). He was still recorded as an agricultural engineer, iron and brass founder and an employer. The only child remaining in the family home was Mary.
In 1911, presumably Sidney was in South Africa, the family were living in The Warren, Royston. Sadly George (72) was again a widower and daughters Elizabeth and Mary were living with their father.
Wartime Service
As previously explained in the Great War, Sydney Thirkell Innes served as Sidney Thomas Harding for reasons unknown He served in the 1st Battalion, South African Infantry Regiment.
The 1st Regiment, also known as ‘The Cape Regiment’, contained troops mainly from the Cape. The regiment was led by serving officers of the Union Defence Force, while the whole of 1st South African Infantry Brigade came under the command of Brigadier-General Henry Lukin DSO, a previous Inspector General of the UDF and part of the South African Overseas Expeditionary Force and the Brigade was attached to the 9th (Scottish) Division.
The Regiment was deployed to France where it captured the village of Longueval and was deployed in the adjacent Delville Wood on 15 July 1916. The regiment then served with the Brigade at Arras during April 1917 and was part of the offensive at Ypres and Passchendaele in September 1917, at Marrieres Wood in March 1918, at Messines in April 1918 and finally at Le Cateau in October 1918, which is where Sidney was killed.
He was originally buried in Grave B.20 at the Chateau Seydoux British Cemetery. His body was exhumed in April 1923 and re-buried at Ors British Cemetery.
Additional Information
After his death £4 pay owing was authorised to go to his sisters Elizabeth A Innes and Mary L Innes on 10 February 1921.
Originally buried in Grave B.20 at the Chateau Seydoux British Cemetery. His body was exhumed in April 1923 and re-buried at Ors British Cemetery.
*2 Sidney is also commemorated on a family headstone in Hitchin Cemetery. His part of the inscription reads:
ALSO OF SIDNEY THIRKELL INNES
1ST S. A. INFANTRY, 3RD SON OF THE ABOVE,
KILLED IN ACTION AT LE CATEAU
1ST S. A. INFANTRY, 3RD SON OF THE ABOVE,
KILLED IN ACTION AT LE CATEAU
OCT. 17TH 1918, IN HIS 44TH YEAR.
Acknowledgments
Paul Johnson, Jonty Wild, Wikipedia
