Name
Sidney Mason
1882
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
08/06/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Sapper
167882
Royal Engineers
35th Army Troops Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ALEXANDRIA (HADRA) WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY
D. 141.
Egypt
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Berkhamsted Town Memorial, St Peter's Church Memorial, Berkhamsted
Pre War
Sidney Mason was born in 1882 in Kensington, London, the son of Stephen and Helen Mason.
On the 1891 Census the family were living in 'Old House' , Redbourn, Herts where his father working as an agricultural labourer. By 1901 Sidney and his brother Herbert were boarding at the home of Herbert and Mary Cheshire at 11 Charles Street, Great Berkhamsted where they were both Coach Builders' apprentices.
On 29 May 1909 he married Louisa Rose in Great Berkhamsted, Herts and on the 1911 Census they were living at 13 Cross Oak Road, Berkhamsted and he was working as a coachsmith. Their daughter Ethel had been born in 1910 but sadly she died early in 1912.
At the time of enlistment he was living on 56 Kitsbury Road, Berkhamsted and working as a blacksmith.
Wartime Service
Sidney enlisted in Chelsea and joined the Royal Engineers as a Sapper and was attached to the 35th A T Coy (Army Troops Company). He left Southampton on 25 April 1917 and arrived in Alexandria, Egypt on 1 June 1917.
He died on 08 June 1917 from accidental drowning in the sea at Sidi Bishr, north of Alexandria. He was with a group of Sappers who were on bathing parade. It was noticed that he was in difficulties and two others from his group attempted to go to his assistance but the current was too strong. Others went to fetch ropes and lifesaving appliances but he was swept away before he could be reached. His body was recovered from the beach two days later.
He is buried in Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £3 10s and pay owing of £25 1s 3d. She also received a pension of 12s 9d a week. She died in 1920.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild
