Name
Sydney Dexter
20 March 1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/09/1917
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Bombardier
52877
Royal Horse Artillery
D Bty.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
NOEUX-LES-MINES COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
II. B. 10.
France
Headstone Inscription
PEACE PERFECT PEACE WITH LOVED ONES FAR AWAY
UK & Other Memorials
Radlett Town Memorial, Christchurch Memorial, Radlett, St Andrew's Church Memorial, Glaston, Rutland
Pre War
Sydney Dexter was born at Morcott on on 20 March 1891, the son of Stephen and Helen Dexter. On the 1891 Census the family were living at Morcott, Rutland, and Sydney was 2 weeks old.
His father was an agricultural labourer but by 1901 had become a farmer on his own account and they were living at nearby Glaston, Rutland. On the 1911 Census he was living with his father and siblings at Glaston, Uppingham and Sydney was listed as being a serving soldier in the Royal Horse Artillery. His mother was living at Radlett on the 1901 and 1911 Censuses. His father died in 1914.
Wartime Service
He originally enlisted as a reservist on his 16th birthday on 20 March 1907 and was called up on the declaration of war on 4 August 1914.
He joined 93rd Battery, Royal Horse Artillery and went to France on 15 August 1914, less than a fortnight later, taking part in many battles in both France and Belgium until he was killed on 20 September 1917.
Additional Information
Mr G E Dexter, Westhope Farm, Wing, Oakham ordered his headstone inscription: "PEACE PERFECT PEACE WITH LOVED ONES FAR AWAY". His mother applied for a pension but it was refused. His brother George Edward Dexter (a farmer and grazier) received a war gratuity of £19 and pay owing of £8 5s 3d. He was also granted Probate with with effects of £162 0s 3d. His address was given as Wing, Rutlandshire. Brother to Ernest Stephen Dexter who died on 25 November 1916 and who is buried at ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN. Another brother Harold, who served in the Coldstream Guards from 1906 was a Prisoner of War in Germany for 3 years but survived the war.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
www.rutland remembers.org
