Name
Sidney John Olney
12 April 1886
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
29/01/1915
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
8475
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BAILLEUL COMMUNAL CEMETERY, NORD
H.1
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Ickleford memorials, Chesham Bois War Memorial & St Leonards Church Memorial, Chesham Bois, Bucks
Pre War
Sidney John Olney was born on 12 April 1886 in Ickleford, Herts, the son of Samuel and Thirza Olney, and baptised in Ickleford on 6 June 1886.
On the 1891 Census the family were living at 15 Langdon Road, Islington where his father was working as a Tramway Labourer. By 1901 they had moved to Coopers Lane Road, Enfield and both Sidney and his father were working as farm labourers.
He joined the army sometime between January 1905 and May 1906 and on the 1911 Census he was listed as a Private and Musician with the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment residing in the Maida Barracks, Aldershot, Surrey.
He married Edith Susan Fanny Hearn in late 1912 and their daughter Gertrude was born on 7 November 1913. They lived in Great Missenden, Bucks.
His parents were living at Tyttenhanger Green, Nr St Albans, Herts in 1911 and later lived at 136 Fotherington Road, Bush Hill Park, Enfield.
Wartime Service
Sidney may have been a serving soldier (or possibly a reservist) at the outbreak of war and, served in France with the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. He was promoted to Lance Corporal and although It is not known when he arrived in France, assuming he was a serving soldier the 1st Battalion arrived at Le Havre on 16 August 1914. They took part in the Battles of Mons and Le Cateau, First Battle of the Marne, First Battle of the Aisne, Battle of La Bassee and First Battle of Ypres up to the end of 1914.
He was one of two soldiers wounded in action whilst on patrol and constructing a communicating trench and died of a gun shot wound to the abdomen at the 8th Casualty Clearing Station on 29 January 1915.
He is buried at Bailleul Communal Cemetery, Nord, France.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £5 and pay owing of £1 19s 1d. She also received a pension of 15 shillings a week for herself and her daughter.
His younger brother Emanuel served with the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed in action on 31 October 1914 and is buried at Harlebeke New British Cemetery, Belgium.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Brenda Palmer, Buckinghamshireremembers.org.uk, www.bedfordregiment.org.uk
