Name
Sidney (Sydney) James Birch
October 1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
02/10/1915
23 years.
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
16618
Royal Fusiliers *1
8th (City of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LOOS MEMORIAL
Panel 25 to 27.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Loos Memorial to the missing in France.
UK & Other Memorials
Hatfield Town Memorial, Hatfield In Memoriam Book
Pre War
Sydney James Birch was born in Hatfield, Herts, in October 1891, only son of James William Birch a Carpenter on Lord Salisbury's Estate in Hatfield, (B 1858 in Lemsford) and Jane Birch (nee Kettlewell) (B 1853 in Gatenby, York's).
1901 Census records Sydney aged 9, living with his parents, and sister Annie 13, at 28 Primrose Cottages, Hatfield. His father worked as a carpenter and his mother a laundress.
He attended Hatfield Church of England boys school, On leaving school he worked for the Hatfield Post Office as a Telegraph Boy.
In 1911 he was working as a Grocers Assistant and boarding with Mrs Emma Redfern (a Widow) at 82 High Street, Homerton, Hackney, Middlesex. One of six Grocery Assistants boarding there.
Officially recorded as born in Hatfield and was living there when he enlisted in Marylebone.
Wartime Service
After the outbreak of war he volunteered and enlisted in Marylebone, London on 2nd September 1914, in the 3rd Battalion, Kings Own Hussars with the Service No. 21335.
Transferred to The Royal Fusiliers, (City of London) Regiment in June 1915, with the Service No. 16618. Landing in France on 17th August 1915.
Sydney as killed in action on 2nd October 1915, while forming one of a covering party to his company employed in digging a trench between Hulluch and Vermelles. His Corporal wrote: "He was a very willing and efficient soldier, and died doing his duty."
The Bishops Hatfield Parish Magazine of October 1914 in the second list of men mobilised from Hatfield, recorded: “Sidney Birch – Primrose Cottages – 3rd Kings Own Hussars.” and then in November 1915: “Killed in Action - Sydney Birch. The loss of Sydney Birch is another of the war tragedies; he was an only son and one to rejoice the hearts of his parents..... "
He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial to the missing in France.
Awarded the Victory Medal, the British War Medal & 1914-1915 Star.
Additional Information
His effects of £3-0s-9d, Pay Owing and £3-10s-0d, War Gratuity went to his father James.
Hatfield Parish Council Souvenir Committee Ledger: Mrs Birch (Mother) of 28 Primrose Cottages, Hatfield received an “In Memoriam and Roll of Honour Album”.
*1 More correctly (City of London) Bn. London Regiment (Post Office Rifles).
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne, Derry Warners
Jonty Wild, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk)
