Name
Sidney Charles Brightman
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
22/03/1918
34
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
Royal Engineers
521st (London) Field Company
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
JERUSALEM MEMORIAL
Panel 9.
Israel and Palestine (including Gaza)
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, St Andrew's Church Memorial, Watford, Watford Conservative Club Memorial, Watford Grammar School Memorial, Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance, Not on the Rickmansworth memorials
Pre War
Born in Rickmansworth in 1884 Sidney was the son of Charles and Fanny (nee Roberts) Brightman.
His parents married 4 February 1883 at St Mary’s, Rickmansworth, Herts. Charles died 24 February 1928 in Watford aged 74, and was buried 29 February in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Fanny died 1 February 1929 in Watford aged 75, and was buried 4 February, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
In 1891 they were living Queen’s Road, Watford with their five children and two servants, Charles being a Builder.
Sidney was born 1884 in Rickmansworth, and attended Watford Grammar School from October 1894 to July 1898.
In 1901 the family was still in Queen’s Road, at No 106.
Sidney married 11 October 1906 at St Andrew’s, Watford; they had one child.
In 1911 they were at 108 Branksome Terrace, Bournemouth with Sidney being described as a Builder and Contractor. Sidney was a Freemason initiated at Rickmansworth Lodge No 2218 in October 1912.
At his death his wife, Alice, was living 10 Westland Road, Watford. His property and effects totalled £11,350 5s 4d and probate was granted to his sister Fanny Agnes Crombie (wife of Henry Crombie) on the 18th of May 1918. Why not to his wife is not known. She never remarried; she died 1932 in Watford aged 51, and was buried 18 March in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Wartime Service
Sidney was gazetted as Second Lieutenant, Northamptonshire Regiment in January 1915, but was recalled in July to supervise the building of munitions works, presumably transferring to the Royal Engineers.
He was posted to Egypt in October 1917 521 st Field Company was formed in September/October 1914 and attached to 60 th (London) Division. 6th moved to France in June 1916 and then to Salonika, arriving 25th of December 1916. Actions in 1917 included the Battles of Doiran and Third Gaza, and the capture and defence of Jerusalem; in 1918 the capture of Jericho and the Battle of Tell’Asur followed by the first attack on Amman. This took place between the 21 st of March and the 2nd of April 1918 and Sidney is assumed to have been killed during the attack 21st to the 23rd of March which secured a passage across the Jordan river.
He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, which were sent to his widow of Watford.
Additional Information
There is an article about and a Death announcement for Sidney in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 30 March 1918; plus another article in the issue dated 6 April 1918.
The published Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance entry reads:
“BRIGHTMAN, SIDNEY CHARLES. School period: October, 1894, to July, 1898. Second Lieutenant, R.E. Gazetted in January, 1915, to Northamptonshire Regiment; recalled in July to supervise building of munition works ; went to Egypt, October, 1917; killed in action in Palestine, 22nd March, 1918. "
Acknowledgments
Mike Collins, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
