Name
Sidney James Searle
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/07/1916
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
10422
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 2C.
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
St Mary's Parish Church Memorial, Watford
Pre War
Son of Elizabeth (nee GOSLING) and the late Arthur SEARLE.
His parents married 1890 in the Ipswich, Suffolk, district. Arthur died 1909 in Watford aged 40, and was buried 19 April in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Elizabeth died 1940 in Watford aged 72, and was buried 13 March, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Sydney was born 3 December 1895 in Watford, and attended Victoria Junior School, Watford; then Beechen Grove Board School, Watford, from 11 January 1904 to 11 June 1909. He resided in Watford.
On the 1901 Census, aged 5 he lived in Watford, with his parents and four siblings. On the 1911 Census, a greengrocer’s errand boy aged 15, he still lived in Watford, with his widowed mother and five siblings.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Watford; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 17 February 1915, and was killed in action in the front line at Longueval and Delville Wood in the aftermath of an unsuccessful attack by other troops, considerable enemy sniping and shelling.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, Sydney’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
There is a Death announcement for Sydney in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 19 August 1916, plus In Memoriams in the issues dated 4 August 1917, 3 August 1918 and 2 August 1919.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
