Name
Sidney Harold Sims
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
24/09/1917
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
266976
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 153.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Rickmansworth Urban District Memorial,
St. Peter’s Church Memorial, Mill End,
St. Peter's C & E Primary School Memorial, Mill End,
Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Sidney’s birth was registered in the Watford district in the first quarter of 1898. He was baptised on 15 April 1898 in Mill End. In 1901, aged 3, he lived with his parents, William Ralph and Mary Jane Sims and six siblings in Chapel Row, Uxbridge Road, Mill End, Rickmansworth. His father was a labourer. In 1911 he lived at 1 Chapel Row with his parents and five siblings. Sidney was aged 13 and still at school. His father was working as a domestic gardener. In 1915 the family was living at 29 Church Lane, Mill End, Rickmansworth. They are also recorded at 16 Church Lane.
Recorded as enlisting in Hertford.
Wartime Service
Sidney Sims enlisted on 18 November 1915 when he was 17 years old but his service record shows his age at enlistment as 19 years 10 months!
He was promoted to Sergeant but reverted to Private when he moved to the field on 15 March 1917, where he was attached to the Royal Irish Rifles. He re-joined the Hertfordshires on 9 August 1917 and was promoted to Lance Corporal on 28th August.
The Hertfordshire Regiment was heavily engaged in the Third Battle of Ypres from the outset on 31 July, as part of 118th Brigade and 39th Division. On 19th August the battalion was in the front line fighting at the battle of Langemarck and then rejoined the attack on 20 September for the battle of the Menin Road. Between 20th and 28th September 1917 heavy shelling resulted in casualties of 3 officers and 206 other ranks. Lance Corporal Sims was killed in action on 24th September and is remembered on the Tyne Cot memorial.
The army paid his father £11 13s 11d including a war gratuity of £8 10s.
Additional Information
In CWGC No 266976, in SDITGW 266076.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Brian Thomson, Croxley Green in the First World War Rickmansworth Historical Society 2014, Jonty Wild
