Name
Sidney Herbert Sear
26 October 1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
10/10/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
61497
Royal Army Medical Corps
4th Field Amb
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CANADA FARM CEMETERY
III. D. 17.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Memorial, Hemel Hempstead, Marlowes Baptist Church, Marlowes, Watford Grammar School Memorial, Watford, Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance, Not on the Boxmoor memorials, Not on the Watford memorials(*1)
Pre War
Sidney Herbert Sear was born in Watford(*1) on 26 October 1891, the son of Frederick and Louisa Sear (nee BECKLEY), brother of Elsie Gertrude SEAR of Boxmoor, Herts.
His parents married 29 December 1884 at St Luke’s, Kentish Town, London. Louisa died 1908 in the Watford district aged 48, and was buried 9 March in Heath Lane Cemetery, Hemel Hempstead, Herts; Frederick died 8 August 1921 in Hemel Hempstead aged 65, and was buried 11 August, also in Heath Lane Cemetery.
Sidney was the youngest of four children. On the 1901 Census the family were living at 17 Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead, where his father was listed as a Draper (out of business).
He attended Watford Grammar School from January 1902 to April 1907 and joined his brother Frederick who was already a pupil. When he left school, he was apprenticed to the drapery trade.
His mother died in 1908 and was buried on 25 October 1918 at Heath Lane Cemetery, Hemel Hempstead.
On the 1911 Census, his sister Elsie and his widowed father were still living at 17 Marlowes, but Sidney was a servant at the home of Cecil Camden Cook, a draper and an outfitter, living at 170 High Street, Lewisham.
Officially recorded as born in Watford and was living in Hemel Hempstead when he enlisted in London.
Wartime Service
Sidney enlisted in London and served with the Royal Army Medical Corps, initially in Eqypt from 19 December 1915, just as the Dardanelles campaign was ending. He later returned to the Western Front and was posted to the 4th Field Ambulance.
On 7 October 1917 he and several other men were sent to a forward position to assist with the evacuation of the wounded expected from the impending attack at the Battle of Poelcapelle which began on 9 October.
He was killed in action at near Langemark, Belgium on 10 October 1917, aged 26, with Captain Sherman also RAMC, who was said to have been evacuating wounded from first aid posts. They are buried alongside each other at Canada Farm Cemetery, Belgium.
Additional Information
The published Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance entry reads:
“SEAR, SIDNEY HERBERT. School period: January, 1902, to April, 1907. Private, R.A.M.C. Killed at Pilkem Ridge, October, 1917.”
His sister Elsie received a war gratuity of £9 10s and pay owing of £15 4s 6d. N.B. It is believed that S H Sear and Sydney Sear named on the Hemel Hempstead Memorial are the same person. *1 Records found have recorded his birthplace as Watford. This may be the case, however Watford was the main postal location given for nearby villages and hamlets, so it may be that this information is misleading. If more accurate information found this will be updated.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk, www.hemelatwar.org., www.hemelheroes.com, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH online via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
