Name
Sidney John Chilton
Abt.1878.
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/04/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/51804
Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
23rd Battalion.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ALBUERA CEMETERY, BAILLEUL-SIRE-BERTHOULT
North A. 23.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no family inscription on his Headstone.
UK & Other Memorials
South Mimms Village Memorial
Pre War
Sidney John CHILTON was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire, Abt. 1878, son of Richard Chilton and Elizabeth Chilton (nee Grimes).
1881 Census records Sidney aged 3. Sidney and his parents are recorded as Boarders with Adelaide Kelly and her family at 14 King Street, Llanelly Breconshire, Wales. His father Richard is recorded as a Violinist.
1891 Census, Sidney 13, has left school and is recorded as an Apprentice Carpenter and a boarder with George and Ann Younge, at 20 Lower Warm Street, Llanover, Monmouthshire, Wales.
1901 Census, Sidney 23, is working as a Carpenter, and the Head of the household at 14 Powell Street, St Luke, Holborn, London & Middlesex. On the night of the Census, he had a visitor John Jones a Bulder.
Sidney married Alice Mary Fletcher, of St Pancras, London & Middlesex the daughter of Francis and Julia Fletcher on 26th December 1905, at Christ Church, West Green, Haringey, London & Middlesex. They went on to have three children, Sydney Charles born in March 1907, Elizabeth Mary born in October 1908 and Richard Ernest born in July 1910.
1911 census record Sidney married to Alice, they have three children, and are now living at Rose Cottage, South Mimms, Herts. Sidney is recorded as a Jobbing Carpenter and Builder.
Wartime Service
Sidney enlisted at Barnet, Herts, (The SDITGW record “FORMERLEY 3809 MIDDLESEX REGIMENT” no records were found to confirm this).
Posted to the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) and issued with the service number GS/51804, he served with the 20th Battalion from 2nd December 1916 to 27th February 1917, then posted to the 23rd Battalion on 28th February 1917. Sidney was Killed in Action on 17th April 1917, aged 38, at the Battle of Arras. (Battle of Arras, 9th April to 17th May 1917) he is Buried in Albuera Cemetery, Bailleul-Sire-Berthoult, France. Grave Ref; North A. 23.
Additional Information
Alice was awarded a Grant of £3, in October 1917, and a widow’s pension of 26/3, (£1-06s-03d) from 5th November 1917, and his effects of £2-07s-00d, pay owing and his war gratuity of £3.
The 23rd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) known as the 1st Sportsman’s Battalion, would recruit men up to the age of 45 who were actively fit and from a sporting background.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
