Name
Sidney Thomas Walby (MM)
12th May 1896
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/09/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
15023
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Military Medal
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
UNICORN CEMETERY, VENDHUILE
III. A. 6.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hatfield War Memorial, Lemsford Village Memorial, We are not aware of any Cromer Hyde memorial
Pre War
Sidney was born 12th May 1896 in Cromer Hyde and baptised at St. John’s Church, Lemsford on the 17th November 1908. His parents were George and Elizabeth Walby (née Brown) and they married in Sandridge, Herts on 11th October 1878.
He was admitted to Lemsford School on the 11th June 1900 when he was 4 years old and left school on July 30th, 1909, and was worked on a farm.
In 1891 the family were living in Cromer Hyde, Near Lemsford, Herts. Present were both parents: George (33) and Elizabeth (32), with George working as an agricultural worker. Their children were: William (10), Alice (8), Amy (6), Agnes (2) and John and Clara – both 1 and presumed to be twins. Later Sidney Thomas Walby was born.
Sadly Harriet died in September 1900, leaving George a widow and the children motherless, however George re-married, marrying Harriet Ann Hill in 1901, before the census.
So in 1901 George (44) and Harriet (43) were living in Cromer Hyde. George was recorded as an ordinary agricultural labour worker. Of his children Agnes, John and Sidney. Another daughter was present Olive Maud Walby who was just 10 months old, and it seems likely she was also Elizabeth’s daughter.
By 1911 the family were living in Cromer Hyde. Present were George – still a farm worker and Harriet (now listed as Ann). The census records that they had been married for 10 years and of seven children 4 had died. The children now present were William now 31 and a brewery steam lorry assistant, Sidney, 14 and a dairyman working on a farm. A stepdaughter was also present Mabel Louisa Hill 20 and a dressmaker’s assistant.
The Soldiers Died In The Great War database records Sidney as born and living in Lemsford (more accurately Cromer Hyde), when he enlisted in Hertford.
Wartime Service
Sidney enlisted at Hertford in the first week of September 1914, during the ”K2” – Kitchener’s 2nd “call to arms” for 100,000 recruits and joined the Bedfordshire Regiment. He went to France with the 7th Battalion in July 1915 as Private 15023.
At 22, after serving in the field for 1 year 6 months (and 2 years 6 months total) he was wounded accidentally with a gunshot wound to his left buttock. This was around the 27th January 1917 and on that date he was transferred from the Sick Convoy to hospital – he was discharged back to duty on 4th February 1917.
By the time that the 7th Battalion had been amalgamated with the 2nd Battalion in May 1918 he had been promoted to Sergeant.
He was awarded the Military Medal on June 10th 1918. The Supplement to the London Gazette, 13 September 1918, p. 10775, recorded:- “His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Military Medal for Bravery in the Field to the undermentioned Non-commissioned Officers and Men:- 15023 Sjt S. Walby, Bed f. T. (Hatfield)”. The citation reads:- ' owing to sniping, movement was very difficult, but Sgt S Walby volunteered to try and get back to battalion HQ with news, and succeeded. In all, this NCO made four journeys to the rear, under fire, two of them in broad daylight, and his information proved most valuable. This was during the action of April 24th - 25th 1918.”
Sidney was killed on the 21st of September 1918 during a 12 day battle of attrition around Ronssoy Wood (northern region of the Somme) when the 2nd Battalion fought alongside the newly arrived US troops for the first time. He was one of around 300 casualties. If he had survived he would almost certainly have seen out the War and returned safely to Lemsford as this was the last battle in which the 2nd Battalion was involved.
His grave (II. E. 28) is in the Unicorn Cemetery, Vendhuile, Aisne, France. VENDHUILE is a village about 20 kilometres north of St. Quentin on the D 28. In the cemetery are 536 British, 60 Australian, 1 Canadian, 3 Indian and 409 unidentified burials of the First World War.
The Bishops Hatfield Magazine of October 1914, recorded: “Lemsford News. The names of parishioners and their relatives serving in the colours have been posted up in the Church porch. Mr Ladbury has kindly written out the names, and Mr John Sear has provided the frame. Of those in the district whose names appear on the list........ The following young men have enlisted....... Sidney Walby .....”, and in November 1918: “Lemsford News. War Notes, The war has again brought sorrow to a Lemsford home Mr and Mrs Walby of Cromer Hyde, have received news of the death in action of their son Sergeant Sidney Walby of the 2nd Batt. Bedfordshire Regiment on September 21st. He joined the army in Sept. 1914 and went to France in the following July, where he distinguished himself, earning his promotion to the rank of sergeant, and on June 10th of this year he was awarded the Military Medal.“
Additional Information
Hatfield Parish Council Souvenir Committee Ledger: Mrs Walby (Mother) of Cromer Hyde received a Silver Matchbox.
During research, an article was found which seems to apply to Sidney’s father, George, when he was a boy. The Hertfordshire Mercury or December 8th, 1866 (he was born about 1857) reported from the Hertford County Sessions (Magistrates’ Court), that four young boys – one named George Walby – were charged with trespassing in the fern in Hatfield Park, in search of rabbits. They denied this and said that they had only been playing. One of them complained that he had been knocked down by the gamekeeper, who said that he had only shaken the boy. They were fined 2s each, with costs that came to 7s.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk), Andy Chapman & www.lemsfordww1.co.uk
