Name
Sidney Thomas Fountain
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
28/08/1918
29
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
201746
Cambridgeshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
PERONNE ROAD CEMETERY, MARICOURT
IV. F. 26.
France
Headstone Inscription
IN LOVING MEMORY OF DEAR DADDY REST IN PEACE
UK & Other Memorials
Tring Town Memorial, St Peter & St Paul Church Roll of Honour, Tring
Pre War
Sidney Thomas Fountain was born in Eaton Bray, Beds. , on the eldest son of Fountain and Maria (nee Turney).
On the 1891 Census, the family of parents , Sidney, John (born 1890) and Leah Fountain (Grandmother) were living at the Lodge, Northall Road, Eaton Bray.
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Sidney and John had moved to 2, Albert Street, West Passage, Tring.
The 1911 Census listed Sidney as a general carter and he was living with his parents at the same address as on the 1901 Census. They had a lodger Frank Rance, part time newspaper boy, born in 1901.
Sidney married Sarah Eliza Poulton at Tring Parish Church on the 27 May 1911. He was then living at 2 West Passage, his wife at 2 Stratton Place, and both were 22 years of age. There would 2 children, Edgar Sydney (born 2 Feb 1913) and John Frederick (born 10 Jan 1916).
Wartime Service
Sidney enlisted in the Suffolk Regiment as a Territorial Soldier as Private 5025 in the $th Battalion. No service Record was found for him. At some time he was transferred to the 1/1 Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment, also a Territorial formation. In the territorial renumbering Sidney became Private 201746.
The Battalion in May 1918 was part of 35 Brigade, 12 (Eastern) Division and had been moved to the Albert area. Taking part in the Battle of Albert (1918) the Germans were seen to be withdrawing the Cambridgeshires on the right flank were held up by heavy MG fire but renewed its attack later in the day, and achieved its objectives. 37 Brigade of the Division took up this attack later on 9 August and succeeded in further captures. By the evening of 10 August the old Amiens defence line had been recaptured: in all the Division had by now advanced almost two miles. After a brief rest, the Division attacked again on 22 Aug, pushing right across the wilderness of the old Somme battlefield, capturing Meaulte, Mametz, Carnoy, Hardecourt and Faviere Wood, which was reached after a week’s continuous fighting. The Division had made an advance of another 15000 yards. It was during this phase on the 22 Aug that Sidney was killed.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £8 10s and arrears of £11 13s 1 d was paid to his widow Sarah who also received a pension of 25s 5d.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
