Name
Sidney Griffin Mead
1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
14/06/1917
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
46676
Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
195th Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
KANDAHAR FARM CEMETERY
II. D. 34.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
UNTIL THE DAY BREAK AND THE SHADOWS FLEE AWAY
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Hitchin memorials
Pre War
His CWGC entry records him as the “Nephew and adopted son of Henry Edwin and Emma Mead (née Griffin) – married 1889, of 65, St. Paul's Rd., Camden Square, Camden Town, London. Native of Hornsey, London.” and the SDITGW records him as born in Hitchin, Herts. We have used this to piece together what we believe to be Sidney’s correct information.
Sidney Griffin Mead was born Sidney Griffin Fermor in Hitchin in 1891 and his birth was registered there. His parents were David and Alice Fermor (née Griffin) who had married on 29 July 1886 in Waddesdon, Buckinghamshire. After marriage banns were read earlier in July 1886 in Withyham St John the Evangelist Church in East Sussex.
While Sidney was born in Hitchin in 1891, Alice Fermor died there in the same year quite possibly in childbirth, because of the dates the first census that could apply to all three would be 1891. In this, at 3 Garden Row, Hitchin, we find David Fermor (30) as head, a police constable and a widow. Sidney was present, and just three months old. Also present was David’s sister Alice Fermor (24) working as his housekeeper and presumably helping look after Sidney
David has not been positively identified in the 1901 census. It is possible that is because he had moved, had a slightly different birth location, remarried and/or remarried. However, because of the CWGC information, Sidney was found as Sidney Griffin Mead, i.e. now adopted, living at 20 Eastfield Road, Hornsey, Middlesex, The census lists his parents as Henry Edwin Mead (41, and a police constable), and Emma (36) – Emma was née Griffin, and they had married in 1889. She was Alice’s (Sidney’s birth mother) sister, and they were found together in the 1871 census in Waddesdon, Bucks., when Alice was 11 and Emma 6. The others in the household were: Sidney Griffin (10), Percy George (5), Victor Albert (3) and Nora Alice (2), plus a boarder, Ethel B Herley (26).
By 1911 the family were living at 31 College Place, Camden Town N W. Present were both parents, Henry now 50 was now a retired metropolitan police constable. The census recorded they had been married for 23 years with 5 children, all living. All the above children were present, Sidney 20 and working as a milk carrier - seeming incorrectly recorded as born in Hornsey, Middlesex, and they had been joined by Jessie Irene Mead (7).
The Soldiers Died In The Great War database records that he was born in Hitchin and he enlisted in King’s Cross.
Wartime Service
Sidney did not overseas until at least 1916 and was formerly Private 991, East. Surrey Regiment and died as a Serjeant in the Machine Gun Corps, 195th Company, in Belgium on 14 June 1917.
He must have first been reported missing as enquiries were made of British Red Cross & Order of St John Enquiry List on 20 July 1917, as to his fate. He must later have been presumed killed on or after the 14th June.
Additional Information
After his death £19 18s 8d pay owing was authorised to go to his grandmother Mary Ann Cripps (previously Griffin) on 16 December 1918. Later, a war gratuity of £16 was authorised to be paid to her on 15 November 1919.
Mrs Cripps, presumably his grandmother, applied for his medals on 10 October 1920.
Sidney’s personal headstone inscription: “UNTIL THE DAY BREAK AND THE SHADOWS FLEE AWAY” was ordered by Mrs Mead, 65 St Pauls Road, Camden Square, London, NW 1.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild
