Name
Sidney John Bunker
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
06/02/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/34029
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
17th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CONTAY BRITISH CEMETERY, CONTAY
VII. D. 16.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Abbots Langley Village Memorial, Church of Ascension (the Tin Church) Memorial, Bedmond
Biography
Sidney Bunker was born in 1886 at Bedmond to Charles Bunker, Farm Labourer and Elizabeth Jane Arnold (nee Horner). Sidney’s mother died in 1889. On the 1891 Census the family were living with his widower father at Bank Cottages, Bedmond. Charles’ father married Martha Edmonton in 1892. On the 1901 Census Sidney was recorded as working as a Gardener’s Apprentice. Ten years later he had moved to Park Street where he worked as a Farm Labourer and was living as a Boarder in the house of William Martindale, a Shepherd, and his family. On 4th February 1911 he married Alice Allen at St Stephens, Watford.
Sidney attested at Watford on 11 Dec 1915, and was posted to the Army Reserve and sent home (stated as Church Hill, Bedmond) being mobilised on 10 Apr 1916, and was posted to the 4th Essex. His Service Record showed that he was transferred to the 5th Essex on 22 Apr 1916, and remained with that battalion until he was transferred again, to 17th Middlesex on 19 October 1916. He arrived in France on 2 Nov 1916 joining his Battalion on 23 Nov 1916.
The 17th Middlesex were unofficially known as the “Footballers’ Battalion”. It was formed at Fulham Town Hall in Dec 1914 and consisted of professional and amateur footballers. During training players were allowed Leave on a Saturday to return to play for their clubs. At the outset 122 professional footballers joined up. This number included the whole of Clapton Orient, the entire Heart of Midlothian team, and many official, referees and football fans. Amongst their ranks was Second Lieutenant Walter Tull, the British Army’s first black Infantry Officer. The 17th Middlesex left for the Front in Nov 1915.
On 2nd February 1917 Sidney was admitted to 49 Casualty Clearing Station and was diagnosed suffering from Lobal Pneumonia, which became the cause of his death on 6th February 1917. His wife began to receive an Army Pension of 13/9d per week (approximately 69p at today’s value), from 27 August 1917.
In March 1917 the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine reported: “Sidney John Bunker, of Bedmond, 17th Middlesex, died of pneumonia whilst on active service. He had not been at the Front very long. He leaves a wife to whom we offer our sympathies.”
Sidney Bunker was buried at Contay British Cemetery (on the Amiens to Arras Road on the Somme), and was listed on the Abbots Langley War Memorial. He was also commemorated on the War Memorial at the Church of the Ascension at Bedmond. War Gratuity of £3 and arrears of £3 0s 8d paid to his widow.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
