Name
Sidney Smith
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/09/1916
29
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Guardsman
23560
Grenadier Guards
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 8D
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin
Pre War
He was married and lived in 5, Exchange Yard, Hitchin and he had three children. Before joining up he had been a steam-roller driver for the Hitchin Urban District Council. He was also in the choir at St. Mary's Church in Hitchin.
He had been born in the parish of St. Mary in Hitchin and enlisted there in March 1915.
Wartime Service
Sidney was given the Regimental Number 23560 and posted to the 4th Battalion of the Grenadiers. He was killed in action in France whilst charging a German trench. His body was found after the attack. "Many a brave man fell" said a letter home.
The Battalion went to Bemafay Wood on the 22nd September 1916 and moved forward on the 24th September and attacked at 12.35pm on the 25th September. Over 150 Germans were killed with the bayonet as the Battalion rushed to clear its first objective. The second objective was also taken. They were relieved at 10.00pm on the 26th September 1916.
Sidney has no known grave and is remembered in Pier/Face 8D of the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing in France.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
