Pte 59540 Sydney Allen Jubey

• Age: 21
• From: Kings Lynn, Norfolk
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 31st July 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

Sydney Allen Jubey was born on 11th April 1896 in Kings Lynn, Norfolk and was baptised 06th May 1896 at All Saints, Kings Lynn. Sydney was the son of James Allen and his wife Alice (nee Rout) who where married in 1892 in Freebridge Lynn.

The 1901 Census shows the family living near Hardwicke Bridge, Kings Lynn. Father James Allen aged 40 born 1861 in Kings Lynn and is a bricklayer. Wife Alice aged 26 born 1875 in North Wootton, Norfolk. They had five children Violet M aged 7 born 1894, Mildred W aged 6 Born 1895, Sydney aged 4 born 1897, Elise aged 3 born 1898 and Ernest aged 1 born 1900 and all born in Kings Lynn.

The 1911 Census shows the family now living at 5 Fredrick Place Lynn, South Lynn, Norfolk. Sydney is now aged 14 and his occupation is shown as an errand boy. Father James Allen aged 40 is a bricklayer, mother Alice aged 39(married 19 years 9 children), children Violet aged 19 a laundry maid, Mildred aged 16 a domestic, Elise aged 13 at school, Ernest aged 11 at school, Arthur aged 9 born 1902, George aged 6 born 1905, Mabel aged 4 born 1907 and Charles aged 2 born 1909.

Prior to the outbreak of the war Sydney was employed as a railway porter. Although contrasting information shows that he may have been employed as a clerk at a Liverpool steamship office.

Sydney married Martha Jane Bateman of 21 Windsor Road on 11th February 1917 at St John & St James Church of England Church, Litherland. Sydney was a 20 year old railway porter of 2 Windsor Road, Orrell (on the Liverpool Electoral Roll this is the residence of a William Allen), Martha was aged 19, her father Thomas Bateman. Martha was living at 21 Windsor Road on the 1911 Census.

He enlisted in Seaforth, Liverpool and was serving in the 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 59540. Sydney was killed in action on the 31st July 1917, aged 21, during the Third Battle of Ypres.

17^th Battalion Diary

On that day, the 89th Brigade was to follow up the attacks of the 21st and 90th Brigades and once their objectives had been taken, to go through them and secure a line of strong points on the German third line. The 89th Brigade line of attack was from the South West corner of Polygon Wood, to the Menin Road. The 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment was on the left of the attack, and the 20th to the right, with the 19th Battalion and the 2nd Battalion, The Bedfordshire Regiment, in Divisional Reserve.

The Battalion moved into assembly positions east of Maple Copse between 05.00 and 05.20am, they were heavily shelled and suffered many casualties. At 07.50 they began to advance with the 17^th Battalion on the left, and the 20^th on the right, the whole time under heavy shell fire. On reaching their position which was the Blue Line , troops of both the 21^st and 90^th Brigades were still pinned down  and thus any attempt at further progress were futile.

Despite this they pushed on until their flank was just touching Clapham Junction. They then dug in and awaited the inevitable bombardment which hit them soon after. Despite this, they held onto the ground.  

During the action and their time in the line the 17^th Battalion lost three officers and 79 men killed or died of wounds and four officers and 198 men wounded. They were eventually relieved on the night of 3^rd -4^th August.

Sydney's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, at Ypres in Belgium.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

Soldiers Effects and pension to widow Martha J.

Sydney is also commemorated on the  following Memorials:

Kings Lynn Memorial

Stained Glass window in All Saints Church, South Lynn

London & North Western Railwaymen Roll of Honour.

His father died aged 71 in the March quarter of 1932. His death was registered in King's Lynn.

His mother died aged 86 in the March quarter of 1961. Her death was also registered in King's Lynn.  

Grateful thanks are extended to RollOfHonour.com and Tony Jubey for the use of the photograph now shown on this site.

We currently have no further information on Sydney Allen Jubey, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.