Sgt 22846 Sydney Smith

• Age: 29
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Friday 18th October 1918
• Commemorated at: Maurois Cc
  Panel Ref: 53

His father was born in Liverpool, and his mother in the Isle of White.  They married in 1886 and had five children.  Sydney had an older brother Edward Henry, born in 1887, and younger siblings Sybil 1891, Alice May 1893, and Charles Lionel 1896.

At the time of the 1891 Census, the family is living at 298 Kensington with two children and a domestic servant. His father, 26, is a brewer, his mother is 28, born Southsea, Isle of Wight, Edward is 3, and Sydney 2 years old. 

The 1901 Census finds them at 242 Picton Road, Wavertree (the premises of the Rose Brewery). His father is a brewery manager working at home,  his mother, Alice, is aged 37. They have five children declared in the household; Edward H. is 13, Sydney is 12, Sybil is 9, Alice M. is 8, and Charles L. is 5. They also have a servant Amy Savage, aged 15.  

His father died at the end of 1901, at the age of 37.

In 1911 his mother, 47, is a licensed victualler at 1 Larkhill Lane (The Farmers Arms) in Clubmoor.  She employs a barmaid who lives on the premises. Four children are at home: Sydney, 22, is a newspaper clerk, Sybil, 19, has no occupation, Alice, 17, is a dyer’s assistant, and Charles, 15, is an engineer’s apprentice. 

He was initiated into Apollo Lodge of the Freemasons in 1913, his occupation noted as bookkeeper.

His brother Charles enlisted at age 18 in March 1914 in the 4th West Lancs Territorial R.F.A. and was embodied on 05th August, the day after war was declared. He was discharged permanently as medically unfit in February 1915 due to perforation of both ear drums (which he had suffered from since childhood).

Sydney enlisted in Liverpool on the 07th November 1914 as Private 22846 joining the 20th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment. He gave his age as 25 years and 235 days and his occupation as clerk. He is described as being 5’ 8” tall, weighing 126 lbs, with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and light brown hair.  He has appendicitis scars. He states previous service in the 5th Battalion Liverpool Regiment (Territorials).  He gives as next of kin his mother Alice at 1 Larkhill Lane.

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain.

No doubt because of his previous Territorial experience, Sydney was rapidly promoted:  appointed paid Lance Corporal on 08th December 1914, promoted to Corporal on probation on 09th February 1915 and to Sergeant on probation on 12th March 1915.

Sydney, aged 26, married Alice Hulme on 13th March 1915 in St. James’ Church, Liverpool, giving his occupation as advertising clerk, and his address as 1 Larkhill Lane. Alice was aged 24, of 633 West Derby Road, her father, John, was a gardener. No records of children born to the marriage have been found.

He shipped to France with his battalion, disembarking at Boulogne on 07th November 1915.

A few months later, in March 1916, his mother died, aged 54.

He was granted leave to the U.K. from 16th to 25th May 1916.

On 12th October 1916 during the battle of the Transloy Ridges, he was wounded in action and the next day admitted to 140 Field Ambulance with shell shock (“buried”). He rejoined his unit in the field on 24th October.

He was admitted to 98 F.A. on 02nd March 1917 then to 12 Stationary Hospital with German measles, and discharged to duty on the 16th.

On 30th June 1917 he arrived at 30 Infantry Base Depot (Etaples) and joined No.2 Training Camp at Etaples on 02nd July.

He was severely reprimanded for not informing his platoon of his whereabouts and for sleeping in an unauthorised place on 17th-18th December 1917.

On 27th December 1917 to Brigade School.

When the 20th Battalion K.L.R. was disbanded on the 07th February 1918, Sydney was posted to “A” Company, 18th Bn K.L.R. (Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry), but still attached to Brigade School. He joined the 18th Battalion in the field on the 04th June 1918.

He was killed in action on the 18th October 1918, aged 29, during the hundred days offensive which ended the First World War (8^th August-11^th November 1918). 

He now lies in Maurois Cemetery, France.  The Inscription on his headstone reads:

“BLESSED ARE THEY WHOSE MEMORIES WE CHERISH”

Maurois village was the scene of fighting in the Battle of Le Gateau, 1914, and it remained in German hands until it was occupied by the South African Brigade on the 9th October, 1918. There are now over 80, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Three were buried by the enemy in August, 1914, three by their comrades in October, 1918, and one in October, 1918 in a single grave. The remainder were buried in October and November, with one of February, 1919. The plot covers an area of 286 square metres.

Sydney’s death was reported in the local press on 28th October 1918:

“News reached Liverpool today of two employees of the “Liverpool Post” and “Echo” having been killed in action, namely, Sergeant Sidney [sic] Smith, Lewis Guns (L.H.Y., K.L.R) late Pals, and Sergeant Edward M’Inroy, King’s Liverpool Regiment.  Sergt. Smith was formerly in the advertisement department of this office and Sergt. M’Inroy in the stereo department.  Both men joined the forces in the early stages of the war and rapidly secured promotion.  Smith joined on the first Saturday after war was declared and, having had previous training in the Territorials, quickly rose to the rank of sergeant.  He joined the “Post” and “Echo” advertisement staff as a boy, and his loss is severely felt by his colleagues, who held him in the highest esteem.  He leaves a young widow.”

Alice also placed a notice:

“October 18, instantaneously, Sgt. Sidney [sic] Smith (L.H.Y., K.L.R, late Pals), the dearly loved and devoted husband of Alice Smith (Apollo Lodge No. 2042).  - Deeply mourned by his sorrowing Wife and all at 25 Craigburn Road, Tuebrook.”

Sydney earned his three medals, which Alice signed for, as well as his Memorial Plaque and Scroll.

In 1919 she provided information on Sydney’s living relatives:  She had returned to her parents’ home in Craigburn Road.  His siblings Edward, 32, Charles, 23, Sybil, 28, and Alice (now married), 26, were still living in Liverpool.

On the 1921 Census at Craigburn Road, his widow, Alice, is aged 30 and a Dyers manageress, with her parents John and Ann Hulme, and brother Thomas 25. 

In 1939 Alice, 49, is living with her husband, a police constable (clerical work) at 12 Alcester Road. With them are her parents, John and Ann Hulme.

Alice died in 1975, at the age of 85.

Sydney is commemorated on the following memorials -

Liverpool Daily Post and Echo, Old Hall Street, Liverpool
 
Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918

Liverpool Masonic Hall War Memorial, Hope Street, Liverpool

Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance within Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 39. 

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