Searle, S J
SYDNEY/SIDNEY JAMES SEARLE
Remembered with honour Thiepval Memorial: Pier and Face 2C.
He enlisted in Watford; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 17 February 1915, and was killed in action in the front line at Longueval and Delville Wood in the aftermath of an unsuccessful attack by other troops, considerable enemy sniping and shelling. Unfortunately, Sydney’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
There is a Death announcement for Sydney in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 19 August 1916, plus In Memoriams in the issues dated 4 August 1917, 3 August 1918 and 2 August 1919.
Son of Elizabeth (nee GOSLING) and the late Arthur SEARLE.
His parents married 1890 in the Ipswich, Suffolk, district. Arthur died 1909 in Watford aged 40, and was buried 19 April in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Elizabeth died 1940 in Watford aged 72, and was buried 13 March, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Sydney was born 3 December 1895 in Watford, and attended Victoria Junior School, Watford; then Beechen Grove Board School, Watford, from 11 January 1904 to 11 June 1909. He resided in Watford.
On the 1901 Census, aged 5 he lived in Watford, with his parents and four siblings. On the 1911 Census, a greengrocer’s errand boy aged 15, he still lived in Watford, with his widowed mother and five siblings.
Service number
10422Rank
PrivateUnit
1st BattalionRegiment
Date of death
31/07/1916Age at death
20Place of death
Memorial(s)
- 1st S.W. Herts Scout Troop [in St Mary's Parish Church Watford] (4)
- Abbot's Langley Herts War Memorial (17)
- Aldbury Herts War Memorial (1)
- Aldenham Herts War Memorial (located in Letchmore Heath Herts) (8)
- All Saints Church Croxley Green Herts (12)
- All Saints Church Harrow Weald Middx (2)
- All Saints Church Hertford (1)
- All Saints Church King's Langley Herts (1)
- All Saints Church Leavesden Herts (31)
- All Saints Church Witham Essex (3)