Royal Field Artillery, 24th Reserve Battery, Service no. 34549
Born: 26th April 1899. Died: 1969.
Story
Sidney was baptised in Garforth on 13th July 1899, and he was brought up on Church Lane, Garforth by his parents Benjamin Thompson and Emily Playforth. Before the War, the family had moved to Sissons Row, Kippax. Sidney was a Colliery Labourer, 5ft 5¼ inches tall, and enlisted with the Royal Field Artillery in Castleford on 7th January 1915. As he was 15 years and 8 months old, he had to lie about his age, and claimed to be 19 years and 8 months old. Sidney trained at home for 6 months until 25th July 1915, and then served in France until 23rd March 1916. He returned home on extended leave, and failed to return to service as expected on 3rd April 1916. He was admonished by the Army for overstaying his leave by three days, and was docked 3 days’ pay. This incident appears to have prompted Sidney’s confession that he was under-age when he enlisted, and was still under-age. He was discharged from the Army on 19th April 1916 for “having made a mis-statement as to age on enlistment.” His commanding officer wrote on his army papers: “During his service with the colours his character has been very good. He is a clean lad.” After the War, Sidney married Olive Gledhill Cragg in 1920, and they had three children: John on 2nd February 1921, Marjorie on 27th October 1924, and Annie on 25th May 1928. In 1939, the family were living at 121 Rowley Lane, Kirkburton, with Sidney working as a Gas Stoker. He passed away in 1969. His widow, Olive, later moved to Birmingham, where she passed away in 1979.
Below: Festive message written on gun’s carriage by the Royal Field Artillery. Battle of the Somme, November 1916
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