Sydney Henson
In 1911 he was a farm plough boy.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Sydney Henson was born in 1895 at Cotgrave, Nottinghamshire he was the son of George a farm labourer and Fanny Rose Henson née Whitby and the brother of Evelyn, Leslie and Frederick Henson.
His father George was born in 1869 at Cotgrave, his mother Fanny Rose Whitby was born in 1871 at Burton on Trent, they were married on 13th July 1890 at St Matthias Church, Sneinton, they went on to have 6children.
In the 1911 census the family lived on Scrimshaw Lane Cotgrave Nottinghsmshire.George 42 yrs is a farm labourer, he is living with his wife Fanny Rose 40 yrs and their children, Sidney 16 yrs a plough boy, Evelyn 14 yrs a plough boy, Leslie 11 yrs a scholar and Frederick 5 yrs of age.
Both of Sidney’s brothers, Evelyn and Leslie and his sister, Bertha, saw service in WW1 and their names appear on the Roll of Honour in All Saints Church. Bertha married her husband Walter Kirk, at Etaples, France, whilst they were both on active service.
Private Sidney Henson enlisted at Derby on 11 December 1915 giving his age as 21 yrs and 3 months, his address was Scrimshaw Lane, Cotgrave and was immediately put on the Army Reserve. He has mobilised into the Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment in March 1916 and after his training moved to 1/7 Battalion in France on 30 July 1916. 1/7 Battalion were part of the 147 Brigade in the 49th Division.
On 1 July 1916, the battle of the Somme started when thirteen divisions of Commonwealth forces launched an offensive on a line from north of Gommecourt to Maricourt. Despite a preliminary bombardment lasting seven days, the German defences were barely touched and the attack met unexpectedly fierce resistance. Losses were catastrophic and with only minimal advances on the southern flank, the initial attack was a failure.
In the following weeks, huge resources of manpower and equipment were deployed in an attempt to exploit the modest successes of the first day. However, the German Army resisted tenaciously and repeated attacks and counter attacks meant a major battle for every village, copse and farmhouse gained.
At 4.30 in the morning on 3 September 1916, just 5 months after Sidney had joined the Army, he was in a form up position in Thiepval Wood. At 5.10 his Battalion attacked the German positions. The battle raged all day and into the evening with very heavy artillery shells constantly falling on the British. The Battalion casualties for that day were 1 Officer and 15 Other Ranks killed and 3 Officers and 99 Other Ranks wounded. Sidney was almost certainly one of those killed.
Having no know grave his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial Pier and Face 6A and 6B
Thanks to John Ludlam for help with this page.
Photo of Sydney Henson
Thiepval Memorial,