Lives of the First World War

When Sydney left London on 1st December 1916 for a new life in Australia it is unlikely that he expected to be back in England 8 months later as part of the Australian Imperial Force. Although born in Blofield in 1890 Sydney moved with his parents to Saxlingham in 1897 where his father worked as a pork butcher. Sydney was the youngest of 6 children. On 1st December 1916 he left London on SS Osterley for Fremantle in Western Australia. He was 25 yearsl old and gave his occupation as cook. He arrived in Australia at the beginning of February 1917 and two and a half months later he enlisted in the Rifle Corps in Perth. At the time of enlisting he gave his address as 82 Outram Street, West Perth and his occupation as cook. The property was part of a terrace of small single storey houses and is now a listed building. Much of Outram Street had large houses occupied by wealthy merchants and politicians. He was described at his medical as being 5 feet six inches tall with a fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair and weighing 9 stones. After joining the Rifle Corps he spent the next two months training before embarking from Fremantle on 29th June 1917 aboard HMAT Borda. The ship arrived in Plymouth on 25 th August 1917. He was stationed at a camp at Durrington , Wiltshire where he continued his training until 7th November 1917. He was then transferred for further training to camps at Sutton Veny. Whilst there he was admitted to hospital with a swollen knee. At the beginning of 1918 he was considered to be trained and fit enough to join the forces in France.He arrived in France on 9th January 1918 and transferred to his unit on the front line on 22nd January 1918. On 2nd June 11th Battalion of which he was a member took part in an assault upon Mont de Merris. The German defences were in old trenches on the top of a ridge. The operation was carefully planned and the troops assembled quietly to take the Germans by surprise. The troops moved forward in file preceded by the riflemen and successfully took the trenches and outposts. During the battle four officers and eighty seven men were killed. One of these men was Sydney. Like many other men he has no known grave. He is remembered on Panel 64 on the Australian National Memorial, Villiers-Bretonneux, France. His effects were received at the Army Headquarters in London on 24th July 1918 and forwarded to his father James Waters, who was named in his will as executor and beneficiary. These effects included YMCA wallet, letters, curios and photographs.However his father had died the day after his son on 4th June 1918 aged 69 years. Nesta Kate Waters, Sydney's sister, therefore dealt with the administration of his will. He left £120 17s. More information can be obtained from the website www.saxlinghamwarmemorials.org.uk

Created by: , Janice131533