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Apr 29, 1896
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Born in London, England
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Apr 15, 1910
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Embarked the RMS Victorian in
Liverpool
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Apr 22, 1910
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Disembarked in Halifax, Nova
Scotia and proceeded to Peterborough, Ontario
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Nov 4, 1914
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Attested into the 21st
Battalion CEF in Kingston, Ontario
Ø Number 59948
(temporary number 577)
Ø Next of kin given
as Mrs. M.L. Freeth, mother, Craigside, Whalley, Lancashire, England (she had
remarried following the death of his father)
Ø Previous occupation
given as Farm Labourer
Ø Previous military
experience given as 57th Regiment, Peterborough Rangers, Canadian Militia
Ø Religion given as
Presbyterian
Ø Assigned to “E”
Company
o This was later
reorganized into “C” Company
The battalion trained in the
Kingston area through the winter with headquarters in the Kingston Armouries
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May 6, 1915
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Embarked the RMS Metagama in
Montreal, Quebec
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May 15, 1915
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Disembarked in Devonport,
England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe,
Kent to continue training
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Sep 14, 1915
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Embarked the St. Seiriol in
Folkestone
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Sep 15, 1915
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Disembarked in Boulogne,
France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer
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Mar 27, 1916
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Granted leave until April 4,
1916
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Apr 5, 1916
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Admitted to the Queen Mary’s
Military Hospital in Whalley, England with a diagnosis that reads Accidental
Broken Nose
Posted to the CCAC (Canadian
Casualty Assembly Centre) for pay purposes while in hospital
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Apr 8, 1916
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Surgery performed to correct
the issues complicated by his broken nose
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Apr 28, 1916
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Discharged to duty with the
CCAC
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May 2, 1916
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Admitted to the Canadian
Military Convalescent Hospital in Monks Horton with complications from the
nasal surgery
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May 4, 1916
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Transferred to the Canadian
Military Hospital in Woodcote Park, Epsom
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May 24, 1916
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Discharged to duty and
transferred to the 39th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling
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Jul 17, 1916
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Transferred to the 21st
Battalion
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Jul 18, 1916
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Arrived at the CBD (Canadian
Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France and part of a draft of 46
reinforcements from England and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21st
Battalion
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Aug 8, 1916
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After leaving the base depot, he
joined the 2nd Canadian Entrenching Battalion in the Halifax Camp,
near Brandhoek, Belgium
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Sep 3, 1916
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After leaving the entrenching
battalion, Private Sydes rejoined the 21st Battalion resting in
billets in Zouafques, France
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Sep 15, 1916
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The 21st Battalion
was assigned the objective of capturing the sugar factory at Courcelette as
their part in the battle of the Somme.
It was strongly defended by the Germans as it was used as a
headquarters. The fighting was fierce
and the battalion suffered many casualties.
Private Sydes was among those wounded and he was evacuated to the No.
49 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) after receiving first aid
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Sep 16, 1916
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Private Herbert Sydes died of
his wounds while at the casualty clearing station and was buried in the
Contay British Cemetery, Contay, France
Following the war the 1914-15
Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny) and Scroll
were sent to his aunt, Mrs. Blanche M. Holt, Wellington Lodge, Cheltenham,
England
The Memorial Cross was sent to
his step-father, Major Matthew L. Freeth, Talbot Saw Mills, Talbot Rd.,
Blackpool, Lancashire, England (Herbert’s mother had passed away following
his death, but prior to the issuing of the cross)
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Herbert
Sydes is honoured on the War Memorial in Peterborough, Ontario
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