Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Sidney Thomas Nunn, born in the July quarter of 1873 in Barnstaple, Devon and baptised on the 12th October 1873 as Sidney Thomas Glen Thorne Nunn in the Church of St. John the Evangelist, Countisbury with Lynmouth, Devon (son of Edmund Nunn, 1844-1929 and Mary Anne Rich, 1844-1938) and his wife Harriet Nunn, born in the July quarter of 1871 in Islington, Middlesex (nee Norman, married on the 26th July 1896 in the Marylebone, Middlesex district) (daughter of John Norman, 1835 and Fanny Baxter, 1834). Sidney Edmund was born in the January quarter of 1899 in Marylebone.
Sidney’s father died aged 27 years, in the January quarter of 1900 in the Lambeth, Surrey district
In March 1901 Sidney was absent from the family home at 17, North Street, Marylebone, residing there was his widowed mother, a dressmaker, meanwhile Sidney was residing as a pauper patient in the Marylebone Infirmary, in Rackham Street, North Kensington, Middlesex.
Sidney’s mother died aged 32 years, in the January quarter of 1904 in the Lambeth, Surrey district.
NOTES:
Sidney had a younger sibling, Joseph Henry Nunn, born in the January quarter of 1900 in Marylebone and baptised on the 4th February 1900 in St. Mary’s Church, Bryanston Square, Westminster, Middlesex.
There is no legatee in the Register of Soldiers Effects, no claim was made for an Army Dependant’s Pension and the medals that were awarded to Sidney remained unclaimed, and a request from the Officer Commanding the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment, dated the 1st July 1922 asked for authority for their disposal.
Sidney enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 23rd May 1918 in Leicester, and was allotted the regimental service number 58031. He gave his place of birth as not known and age as 19 years. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as farm labourer.
His medical history was compiled during an examination that took place in Leicester on the 23rd May 1918 and recorded his birthplace as not known, declared age as 19 years, trade or occupation as farm labourer, that he was 5-feet 6 inches in height, weighed 126 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 33½ and 36 inches, his physical development was described as good, his vision was described as R.E.-V=6/18. L.E.-V=6/6. Enlisted at Leicester on the 23rd May 1918. Joined on enlistment Leicestershire Regt. Regimental No. 58031. Transferred to 3rd (Reserve) Bn. Sherwood Foresters. Regimental No. 118239.
He gave his religion as Church of England.
The compilation of events that occurred during his period of military service are taken from the following sources: - Casualty Form – Active Service (B.103). Statement of the Services of. Military History Sheet.
Joined. At Recruiting Office, Market Place, Leicester. 23/5/18.
Posted. To Depot Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 24/5/18.
Allotted. Regimental Service number. 58031.
Admitted. To Hospital. 25/5/18.
Posted. To 3rd Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Hailsham. Pte. 27/5/18.
Discharged. From Hospital. 1/6/18.
Transferred. To 3rd (Reserve) Bn. Sherwood Foresters. Sunderland. Pte. 5/6/18.
Allotted. Regimental Service number. 118239.
Attached. To 4th (Reserve) Bn. Gloucestershire Regt. Sunderland. Pte. 12/6/18.
Admitted. To Hospital. 26/7/18.
Discharged. From Hospital. 12/8/18.
Proceeded. To Port of Embarkation for service overseas (France). Seaton Delaval. 5/10/18.
Joined. Infantry Brigade Depot, Calais.
Posted to 15th (Service) Bn. Sherwood Foresters. Pte.
Posted. To 11th (Service) Bn. Sherwood Foresters. Pte. 9/10/18.
Joined. 11th Bn. Sherwood Foresters. In the Field. 13/10/18.
Killed in action. In the Field. 5/11/18.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 23/5/18 – 5/10/18. 136 days.
France. 6/10/18 – 5/11/18. 31 days
Total Service. 167 days.
He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
SERVICE RECORD NOTE: In September 1940, as the result of a fire caused by an incendiary bomb at the War Office Record Store in Arnside Street, London, approximately two thirds of 6.5 million soldiers’ documents for the First World War were destroyed. Those records which survived were mostly charred or water damaged and unfit for consultation and became known as the “burnt documents.” As a consequence, the content and condition of the surviving records can range from good to extremely poor. The hand written information is, in some instances barely legible, and the number of pages that should comprise a full record, in some cases are either badly damaged or missing entirely, however where possible the available information has been transcribed so that it may at least offer the reader a little descriptive insight into some, if not all of the events and background information surrounding the period of service.
The War Diary records: 5 Nov-18 – FAUR DE FRANCE. The Battalion moved forward at 06.15 hours. The Van Guard and Main Guard, with the Commanding Officer as Officer Commanding was composed of 2 Sections 12th LANCERS 1 Section, 130th Field Company ROYAL ENGINEERS and 11th SHERWOOD FORESTERS and “A” Battery, 110th Brigade ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY. “A” Company formed the Van Guard, the remainder forming the Main Guard. Main body 9th YORKSHIRE REGIMENT, 13th DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY, “A” Company 25th Battalion MACHINE GUN CORPS, 130th Field Company ROYAL ENGINEERS (less 1 Section) 110th Brigade ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY. The route was LE PRESAU, LA BLANCHISSERIE – CATILLON FARM. OLD MILL DES PRES, RUE DE JUIFS to MAROILLES. The Van Guard encountered heavy Machine Gun and rifle fire from the high ground in H.14, but succeeded in pushing on to OLD MILL DES PRES. (Map Reference 57 A. N.W.).
Good use was made throughout the day of the Cavalry, who proved themselves to be of great assistance both for scouting and the quick transmission of messages. The bridge at OLD MILL DES PRES having been blown up the Battalion waded through the stream. “A” Company and 2 platoons of “C” Company were sent forward to mop up MAROILLES with “B” Company and remaining 2 platoons of “C” Company in support. The leading Company although meeting with opposition pushed rapidly forward through MAROILLES and prevented the enemy blowing up one of the bridges over the river. This Company (“A” Company and 2 platoons of “C” Company) then pushed forward to establish outpost positions from H.17 Central to H.11.d.8.5. Here heavy Machine Gun, rifle and trench mortar fire was met with, but being reinforced by “B” Company and 1 platoon of “C” Company the position was gained and consolidated, one platoon of “C” Company being in close support. This opposition was chiefly from the high ground in H.12.a, and the Cavalry made a good attempt to clear the ground, but the close nature of the country was against them. The artillery concentrated on this area, but there was no appreciable lessening of the fire until late at night. Touch was established with the 9th YORKSHIRE REGIMENT on our left. After leaving LE PRESAU, several batteries of enemy artillery were seen and claimed by the Battalion. These were 600 – 700 yards in front of the 9th YORKSHIRE REGIMENT outpost line, and showed the haste with which the enemy had left this position on the night of the 4th instant.
Casualties: 2nd Lieutenant L. J. GOOSENS wounded. Other Ranks: 1 killed. 25 wounded. Nil Missing 1. 1 Died of wounds.
POEM BY: Deborah Tyler-Bennett.
No Relation
(Private Sidney Nunn, 1900-1918)
Diseworth to Kegworth, Bleak House to Finger Farm …

Not actual next of kin, but so recorded,
Mr Morris, Finger Farm, Kegworth.

Just an older man opening front door on trouble,
walking his acres, squinting at bare-faced vistas.

He might have thought the lad
never had chance of life –

Marleybone Workhouse, then Industrial School,
Diseworth to Kegworth, Bleak House to Finger Farm …

Perhaps a tear’s trick showed him toiling still,
tin farm figure against cardboard skies,

or wiping boots on the scraper, come to discuss
cattle-fodder: mangolds; peas; and beans.

Mr Morris, next of kin by dint of being last employer,
may have considered the sheer nonsense of it –

six years learning cultivation, six months a tommy,
death ringing in a week before peace bells sounded

across wintering fields his boy, Sid, had sewn,
Diseworth to Kegworth, Bleak House to Finger Farm.
Deborah Tyler-Bennett
written for Diseworth and Villages Lottery-Funded WWI Project; in collection Mr. Bowlly Regrets, 2017, King’s England Press, ISBN 978-1-9095486-9-5.
[recognitum XXIV-XI-MMXXII]