Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of James Wilbur, a shoe trade worker, born 1867 in Hinckley, Leicestershire and his wife Ada Wilbur (nee Taylor, married in the 2nd quarter of 1888 in the Hinckley, Leicestershire district), born 27th February 1870 in Stoney Stanton, Leicestershire. Sydney was born in the 1st quarter of 1897 in Hinckley, his siblings were, Charles, born 1891, Percy, born 1896 and Stanley, born 1900, all his siblings were born in Hinckley, in March 1901 the family home was at 4, Spring Hill, Hinckley. In the 2nd quarter of 1906, in the Hinckley, Leicestershire district, Sydney’s father died aged 49. Sydney’s widowed mother married William Moore in the 2nd quarter of 1909 in the Hinckley, Leicestershire district. In April 1911 Sydney was employed as an apprentice and was residing in the family home at 8, Mill View, Hinckley, together with his step father, William Moore, a bricklayer’s carter, born 1890 in Barwell, Leicestershire, his mother and siblings, Percy, a shoe trade worker and Florence, a schoolgirl, born 1904 in Hinckley, also residing in the family home was his half blood sibling, Mary Ann Moore, born 1910 in Hinckley. Sydney was officially recorded at birth with the surname spelling of Wilbur, however the following variations of his surname are recorded in official documents, Wilebur, Wilebuh and Wildbore.
Sydney attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (Three years with the Colours.) on the 3rd September 1914 in Hinckley. He gave his place of birth as Hinckley, Leicestershire his age as 19 years 265 days and his trade or calling as coach builder. He confirmed that he was unmarried. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 5 inches in height, weighed 130 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 33 and 35 inches. His physical development was described as good. It was noted that he had a mole on his left scapula and two small scars on his left shin. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 11807 on the 3/9/14. Posted to the 7th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 5/9/14. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 29/7/15. Awarded 28 days Field Punishment No.1, in the field on the 5/10/15. Appointed Lance Corporal, paid, in the field on the 1/7/16. Killed in action, in the field on the 27/9/16. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 3/9/14 – 28/7/15, 329 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 29/7/15 – 27/9/16, 1 year 61 days. Total service 2 years 25 days. He was awarded the 1915 Star, British War and Victory medals. The following information was provided by Sydney’s mother Ada Moore on the 7th May 1919, and was witnessed and signed by G. P. O. Kinton, J.P., Leicestershire, London Road, Hinckley on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, dead. Mother of soldier, Ada Moore of No.3, Mill View, Hinckley. Full blood brothers of soldier, Percy Wilbur, age 24 Soldier in France. Charles Wilbur, age 29 of 6, Barnp-?-, Salisbury, Wilts. Half blood brother of soldier William Moore, age 8 of No.3, Mill View, Hinckley. Full blood sister of soldier, Florence Wilbur, age 14 of No.3, Mill View, Hinckley. Half blood sisters of soldier, Mary Ann Moore, age 9 of No.3, Mill View, Hinckley. Ada Moore, age 3 of No.3, Mill View, Hinckley. Sydney’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 27-29 Sep-16 - GUEDECOURT. Battalion remained in same position. Nothing of importance occurred during this period. 48 casualties were sustained through shell fire.