Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Henry Corah, an assistant overseer and rate collector, born 1865 in Loughborough, Leics., and his wife Kate Corah (nee Morgan), born 1867 in Loughborough, Leics. Sydney was a chartered accountant’s articled clerk and was born in 1892 in Loughborough, Leics., in April 1911 the family home was at 112, Park Road, Loughborough, Leics. In the second quarter of 1918, Sydney married Hilda P. Mounteney in the Loughborough, Leicestershire marriage registration district. On Saturday March 10th 1917 The Leicester Mercury published the following article under the heading. “THE ROLL OF HONOUR” - “LOCAL MEN IN THE CASUALTY LISTS” - The followings local casualties are officially reported. All are Private’s except where otherwise shown:- OFFICER WOUNDED.- Corah, Second Lieutenant S., Leicestershire Regiment. The War Diary for today records. MAGNY LA FOSSE. 6.05am. Barrage starts. Attack entirely successful and all objectives captured including village of MONT-BREHAIN. 8.30am. Battn received orders to move up in support of 137th Infantry Brigade and occupy captured German front line. Battn moved off in artillery formation, A Coy (PETCH) right supported by B Coy (HAWLEY), D Coy (CORAH) left supported by C Coy (BANWELL) total fighting strength about 245 all ranks. 9.15am. As Battn was approaching LEVERGIES message received that it was still uncertain in whose hands SEQUEHART was. By the time any action could be taken A and C Coy’s were already on line of SEQUEHART – PRESELLES ROAD (SUNKEN) where they remained, as this provided the only cover in the neighbourhood. The “FONSOMME” LINE was only cut to a depth of 6 inches with machine gun emplacements at intervals. D Coy were too far left, so was brought across to form a defensive flank 300 yards on the north side of SEQUEHART village. B Coy remained in reserve on LEVERGIES – PRESELLES ROAD. Battn HQ on bank of railway line LEVERGIES – JONNESCOURT about 750 yards east of former village, with Battn HQ of 5th Battn SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE REGT (WHITE). Greatest difficulty experienced in obtaining any accurate information with regard to SEQUEHART, but by 11.00am village certainly in our hands because it was heavily shelled by the enemy. An enemy 77mm battery about 700 yards south of the village fired point blank at C Coy in the sunken road which it almost enfiladed. 2.00pm. Owing to late arrival of Cavalry 137th Brigade were unable to hold the enormous front that they had gained without help, and enemy was still holding the commanding position of DOON HILL from which he swept whole area with heavy machine gun fire. 3.00pm. A and D Coy’s ordered to attack DOON HILL, formed up on PRESELLES – SEQUEHART ROAD north of C Coy. Preliminary reconnaissance carried out in spite of enemy’s fire but the Commanding Officer Lt. Col. J. L. GRIFFITHS, Captain D. B. PETCH M.C. and 2nd Lt. A. J. MACE were all wounded. Lt. S. CORAH and 2nd Lt. J. G. CHRISTY were both killed. ½ A Coy (DENNIS) got as far as just south of high ground on SEQUEHART – RAMICOURT ROAD, ½ A Coy (EDWARDES) were prevented from starting. Both parties dug trenches in where they were. D Coy (C.S.M. COOPER) were left without an officer and had no instructions, so dug in 200 yards south east of PRESELLES FARM. 5.00pm. Enemy’s counter attack re took MONT BREHAIN. The Adjutant Captain J. D. HILLS assumed command of the Battn. 6.00pm. In order to meet further counter attacks, should they develop, B Coy (HAWLEY) sent to occupy high ground on RAMICOURT ROAD. Lt. S. G. H. STEELE took over command of D Coy but was at once wounded in the leg, however he managed to continue at work. 8.30pm. Dismounted Cavalry came up to assist in holding the line. Enemy shelled at once very heavily, C.S.M. ANGRAVE, C Coy very badly wounded. Everybody expected enemy to make further counter attacks but none materialised and night passed quietly, rations and water all sent up. This is the third consecutive day on which the Cavalry have been waiting for a “break” and have had to return unsuccessful.