Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Hives Reid, a joiner, born 1867 in Willoughby, Nottinghamshire and his wife Sarah Reid (nee Nurse, married in the 2nd quarter of 1892 in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district), born 1865 in Rothley, Leicestershire. Sydney was born in the 3rd quarter of 1892 in Rothley, in March 1901 Sydney was absent from the family home at Anthony Street, Rothley, residing there was his father, a joiner, his mother and sibling, Annie, born 1894 in Rothley, also residing in the family home was Sydney’s widowed maternal Grandfather, Jacob Nurse, born 1831 in Rothley. In April 1911 Sydney was employed as a grocer’s shop assistant and was residing in the family home at Anthony Street, Rothley, together with his father, a carpenter, his mother and sibling, Annie, an elastic trade worker, also residing in the family home was Sydney’s widowed Grandfather, Jacob Nurse, a retired general labourer.
Sydney attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (Three years with the Colours.) on the 2nd September 1914 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as Rothley, Leicester, his age as 22 years and 2 months and his trade or calling as grocer. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father William Reid, his mother Sarah Reid and his sister Annie Reid, all of Rothley, Leicester as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 9½ inches in height, weighed 137 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 34½ and 37 inches. His complexion was described as sallow, his hair colour was dark brown and he had brown eyes. Hi physical development was described as good. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for the Army on the 2nd September 1914 in Leicester. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 11615 on the 2/9/14. Posted to the 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment in Aldershot, on the 24/9/14. Posted to Folkestone on the 28/2/15. Posted to Perham Down on the 8/4/15. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 29/7/15. Wounded, in the field, gunshot wound to the abdomen and right arm on the 25/9/16. Died of wounds in the 38th Casualty Clearing Station on the 1/10/16. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 2/9/14 – 29/7/15, 331 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 29/7/15 – 1/10/16, 1 year 64 days. Total service 2 years 30 days. Sydney was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals. The following information was provided by Sydney’s father William Reid on the 22nd May 1919, and was witnessed and signed by -?- Skipworth, J.P. for Leicestershire, Mountsorrel, Loughborough on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, William Reid of Anthony Street, Rothley, Leicester. Mother of soldier, Sarah Reid of Anthony Street, Rothley, Leicester. Full blood sister of soldier, Annie Staples, of Anthony Street, Rothley, Leicester. Sydney’s surviving service documents are in 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: 24-30 Sep-16 - East of TRONES WOOD. About 7.00pm on the 24th the Battalion marched up to take a position prior to making an attack the next day. Before they reached the position the enemy heavily shelled our men, several casualties resulting. At 12.30pm on the 25th the first attack was launched, the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT being in a position on the right of FLERS. The objective was the first German line, a distance of about 1000 yards from the trench from which the Battalion launched the attack. The attack was made in waves, each platoon forming a wave, and 2 waves going over at a time. The attack was launched with splendid heroism, the first objective was gained in about ¾ of an hour, the men then stopped a short time to consolidate their gain, and to allow the artillery barrage to lift. They then pressed on to their second objective which was the village of GUEDECOURT. By the time they reached the village their ranks were sadly thinner, by the tremendous artillery barrage the enemy put up, and by machine guns which wrought terrible havoc. Never the less with dauntless gallantry they pressed on reaching the village and engaging the enemy in hand to hand fighting, which took place all the night. In the morning the 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT relieved the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT in the village, and the enemy were finally driven out. The 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT were brought back to the second line of trenches, where they were relieved by the 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT on the 28th. They then went back to SWISS TRENCH where they remained until relieved on the night of October 1st.
On Friday October 13th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – ROTHLEY CASUALTIES. Mr. and Mrs. W. Reid, of Anthony-street, Rothley, have received official notification that their only son, Private Sidney Reid, aged 24, died on October 1st at a casualty clearing station from wounds received in action. Private Reid joined the Leicester’s in August 1914, he had been at the front since July, 1915. Formerly he was in the employ of Mountsorrel Co-operative Society. Mrs. North, of Woodgate, Rothley has been officially notified that he husband, Private William North, aged 23, died of wounds received in action on September 26th. Private W. North was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry North of Anthony-street, Rothley, and joined the Leicester’s early this year. He had been at the front about two months. Before enlisting he was in the employ of Messrs. Porter, boot manufacturers, Leicester. He leaves a widow and one child.