Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Henry Gillam, a hosiery framework knitter, born 1861 in Countesthorpe, Leicestershire and his wife Mary Elizabeth Gillam (nee Veasey, married in the 1st quarter of 1888 in the Blaby, Leicestershire district), born 1868 in Countesthorpe, Leicestershire, Sydney was born in the 2nd quarter of 1890 in Countesthorpe, Leicestershire, in April 1891 the family home was at Peatling End, Countesthorpe, Leicestershire. In the 1st quarter of 1897 Sydney’s father died aged 36 in the Blaby, Leicestershire district. In March 1901 Sydney was residing at Peatling End, Countesthorpe, Leicestershire, this being the family home of his maternal grandfather, Joseph Veasy, a hosiery framework knitter, born 1841 in Countesthorpe, Leicestershire and his wife Eliza Veasy (nee Herbert, married in the 4th quarter of 1860 in the Blaby, Leicestershire district), born 1842 in Countesthorpe, Leicestershire, together with his widowed mother, a stocking machinist and his siblings, Doris Kathleen, born 1894 and Nellie, born 1897, the latter two siblings were both born in Countesthorpe, Leicestershire, also residing in the family home were two cousins, Annie Bull, a stocking machinist, born 1881 and Edith L. Bull, a stocking machinist, born 1886, both cousins were born in Hanslope, Buckinghamshire. In April 1911 Sydney was employed as a hosiery trade trimmer and was residing in the family home at Coxs Lane, Countesthorpe, Leicestershire together with his stepfather, William Henry Cox, a fishmonger, born 1872 in Countesthorpe, Leicestershire, his mother (married in the 4th quarter of 1901 in the Blaby, Leicestershire district) and sister Doris, a hosiery trade linker, and his step siblings, Stella Cox, a hosiery trade machinist, born 1895 and Arthur Cox, a glove trade machinist, born 1897, the latter two step siblings were both born in Countesthorpe, Leicestershire, also his half blood siblings, Albert Edward Cox, a schoolboy, born 1903, Bertram Cox, born 1907 and Alfred Cox, born 1910, the latter three half blood siblings were all born in Countesthorpe, Leicestershire. Sydney attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement for the Duration of the War, with the Colours and in the Army Reserve on the 15th November 1915 in Leicester. He gave his place of residence as Main Street, Countesthorpe, Leicestershire and his age as 25 years and 169 days. He gave his trade or calling as hosiery trimmer. He stated that he was unmarried. He gave his mother Mary Elizabeth Cox, of Main Street, Countesthorpe, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 8½ inches in height, weighed 137 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 33 and 36 inches. His record of service began when he attested on the 15/11/15 and was placed on the Army Reserve as a Private, service number 25167 on the 16/11/15. Mobilised on the 10/2/16. Posted to the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment on the 10/2/16. Posted to the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, Patrington on the 13/2/16. Posted to 12th Infantry Base Depot on the 22/7/16. Posted to the 7th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 23/7/16. Posted to the 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment of the 4/8/16. Appointed Lance Corporal, paid on the 23/12/16. Admitted to The General Military Hospital, Eastern Command, Edmonton N.18 suffering from a gun shot wound to the right forearm on the 14/5/17 – 25/11/17. Posted to the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment on the 14/5/17. Admitted to Northern Command Depot Hospital, Ripon on the 9/1/18 – 10/1/18. Posted to the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 13/1/18. Appeared before a medical board at Ripon and found to be permanently unfit on the 25/2/18. Discharged: No longer physically fit for War Service (K.R. 392 (XVI) on the 18/3/18. Died in the Leicester Royal Infirmary on the 29/1/19. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 10/2/16 – 21/7/16. British Expeditionary Force, France, 22/7/16 – 13/5/17. Home Service, 14/5/17 – 18/3/18. Total service, 2 years 37 days. His military character was classed as good, being described as sober, honest and hardworking. Sydney was awarded to British and Victory medals. He was also awarded a Silver Wound Badge, No. 352.379.