Sydney Thomas

A Private with 2nd Battalion, Sydney died on 2nd of March 1916 at the age of 34. 

Sydney was born in Birmingham in 1882 (note, according to Commonwealth War Graves he was born in 1876 but there are no civil records that support that conclusion). By 1891 he was living in Norwich and the 1891 Census shows him living with Harriet Swetnam, and her daughter Caroline, at 101 Unthank Road, the details of these circumstances are not known.

In his teens Sydney served in the 1st Volunteer Battalion Norfolk Regiment and on 19 September 1899 he enlisted in the 3rd (Militia) Battalion Norfolk Regiment at Norwich, service number 4285. At that time he was working as groom, for Mr. De Caux, of South Heigham, and gave his address as 15 King's Square, Globe Street, Union Place, Norwich. Sydney was 'embodied', which meant that he was called for full-time service, on 25 January 1900, and he saw active service in the Boer War. Sydney was awarded both the Queen's and King's South Africa Medals. Sydney was disembodied on 11 April 1902 and he continued to serve with the militia until 4 September 1906 and this might indicate when he, and Alice, moved to Lowestoft.      

Sydney married Alice Mary Rowe at Norwich in 1903. In 1911 Sydney and Alice lived at 3 Ontario Road, Lowestoft, and Sydney worked as a hotel porter. 

Sydney volunteered to join the Army and he enlisted in the Suffolk Regiment. He joined as a 'special reserve' soldier hence his service number has the prefix '3'. On 10 October 1914 he arrived in France to serve with the 2nd Battalion. 

On 2 March 1916 the 2nd Battalion Suffolk Regiment were involved in an attack at The Bluff, near St. Eloi, south-east of Ypres. This attack was judged to be very successful and and of the enemy tranches were taken and three enemy machine guns captures and 49 prisoners taken. However, the 2nd Battalion suffered loses, including Sydney.  

Alice married Henry Dyer in 1918 and they lived at 5 Hervey Street, Lowestoft.