Sidney Reginald Marwood

A Gunner with 96th Siege Battery, Sidney died on 27th of September 1917 at the age of 41. 

Sidney was born at Kennington in 1876, a son of Jethro and Emma J. Marwood. In 1881 his family lived at 3 Clayton Terrace, White Horse Street, Lambeth. By 1891 Sidney’s father had died and Sidney lived with his mother at Saint George’s Mansions, Drake Street, Holborn, and Sidney worked as a junior clerk in an export department. In 1901 Sidney lodged at 2 Lansdown Terrace, Weston, Somerset, and he worked as a clerk. 

On 12 October 1902 Sidney married Martha Blades at Christ Church, Crouch End. Sidney was a clerk living at 14 Spencer Road, Tottenham Lane, and Martha lived at 36 Avenue Road, Crouch End. By 1911 they were living at 96 Seymour Road, Harringay, and Sidney worked as a shipping clerk for a publisher. Later they lived at 99 Wightman Road, Harringay. After Sidney’s death Martha lived at Homefield, Kessingland.

Sidney enlisted in the Army at Harringay. He joined the Royal Field Artillery, service number 111378. He was posted to serve with 96th Siege Battery in France. 

The Historical Record of 96th Siege Battery R.G.A. has the following report of the events pertaining to Sidney’s death:

A reluctant return was made to Lievin on the 25th (September 1917), the contrast between pretty village scenes and ugly ruins not being much appreciated. The Battery was so frequently shelled at Lievin that the occasions have not been recorded, but on the evening of September 27th, from about 7.30 p.m. till 9 p.m., a stream of 5.9 in(ch), was poured into the position, the principle gun to suffer being No. 2. Sergeant Weatherbourn, Bombardier Swainston and Gunner Marwood were killed during this bombardment, the cellar which they occupied being blown in. 

Sidney and Sergeant Weatherbourn and Bombardier Swainston are buried in adjacent graves at Aix-Noulette.