Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Sydney was the son of Benjamin SIMCOCK & Mary Ann BETTERMAN and was born on the 24th of November 1892 in Howard Street, Collinswood, SA.

His parents were married on the 1st of September 1888 at the residence on Mary’s mother in Kapunda, SA.

His father was the son of John SIMCOCK & Julie Ann THOMAS and was born on the 6th of February 1864 in Kanmantoo, SA.
His mother was the daughter of Johann Heinrich BETTERMAN & Jane BIGGIN and was born on the 5th of June 1868 in Freeling, SA.

Sydney was the fourth child born into the family of 8 children.

His father was a Milk Vendor and they lived at Howard Street, Collinswood.

After completing his schooling Sydney gained employment as a labourer and in February 1914 he purchased a milk run in Unley and became a Milk Vendor.
About the same time the family moved to Harvey Street, Rosebery (Walkerville).

With the outbreak of WW1 his brothers began to enlist.

His brother Edgar enlisted into the 4th Light Horse Field Ambulance on the 7th of December 1914 (2696).
Edgar embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A30 Borda on the 23rd of June 1915 and was transferred to the 1st Australian Field Ambulance.

Albert then enlisted into the 32nd Battalion on the 25th of August 1915 (1818).

At the age of 22, Sydney enlisted into the AIF on the 3rd of November 1915 in Adelaide and was allotted the service number 2015 and posted to the Light Horse in Mitcham Camp.
He was then posted to the 9th Light Horse Regiment, 14th Reinforcements.

Albert embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A30 Borda on the 11th of January 1916 and was transferred to the 15th Battalion.

Sydney embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A69 Warilda on the 10th of February 1916, disembarked Port Suez on the 3rd of March and entrained to Heliopolis Camp.
He was then transferred to the 14th Field Artillery Brigade, 53rd Battery and proceeded to France.

On the 28th of March 1917 he was detached to 2nd ANZAC Headquarters on permanent base duties.
Whilst he was here his brother Albert was fighting on the Hindenburg Line, south of Riencourt with the 15th Battalion.
He was wounded on the 11th of April in an attack and unfortunately died of his wounds the same day. The 15th Battalion suffered heavy losses on this day when the Brigade attacked strong German positions without the promised tank support.

Sydney rejoined his Battery and was located at Dickebusch in October when he received the news that his brother Edgar had been awarded the Military Medal, for conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty at Westhoek Ridge.

On the 4th of October 1917 and the days following, Edgar twice a day took his water cart up to Westhoek Ridge with water for the dressing station, showing utter disregard of personal danger, and at times under heavy shell fire having to help to mend the road when it had been blown up, in order to get through. His courage and endurance were a fine example, and saved the Dressing Station and all the forward Ambulance posts from running short of water.

The following month Sydney suffered sever gas poisoning and was evacuated to England.
He never returned to France, he embarked for Australia on board HT Saxon on the 11th of December 1918 and after spending Christmas 1918 on board the ship, he disembarked in Adelaide on the 30th of January 1919.

Sydney was discharged from the AIF on the 31st of March 1919.

The very next month, Sydney married Dorothy Grace ROBERTS on the 29th of April 1919 in the Methodist Church, Walkerville, SA.
They were married by Sydney’s brother in-law, Rev. Henry Francis LYONS.

Dorothy was the daughter of Charles Fleming Smart ROBERTS & Phoebe Cecelia Eliza HAWKE and was born on the 17th of November 1894 in Gilbert Town, SA.

They made their home at Concordia, near Gawler, where Sydney had a small dairy herd and they welcomed their first child; Mary.

In May 1928 Sydney lost a buggy pony through being stung to death by bees. He had driven to the farm of his neighbour, Mr. A. J. Marrett, and stayed to lunch, tying the pony to a post.
During the meal he noticed that the pony was restless, and after a time frantic. He went outside and was astounded to see the pony's head smothered in bees. Plenty of water soon swept the invaders away and the pony was treated for poison.
The treatment appeared successful, but towards night the pony died and its body 'blew-up' to an enormous extent.

Mr. Marrett never kept bees and the attackers were a swarm that had previously given him trouble. They were first noticed on the front gatepost, from where they were unceremoniously dislodged. A few hours later they had swarmed on the water trough and were ousted by a considerable supply of the liquid. They then appeared to depart, but were discovered in swarm in a chimney of his house, through which Mr Marrett promptly sent dense volumes of smoke.
It was later ascertained that the bees had hived in a post just adjacent to where the pony had been tethered.

In 1932 they moved to Tapley’s Hill Road, West Beach and ran a Registered Stud Jersey Cow herd on their small dairy which they called “Para Glen”.
They sold their farm and dairy herd in September 1942 and moved to 226 Seaview Road, Henley.

In 1944 Sydney became the councillor for the Henley South Ward.

On the 18th of June 1952 their daughter married Robert Kevin CHENEY in the Methodist Church, Blackwood.

In June 1954 Sydney retired from the Henley and Grange Council after 10 years due to ill health. He had held the position of councillor for 8 years and alderman for 2 years.
He was also the chairman of the foreshore Committee.

Sydney died on the 3rd of December 1966 and was buried 2 days later in the Hindmarsh Cemetery; Section Lower Z34 1.

Military

At the age of 22, Sydney enlisted into the AIF on the 3rd of November 1915 in Adelaide and was allotted the service number 2015 and posted to the Light Horse in Mitcham Camp.
He listed his father, of Harvey Street, Walkerville, as his next of kin.

On the 16th of November he was posted to the 9th Light Horse Regiment, 14th Reinforcements.

Sydney embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A69 Warilda on the 10th of February 1916, disembarked Port Suez on the 3rd of March and entrained to Heliopolis Camp.

Six days later he was taken on strength with the 3rd Light Horse Reserve Regiment before being transferred to the 5th Australian Division Artillery on the 1st of April.
The same day he was posted to the newly raised 14th Field Artillery Brigade, 53rd Battery at Ferry Post.
The Brigade comprised of the following;
53rd Field Artillery Battery
54th Field Artillery Battery
55th Field Artillery Battery
114th Field Artillery (Howitzer) Battery
14th Brigade Ammunition Column

The Batteries were capable of a range of almost 3.7 miles (6 kilometres) with their 18 pound guns and they fired a range of ammunition including; High Explosive fragmentation, Shrapnel, Smoke, Gas, Star (illumination) and Armour Piercing projectiles.

On the 25th of May Sydney was appointed to Driver and on the 20th of June they embarked from Alexandria on board HMT Huntsend and disembarked in Marseilles 10 days later.
They entrained for Steenbecque, some 600 miles away and then marched to Blaringhem, arriving on the 7th of July.

Three days later they marched to Steenwerck and relieved the 4th Australian Division Batteries, this was there first taste of the war.
Four days later they provided a heavy bombardment on the enemy in front of the Fromelles Church Ruins and were then involved in the Battle of Fromelles.

By August they had moved to Petillon, near Fleurbaix, to support the infantry and they remained in this area for the next few months and slowly followed the infantry to Vignacourt.

On the 3rd of January 1917 Sydney suffered from Rheumatism and Myalgia and was admitted into the 8th Australian Field Ambulance Dressing Station at Vignacourt.
Ten days later he was transferred to the New Zealand Stationary Hospital in Amiens and the following day he was transferred by Ambulance Train to the 5th General Hospital in Rouen.
Sydney spent 8 days here and was then discharged to No.2 Convalescent Camp on the 25th of January and then discharged to the AGBD (Australian General Base Depot) in Etaples on the 9th of February.

On the 28th of March he was detached to 2nd ANZAC Headquarters on permanent base duties.
Whilst he was here his brother Albert was fighting on the Hindenburg Line, south of Riencourt with the 15th Battalion.
He was wounded on the 11th of April in an attack and unfortunately died of his wounds the same day.

After 6 weeks at Headquarters, Sydney was medically classified A (fit for active service) on the 19th of May and returned to the AGBD.
He rejoined his Battery on the 9th of June who was located in the Queant area.
On the 28th of June they marched 12 miles to the Bapaume – Albert Road to support the infantry and by July they had moved to Frezenberg, near Passchendaele.
They remained here until the 8th of September when they marched 35 miles into billets at Nieurlet and went into rest and training.

Sydney was granted 2 weeks leave to England on the 27th of September and when he rejoined his Battery they were located at Dickebusch.

On the 4th of November Sydney suffered from severe gas poisoning and was evacuated to the 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Siding, near Lyssenhoek.
The following day he was transferred to the 2nd Australian General Hospital in Wimmereux and then evacuated to England on the 8th and admitted into the Chester War Hospital.

He spent 3 weeks here, including Christmas 1917, before being transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford on the 31st of December.
On the 16th of January 1918 Sydney was discharged to No.4 Command Depot in Hurdcott, where on the 18th of February he was caught smoking on parade and was confined to barracks for 3 days.

Sydney went AWOL from the barracks on the 30th of April and when caught, he was confined to the barracks for 5 days.
He spent 3 months here before being posted to an Overseas Training Brigade on the 10th of July and then posted to the RBAA (Reserve Brigade Australia Artillery) at Heytesbury on the 2nd of August.

Sydney was still here on the 11th of November 1918 when the Armistice was signed and 2 days later he was transferred to No.1 Command Depot in Sutton Veny for return to Australia.

Sydney embarked from England on board HT Saxon on the 11th of December 1918 and after spending Christmas 1918 on board the ship, he disembarked in Adelaide on the 30th of January 1919.

Sydney was discharged from the AIF on the 31st of March 1919 and awarded the British War & Victory Medals.