DIGBY, Sidney Charles
| Service Number: | 928 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 27 August 1914, Enlisted at Randwick and assigned to "H" Company, 1st Infantry Battalion. |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 1st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Surry Hills, New South Wales, Australia, 1885 |
| Home Town: | Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Driver |
| Died: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 21 September 1923, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Rookwood Cemeteries & Crematorium, New South Wales Zone C, Anglican Section 7, Grave 1274 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 27 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 928, 1st Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Randwick and assigned to "H" Company, 1st Infantry Battalion. | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 928, 1st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Sydney | |
| 18 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 928, 1st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 928, 1st Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, Landed at Gallipoli in 2nd wave. | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 928, 1st Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, Sustained bomb wound to leg following landing at Gallipoli. | |
| 28 Aug 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 1st Infantry Battalion | |
| 22 Jan 1919: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 1st Infantry Battalion, Promoted to temporary Sergeant (Cook) | |
| 31 May 1919: | Embarked AIF WW1, Sergeant, 928, 1st Infantry Battalion, Embarked in England aboard HMAT Aeneas for return to Australia. | |
| 29 Jul 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Sergeant, 928, 1st Infantry Battalion, Discharged in 2nd Military District, Sydney, due to termination of period of enlistment. |
Help us honour Sidney Charles DIGBY's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Karan CAMPBELL-DAVIS
Sidney (spelt "Sydney" on his birth certificate) Charles DIGBY was born in 1885 in Sydney, NSW, to parents Eliza and George DIGBY.
A single, 28 year old driver who lived with his parents in Redfern at the time, Sidney enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Randwick Racecourse, NSW, on 27th August 1914. He was assigned as a Private with the original "H" Company (later "C" Company) of the 1st Infantry Battalion, regimental number 928. Following completion of recruit training at Kensington Racecourse (now a University of NSW Campus) and Long Bay Rifle Range, Sidney embarked with his Unit aboard HMAT "Afric" in Sydney, on 18th October 1914, for active service overseas.
Arriving in Alexandria, Egypt on 5th December, the 1st Battalion proceeded to Mena Camp, where they undertook a rigorous training regime for the next four months. On 10th April 1915, they left Alexandria, arriving in Mudros Harbour on the Island of Lemnos on the 12th. There, they practised embarking and disembarking from small boats for two days, then went ashore with the rest of the 1st Brigade on the 16th, to practise attacks.
On 24th April 1915, the 1st Battalion embarked aboard the S.S. "Minnewaska" for Gallipoli, where they went ashore at Kabatepe (just South of what's now known as ANZAC Cove) about 7.40am on Sunday 25th April. Soon after the landing, Sidney sustained a bomb wound to the leg, and was evacuated back to Egypt.
On 30th April 1915, Sidney was admitted to the Number 1 Australian General Hospital in Heliopolis, Cairo. Following his discharge from hospital on 20th May, he was sent to the Australian Convalescent Depot in Helouan, based at the Al Hayat Hotel. Sidney returned to his Unit at Gallipoli on 17th June.
Following the heavy casualties suffered by the 1st Battalion during the Battle of Lone Pine, Sidney was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal on 28th August. Due to the ongoing stalemate, the 1st Battalion was evacuated from the Gallipoli Peninsula in December 1915, along with the rest of the AIF and Allied forces. They returned to Alexandria, Egypt on the 28th December, where they regrouped and resumed training.
The 1st Battalion joined the British Expeditionary Force, proceeding to France on 22nd March 1916. By this time, Sidney was established as a company cook. He returned to England on 9th June for 8 days leave.
On 5th December 1916, Sidney was "on command for instruction" with the 1st Australian Cookery School at Tidworth, England, returning to his Unit 20 days later.
Sidney embarked in England aboard HMHS "Llanstephan Castle" on 25th February 1918, for return to Australia on "transport duty". He returned to London on 26th August 1918, from where he proceeded back to France, via Sutton Veny.
On 22nd January 1919, following the end of hostilities, Sidney was promoted to the rank of temporary Sergeant (Cook).
Sidney embarked aboard HMAT "Aeneas" in England on 31st May 1919 for return to Australia, where he was discharged on 29th July in 2nd Military District Sydney, due to the termination of his period of enlistment. He was later awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service. In March 1920, Sidney was awarded the French Medaille d'Honeur en Argent Avec Glaives (Medal of Honour of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Military with Swords, 1st class, silver). The award was published in both the London and Commonwealth Gazettes, although the actual citation is not included in the latter (10 June 1920, issue 51, page 830).
Sidney died on 21st September 1923, aged just 38, and is buried in Zone C, Anglican Section 7, Grave 1274 in Rookwood General Cemetery, Lidcombe, Sydney.
Compiled by Karan CAMPBELL-DAVIS from historical records kept by the National Archives of Australia, Births, Deaths and Marriages NSW, Australian War Memorial (1st Infantry Battalion War Diaries) and Find A Grave website.
Click images to start slideshow.