HARTWELL, Sidney Frederick
| Service Numbers: | 2034, 2034A |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 27 November 1915, Liverpool, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Driver |
| Last Unit: | 10th Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia, 31 May 1896 |
| Home Town: | Tichborne, Parkes, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Tichborne Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Died of wounds, Belgium, 22 October 1917, aged 21 years |
| Cemetery: |
Ypres Reservoir Cemetery Grave 1-29C Plot 2 Row 1 Grave 20, |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Parkes & District Cenotaph, Parkes District Roll of Honor, Parkes RSL Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 27 Nov 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2034, Liverpool, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 15 Jan 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2034, 1st Light Horse Regiment, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '1' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: RMS Osterley embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 15 Jan 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2034, 1st Light Horse Regiment, RMS Osterley, Sydney | |
| 22 Oct 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Driver, 2034A, 10th Field Artillery Brigade , Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2034A awm_unit: 10th Australian Field Artillery Brigade awm_rank: Driver awm_died_date: 1917-10-22 |
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Sid, as he was known in our family, enlisted on 27 NOV 1915 at Liverpool, NSW, he was born Frederick Sydney, Fred after his Father & Sydney after his paternal Uncle & was the 3rd child & first son of Frederick Edward Hartwell & Mary Ann SUSAN Green. Fred & Susan lived in Glenthompson, Vic & 6 weeks after the birth of their 2nd daughter (my maternal Grandmother) in March, 1894 they left Victoria in search of gold in the Central West of NSW. After Sid's birth in Dubbo the family moved to the Coonamble/Walgett area where Susan's Mother & siblings had recently settled, for reasons unknown Fred & Susan and 3 children moved further east & by 1898 had settled in the Parkes area making their home for the next 20 years in Tichborne.
Unfortunately I did not know Sid but knowing my other Great Uncles I know I would loved him just as much. My childhood memories are of my Nan talking about her brother killed in the war, she would always have a tear in her eye & a melancoly look on her face when she talked of Sid.
I am in poccession of the many letters & postcards Sid sent home & I read into them a thoughtful, compassionate boy with a very witty sense of humour, Sid always ended his letters to his parents "I remain your loving son, Sid", I have attached one letter here with no such ending, it is an unfinished letter & was started the day before he was killed.
From what I have read Sid suffered severe injuries to his legs & did not die immediately, my heart cries when I think of what he went through during the last hours of his life, I don't think my Nan was aware of this & if I had of found out before Nan passed away I don't think I would have told her, Sid's death was enough for her, her parents & 6 other siblings to deal with.
Ironically Sid was killed about 70kls due east from where his Father was born in Bologne-sur-mer, France, another detail that I don't think his family were aware of.
It is fortunate that Sid is buried in Ypres Reserviour Cemetery for every night of the year at 8pm the road is closed at the Menin Gate & a buglar from the local fire brigade plays the Last Post, many of our family have witnessed this, 2 years ago a 2nd cousin visited & there was a full brass band that night. I plan to visit Sid on 22 OCT 1917, the 100th anniversary of his death & I am hoping for the brass band but will be happy for the solo buglar. Attached here is a photgraph of the original wooden cross on Sid's grave & one of a close-up of the base of the present monument with words chosen by his parents.
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