DEDMAN, Sidney Leonard


No.1100596, Gunner, Sidney Leonard DEDMAN
Aged 34


4th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery
Killed in Action on Friday, 25th August 1944


Sidney Leonard DEDMAN was born on 24th September 1909 in Haverhill (Risbridge Q4-1909 4A:860) son of William Wallace and Alice Gertrude DEDMAN (née PILBROUGH).

1911 census...Aged 1, he was at 4 Bumpstead Road, Haverhill with his father William DEDMAN [34] engine driver steam plough; his mother Alice [34], brothers Warrington [8], Harold [5] and Victor [3]. All except Sidney were born in Blackenham, Suffolk.

On 16th January 1937 in St Mary’s Church, Haverhill, Sidney married Rose Alice AGER [7-6-1910] from 4 Council Cottages, Castle Camps and they made their home at 9 Bumpstead Road, Haverhill. Sidney was employed by Mr D M Gurteen in the gardens of The Mount. Their daughter Janet M Dedman was born in 1937 (Risbridge Qtr 2 4a:1499). She married Eric A Allen in 1958.

In the 1939 register they were at 9 Bumpstead Road, Haverhill, Sidney was a gardener.There is one closed record, presumably Janet





Sidney was mobilised in the 4th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery as a gunner.
Sidney had been with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force since 1942. Having beaten the Axis forces in North Africa the regiment was then shipped across to Italy to push up the Adriatic coast. Having landed at Anzio they reached Rongitelli by 9th August 1944. Florence was taken by the Allied forces on 13 August 1944 and became the centre of the Arno line and the point from which Operation Olive, the major Allied offensive of autumn 1944, was launched on the German Gothic Line defences in the Apennines. The Regiment was involved in the fight for the Gothic Line that started on 25 August 1944, the day that Sidney was killed in action.
Transcript of War Diary of 4th Medium Regiment Royal Artillery including 26 August 1944, the date that mentions that Gunner Dedman and Signalman East were killed in action:
Commanding Officer : Lt Col E B SMITH Month and Year August 1944
23rd
14/16 Battery and Regimental Headquarters move to new area near PLAGGE 1660. 9/13 Battery recce and digging parties in new regimental area. Harassing Fire during night.
24th
B Troop registered three targets (houses, suspect strong points) from their Observation Post. 14/16 Battery ELs recorded by 1835 hours. 9/13 Battery moved to new position alongside 14/16 Battery. ZLs recorded by 0007 hours. Silent policy until attack begins.
25th
A Troop Gun registration, order to fire given by 26 Medium Regiment who fire to cover our gunfire. 26th Counter Battery programme fired in preparation for attack. 9/13 Battery Commander goes to 5 Brigade as regimental representative. Capt. Lawrence goes forward as Forward Observation Officer (FOO) with left battalion of 5 Brigade. Capt. Graham mans main Observation Post. Regimental Headquarter area harassed by single 170mm gun intermittently for 2⅛ hours. Signalman East and Gunner Dedman killed in action. Rounds within 10 yards of Regimental Aid Post (RAP). Counter battery until 0700 hours. Task programme began at 0800 hours and continued until evening. Attack successful. Harassing Fire and bombardments during night and early morning 26/27"


Sidney, identified by his discs, was initially buried in Castelvecchio Civil Cemetery and re-interred in Ancona in February 1945.



photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission



Sidney Dedman is buried in Ancona War Cemetery, Italy grave 3:D:4

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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