No.13621, Private, Sidney Charles PRYKE
Aged 21
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Sidney Charles Pryke was born on 1894 in Barnham ( Thetford Q4-1894 4B:366), son of Charles and Mary Ann PRYKE (née BAKER).
1901 census...Aged 6, he was in Barnham with his father Charles PRYKE [48] forester's labourer; his mother Mary Ann [38]; brothers Walter [14] farm labourer, Percy [10] and Arthur [2]; sisters Gertrude [12] and Pleasance [1]. All were born in Barnham. His sister Lilian Lavinia [12] born Barnham was at Duke's Ride Cottages with her grandparents John and Jane PRYKE. Sister Florence May has not been identified in this census. 1911 census...Aged 16, a postboy, he was at Water Lane, Barnham with his widower father; sisters Florence [29] born Barnham, Pleasance and Gladys [6] born Barnham; brothers Percy (farm labourer) and Arthur. His mother had died in 1905. His younger brother Arthur died in France in 1918 see here |
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He enlisted in Bury St Edmunds. The battalion war diary for the 16th simply says - 16/9/16 - Batt in trenches. The 13th to 16th had seen unsuccessful attempts to take the ridge between Morval and Les Boeufs but the Quadrilateral, bristling with machine guns stood in the way and it was impossible to make headway. "The History of the Suffolk Regiment" by Lt Col Murphy has the total as 6 officers killed, 50 O.R; wounded 19 officers, 284 OR; missing 93 OR CWGC records show a total of 6 officers killed and 151 O.R., of these 101 O.R. were killed on 16th, only 22 with a identified grave. The discrepancy on figures is usually due to many of the missing being eventually presumed dead. The Bury Free Press of 7th October 1916 reported:- ANOTHER BARNHAM HERO Mr. Charles Pryke of Church Lane, has received official intimation that his son, Prvt Sydney Charles Pryke, who was serving with a Suffolk Regiment, was killed in action on Sept.16th, He was formerly employed at Euston Hall Gardens. A memorial service will be held at the Primitive Methodist Church on Sunday afternoon next.
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
