HARVEY, Sydney Clarence


No.320400, Private, Sydney Clarence HARVEY
Aged 25


15th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
formerly 3325 Suffolk Yeomanry
Killed in Action on Tuesday, 6th November 1917


Sydney Clarence Harvey was born in Fordham in 1892, (Newmarket Q3-1892 3B:532) the son of Eyre and Jeanette HARVEY (née WEBB).

1901 census...Aged 8, he was at Pound Lane, Fordham with his father Eyre HARVEY [38] journeyman baker; his mother Jeannette [32] born Great Shelford; sisters Florence [10], Minnie [7] and Jeannette [4] and brother Herbert [2]. All except his mother were born in Fordham.

1911 census...Aged 18, a footman, he was at "The Rectory", Snailwell with the Rev Ernest Powles and family. His father was baker and confectioner in Moulton, near the bridge, with his mother, sisters Minnie and Jeannette and brothers Herbert James and Kenneth Eyre Hugo [6 months] born Moulton.

By the time of the pension card, the family were at Isleham Road, Fordham.


He enlisted in Woodbridge.
At the outbreak of war, the 4 squadrons of the Suffolk Yeomanry were mobilised and were all assembled on the cricket ground in Ipswich by August 7th. Ordered to proceed to Gallipoli in September they had to part with their horses. After the evacuation from Gallipoli they found themselves digging trenches along the Suez Canal, now re-named the 15th (Yeomanry) Battalion, Suffolk Regiment.
On 6th November 1917 at 3 a.m they started an attack on a system of trenches covering Sheria. Before daylight even, one company had lost all it's officers. 'D' company was brought up from Reserve and supported by a Machine Gun company they quickly reached their objective. Once there however they were told to hold and advance no further. They had captured a number of prisoners and guns, the Turks endeavouring by counter attack to regain these guns during the day , but unsuccessfully.
The battalion lost 20 men during this operation.



Sydney Harvey is buried in Beersheba War Cemetery, Israel, grave M:52

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


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