No.8101, Private, Sidney WALES
Aged 25
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Arthur Sydney Wales was born in Bardwell (2nd qtr 1890 Thingoe 4a:697) son of Harry and Eliza WALES (née JAMES).
1891 census...Aged 1, he was at Quakers Lane, Bardwell with his father Harry WALES,[42] carpener's labourer born Ixworth; his mother Eliza [42] born Norton; brothers William [17] and Frederick [15] both farm labourers born Norton; brothers George [9] and Harry [5] both born Ixworth; sisters Ellen [13] and Kate J[7] both born Ixworth. 1901 census...Aged 11, he was at Knox Lane, Bardwell with his parents; sister Jessie (Kate); brothers Harry (farm labourer) and Bertie [9] born Bardwell. 1911 census...Aged 21, he was a Private in the 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment at Barrosa Barracks, Stanhope Lines, Aldershot. His parents were "opposite the Woolpack", Ixworth (strictly speaking Pakenham.) On the pension card his father was at High Street, Ixworth. |
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He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds.
The 1st battalion, Suffolk Regiment had been stationed in Egypt and returned to England in October.They spent some time in Lichfield, then Felixstowe before going to Winchester prior to going to France in January 1915. In early February they were in the Ypres Salient, billeted near Ouderdom. On the afternoon of 15th February the Germans attacked, and at one point succeeded in piercing the divisional front line. Two battalions of the 85th Brigade delivered a counter attack which was only partially successful. The 1st Suffolk were therefore ordered up to take over some temporary trenches south of Ypres and west of the canal which those two battalions had occupied. These so called trenches were banks scarcely offering cover from view and mostly waist deep in water, overlooked and enfiladed, they were actually untenable. On 18th February 1915 the 1st Suffolks, having been alternatively holding water filled trenches or trying to capture 'O' trench, just south of Ypres, were relieved and went to billets in Kruistraat. The reason for 28 to be listed as killed on 18th would have been that some of the missing when the roll was called, were later presumed dead. Of the 28 only 5 have known graves.
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