SYDNEY LEICESTER 

Sydney's Story.

Sydney Leicester was born in Tabley in 1891. In 1911 he was a horseman on a farm and lived with his parents William, a farmer, and Ann and his sister Meriel in Green Lane, Tabley, Cheshire. The small terrace of three, ˜two up - two down" cottages that no longer stand; a modern scout hut now occupies the same profile at the end of the lane.

He was a well-known character in the area, attending Tabley school and being a member of the Tabley Chapel choir.

In 1913 Sydney secured employment with the Cheshire Lines Railway Company in Trafford Park, Manchester.

He enlisted in the 12^th Battalion of the Manchester Regiment (a Pals Battalion), becoming Private no. 13835.
Sydney became a sniper.

He was killed in action on the 7^th July 1916.

On that fateful day:

The war diary states:

 7/7/1916

Battalion arrived at Railway Copse at 6.30am and were distributed in trenches on ridge under hedge 800yards N of Copse which they reached under heavy fire and with some loss. 7.25am Lieut. N.G. Crawhall arrived with orders that we were to assault Quadrangle Support at 8.0am, the 9^th Northumberland Fus and 9^th West Riding Regt having failed. There being no time to issue written orders, the C.O. (Lieut. Col E.G. Harrison) and Adjutant (Capt. B. DuVal) went up to hedge to organise attack. Attack launched at 7.50am from Ridge to go over 9^th Bn Northumberland Fus in Quadrangle Trench. Organisation D and B Coy leading, C Coy support, A Coy Reserve, Battn Bombers held by H.Q. About 10.0am news came of complete failure of attack under barrage and enfilade M.G. Fire. At 2.30pm the C.O. was ordered to go up and organise attack with all available troops in Quadrangle Trench and was wounded on his way up. The Adjutant sent orders to O.C. 9^th North. Fus and advised 52^nd Brigade. Battalion relieved by 51^st Bde at 7.30pm. The following casualties occurred. Lieut. Col. E.G. Harrison CB DSO Wounded. Major G.S.W. Rusbridger wounded. Major H.F. Browell wounded. Capt. H. McKean killed. Capt. E.R. Thompson wounded. Capt. J.H. Betts killed. Lieut. H. Bate wounded & missing. Lieut. N.G. Crawhall wounded & missing. 2^nd Lt. E. Kingsley wounded & missing BK. 2^nd Lt. F. Latimer killed. 2^nd Lt. J. Adams wounded. 2^nd Lt. J.S. Greenwood killed. 2^nd Lt. A.B. King killed. 2^nd Lt. C.J. Alderton killed. 2^nd Lt E.F. Smith killed, and 539 O.R.

Night 7/8^th Battn returned to Meaulte.


                                                                                      Sydney is named on Thiepval Memorial