Sydney Shelton

Sydney Shelton was born in 1895 at Hucknall and was the son of the late George Harry a coal miner and Mary Shelton nee West of 14 Chapel Street, Hucknall His father George Henry was born in 1863 at Blidworth, he died in 1908 aged 45 yrs , his mother Mary West was born in 1862 at Sommercoates, they were married in 1883 their marriage was recorded in the Belper registration district, they went on to have the following children, George b1886 Blidworth, Esther b1887 Blidworth, Ambrose b1889 Blidworth their remaining children were born in Hucknall and were Louis b1891, William b1893, Sydney b1895, Charlie West b1900 and May Shelton b1902. In the 1911 census the family lived at 72 Derbyshire Lane Hucknall Torkard Nottinghamshire, and were shown as Mary 49 yrs a widow, she is living with her children, Ambrose 22 yrs a coal miner loader, Louis 20 yrs a laundry hand, William 18 yrs a coal miner loader, Sydney 16 yrs a coal miner, Charlie West 11 yrs a scholar, and Mary 9 yrs a scholar.

Employed as a miner at Newstead Colliery before joining up,

97 Carlingford Road, Hucknall

Private Sydney Shelton, enlisted on 4th September 1914 at Hucknall, he gave his age as 20 yrs and 258 days , he was a coal miner living at 97 Carlingford Road, Hucknall, he stated he father had died. He was posted to t he The Buffs (East Kent Regiment and embarked for France on 22nd June 1915 whilst serving with the 1st Battalion East Kent Regiment, he was killed in action on 15th September 1916. Having no known grave his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

Article published 30th November 1916 in the Hucknall Dispatch :- “Our second photograph is of Private Sidney Shelton, who also laid down his life on September 15th though it was quite six weeks after before the family, who reside in Chapel street, Hucknall, heard the sad tiding from official quarters. He was in the 1st Buffs (East Kent Regiment), into which he enlisted at Hucknall in September 1914, so his military career extended over two years. The deceased soldier was employed at Newstead Colliery before the outbreak of war, and there he bore a good name for his conscientious work. In Hucknall he had many friends, who deeply lament his death at the early age of 22 years. He formerly attended the Bethesda Chapel and Sunday School. “Non [sic] one could have a better name amogst his pals than Sidney Shelton, for in the letters which have been received by the family they speak of the fallen hero in affectionate terms, and are deeply grieved that he has been killed. One of them, writing from a hospital at Oldham, says he was talking to Sidney just before they went to the attack on September 15th. They wished other good luck. They had not gone more than 200 yards before they encountered the enemy, with whom they were at girps [sic] the whole of the day. The writer of the letter was wounded, and as he lay on the ground he could see Sid 30 yards away, also lying on the ground. He appeared to be wounded but lifted himself up, only to fall down again. He called to Sidney, who made no reply. This brief description of the battlefield has a volume of meaning, and the reader can picture the great sturggle [sic] which was taking place for the mastery. “It was an awful day for them on September 15th,” adds the wounded lad, and we can well believe him, for not only the two Hucknall lads, but scores of others who in the morning were fresh and buoyant lay in the still air of the same night with a khaki tunic stained with red.. “It may be added that Shelton was a sniper for his company, a position which is only reached by men with a steady and sure aim and an abundance of courage.”Obituary published 'Nottingham Evening Post,' 18th October 1916. “SHELTON. – Killed in action, on September 15th, 1916, Private Sydney Shelton, East Kent Regiment, son of Mrs. and the late George Shelton, Hucknall, aged 22. He gave his life that we might live. His duty nobly done. – From his broken-hearted mother, brothers, and sisters.” Above article and obituary is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918