Gunner
Royal Field Artillery | 222777 | 1091 Battery, 217 Brigade |
Photo Lea Mills postcard
Notes
Henry Siddall came from Middleton and he was one of the framework knitters refused exemption on 3rd March 1917. The Company made a case for his deferment as they were losing framework knitters and yet trying to fulfil substantial government contracts for knitwear. This plea was rejected. He joined the forces on 20th March 1917, some two and a half weeks after the rejection by the Exemption Board. He is listed on the Cromford Roll of Honour. He was 30 years old when recruited.
Gunner Henry Siddall No 222777 1091st Battery, Royal Field Artillery attached to 217th Brigade, Lahore Cantonment, Punjab, India.
There is evidence that he spent part of his service in Afghanistan and on the North West Frontier. His was one of the more pleasant stories of the War. When acknowledging the eventual receipt of a parcel of groceries sent by the Company id January 1918, he wrote, ‘We are having a good time out here but soldiering in India is nothing as it was in England. We have nothing to do hardly & then we have natives to do anything we want. They even go as far as taking our boots & trousers off when we come in off a parade.’
His brother Arthur Siddall was a Corporal in the K.R.R 12032 (1918 Absent Voter List). He was reported as being a PoW in the Derbyshire Courier dated 1 September 1917
Medal Roll Index
He was awarded the British War medal
Also on the card is recorded: #IND GS AFGN NWFF 1919 (ROLL 16687-29) N 308 of 28/07/22 which is the Indian General Service, Afghanistan, North West Frontier
Letter to JB Marsden-Smedley
March 23rd 1918
Gr Hy. Siddall 222777
1091st Battery D Sub, 217th Brigade RFA, Lahore Contonment, Punjab, India
Dear Sir
I now take the pleasure of thanking you for the parcel you sent to me on January 18th which I received on March 20th — the parcel came quite safe & nothing broken, it was very kind of you & Mr. A. S. Smedley for sending it to me.
We are having a good time out here but soldiering in India is nothing as it was in England. We have nothing to do hardly & then we have natives to do anything we want they even go as far of taking our boots & trousers off when we come in off a parade.
I have been through a operation while I have been in India but I am getting on as well as can be expected again. Thanking you for the parcel it came as a surprise & a treat. Hoping you will have great success with your Business.
I remain yours & etc.
Hy Siddall
1901: 26 Main Street Cromford
Forename | Surname | Relationship | Age | Occupation | Where born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
John W | Siddall | Head | 36 | Framework knitter hosiery mill | Cromford |
Mary | Siddall | wife | 35 | Wirksworth | |
Emma | Siddall | daughter | 14 | Winder cotton mill | Cromford |
Harry | Siddall | son | 12 | Cromford | |
Sarah | Siddall | daughter | 8 | Cromford | |
Arthur | Siddall | son | 4 | Cromford |
1911: 26 The Hill Cromford
Forename | Surname | Relationship | Age | Occupation | Where born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
John William | Siddall | Head | 46 | Framework knitter hosiery mill | Cromford |
Mary | Siddall | wife | 45 | Wirksworth | |
Emma | Siddall | daughter | 24 | Machinist in hosiery mill | Cromford |
Sarah | Siddall | daughter | 18 | Cutter out in hosiery | Cromford |
Arthur | Siddall | son | 14 | Errand boy grocer | Cromford |
Cannot find Harry/Henry Siddall in 1911, his family were still living in Cromford.