Sidebottom Arthur Gnr 2094

SKR/DAT/IP/16386

Sidebottom Arthur Gnr 2094

2000-2024

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Surname: Sidebottom;

Forename(s): Arthur;

Initials: A;

Number: 2094;

Rank: Gnr;

Born in: Reddish, Lancs;

Enlisted in: Coventry;

Resided in: Stockport;

Previous Regiment: MMGS-RA;

MGC Branch: Motors;

MGC Unit: 7 LAM Bty;

Date abroad: 30-Sep-1915;

Theatre of War: 1;

How killed: KIA;

Where: East Africa;

When killed: 21-Oct-1917;

Other Data: Roll of Honour, Vol II, Sect 1, p 245 - Portrait: y. son of Albert Sidebottom 15 Stanhope St, Reddish, by his wife Sarah, d. of Abraham Rhodes; born Reddish, Stockport 18/9/1895;educ Houldsworeth School; was a cabinet maker, enlisted MGC as despatch rider 4/8/15;served BEF F&F from the following Sept. was w. nr Le Brebis in November and invalided home. Ret. Franch March 1916 serving w. 7 LAM Bty; recalled with his battery Aug 1917 and sent to E Africa, arriving at Dar-es-Salaam 9/10/17 and was KIA at Lukalede, GEA on the 21st. Buried there. His C O wrote.."he was always a fearless and reliable rider and his death cast a shadow over us all. He was universally popular in the unit where all knew each other so well. I should like to add my very deepest sympathy with you all at this time. There is, I think, some consolation in the fact that he died a soldier's death and that he laid down his life for his friends", and a comrade…"you have no conception what poor Arthur's death meant to us, and although no-one actually saw him fall, he is I can assure you, and always will be in our minds as a real hero. In the course of his duty on the 21st October, your brother was ordered to follow one of our armoured cars on his motor cycle. The enemy were never thought to be near at all and the party were taken quite by surprise. The shots were coming thickly and Arthur dismounted from his machine and tried to take cover behind a tree. At that moment a South African Sgt Major was wounded in the arm and Arthur came out and helped bandage it, firing his revolver to protect himself. Well, after that he must have been struck and killed instantaneously, as we had a good search before we found him. There is no doubt that he may have been saved if he had not come to help the Sgt Major.";

Other Notes: SIDEBOTTOM, Gunner, A, 2094. 7th Light Armoured Car Bty. Machine Gun Corps (Motors). 21st October 1917. 6. L. 4. Dar Es Salaam War Cemetery, Tanzania.

NOK: fathe - Albert Sidebottom, 15 Stanhope St, Reddish, Stockport;

END OF RECORD.

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