STUBBS Sydney Alfred Private 57569

The user is advised to read the FINDING AIDS document linked to this catalogue for an explanation of the method by which this record has been created and any terms used.

Surname: STUBBS;

Forename(s): Sydney Alfred;

Initials: SA;

Number: 57569;

Rank: Private;

Enlistment Date: 11-Dec-1915;

Resided in: Woodford Green;

MGC Branch: Infantry;

MGC Unit: Unknown;

Discharge Date: 04-Apr-1919;

Silver War Badge? B322241;

Other Data: War Office Casualty List 21/5/1918
disch KR xvi (wounds) aged 24 yrs 8m

My husbands grandfather served in the MGC and we have a group photo entitled
no2 depot MG TC Belton park camp Grantham Oct 1916
with approx 278 soldiers shown of which we understood about only half a dozen may have survived
His name was Sydney Alfred Stubbs and he came from Woodford green, Essex pte 57569
My husband has the war medals and some diaries of the war
Sydney was injured in combat and seems to have been"blown up"
He told my husband when he was a child that the guns literally became red hot and glowing making them an easy target for the enemy to pick out
He said he recalled being hit and had a vision of flying through the air with a tree and at the time could not make sense of that
When he came to he could not get up but crawled towards the road, unknowingly towards enemy lines, but thankfully was picked up by a red cross (vehicle/cart?)
He was taken to a field hospital and left in a tent alone until apparently someone realised he was still alive after which he was attended to
We think he was eventually returned to Alnwick to recover
He lost an arm completely and use of one leg but remarkably went on to get married and have a son
He was clever and resourceful and adapted his false arm to incorporate various tools and daily aids and was infamous locally for adapting a bicycle to enable him to ride with use of his good leg
We don't have a cheque book to send a donation but wondered if you take card payments or we can make direct or internet payments
We will be happy to share copies of photographs (the one above is approx 1 metre long) and the diaries to help your research if it fills in any gaps to help records or other families
We would also be interested in knowing if there is a MGC museum anywhere
It may also be an idea to arrange to meet or talk by phone if any of our memorabilia is of interest?
Best regards
Cheryl & Ivan Stubbs;

END OF RECORD.

Users to read Finding Aids page. Further information may contain GDPR-protected information and not be released. Appointment required for access or paid research.