Sydney Arthur Hayes

A Private with the 2nd Battalion, Sydney died on 21st of March 1918 at the age of 36. 

Sydney was born at Ipswich on 8 November 1882, a son of William Gunstone and Ellen Ann Hayes. He was baptised at Saint Matthew’s Church, Ipswich, on 26 December 1882, and his family lived at 163 Norwich Road, Ipswich. Montague attended Miss Powles’ Preparatory School, Ipswich, and in 1893 he was allowed to enter the competition for the Queen’s Scholarship. By 1901 his family were living at 39 Windsor Road, Kirkley, and Sydney was a bookseller’s assistant. Later his parents lived at 49 Florence Road, Pakefield, and then 22 Pakefield Road, Kirkley. 

In 1906 Sydney married Lea Eugenie Ransome: this was registered in the Mutford district. By 1911 they were living at 43 Windsor Road and Sydney ran a stationery shop. Later they lived at 50 Acton Road, and, subsequently, Lea lived at 92 London Road.  

Sydney enlisted in the Army at Ipswich in 1916. He joined the Suffolk Regiment, service number 265568, and served with the 6th (Cyclist) Battalion. Sydney was transferred to the Bedfordshire Regiment, service number 41099, and posted to France to join the 1st Battalion. Sydney was wounded and his name appears in the official casualty list, the War Office Daily List, 1 December 1917. Subsequently he was posted to the 2nd Battalion and served with VI Platoon in B Company.  

On 10 March 1918 the 2nd Battalion were at Villers St. Christophe. On 18 March they moved to Savoy Dugouts, to relieve the 17th Battalion Manchester Regiment, and were in support positions. At 4.45 a.m. on 21 March the enemy bombardment began and the battalion ‘stood to’ in the battle zone between Savy and Etreillers, with B Company in ‘counter-attack position’. The enemy broke through, and B Company were sent to reinforce A company, but could nit force the Germans out of their positions either side of Savy Road. At 2 p.m. on 22 March the enemy attacked in large numbers. C Company’s position was taken. The remnants of A and B Company held on until surrounded by large numbers of the enemy. The battalion war diary records: ‘They fought very well and only a few got back.’ 

Between 21 and 31 March 1918 the battalion’s casualties were 15 officers and 554 men. 

Sydney was reported missing on 21 March. Enquiries with the Red Cross continued until June 1918, but they had no information about him. Eventually he was presumed to have been killed in action at some point between 21 and 29 March 1918.