Born on 10th November 1892 at Woodford, son of Alfred Isaac (Grocer and Wine Merchant) and Louisa Liddle. In 1900 his father died. 1901: A scholar at Loughton School, he was with his widowed mother and family at “Daisybank” Derby Road South Woodford. 1911: An Apprentice Electrical Engineer, lodging with John Samuel Clifton at Dorset House 6 Elstow Road, Bedford. When he enlisted at Chelsea during August 1914, the family home was "Glenalmond” Derby Road, and he worked as a Fitter in Stratford.
He went to France with his Regiment on 31st May 1915 and served on the Somme, being wounded during the fighting at Ovillers on 07-07-16. He rejoined his Unit after treatment. The Regimental history records the later struggle to take Oppy Wood at Arras:
The attack of 28th April 1917 was continued on 29th April, and four battalions of the Royal Fusiliers made another attempt to conquer the Oppy defences. The Canadians took Arleux on the left and the 24th Battalion formed the left of the attack on Oppy Wood. They went forward at 4 a.m. “A” and “B” Companies reached their objective, the sunken road between Arleux and Oppy, capturing 64 prisoners, only to find that the right battalions had not reached their positions in the wood. Their right flank was therefore in the air. A furious bombing attack took place on the left flank, and such were the losses that it was decided to swing the right flank back to Oppy Trench, west of the sunken road and gradually retire along it. This was successfully accomplished. “C” and “D” Companies were sent that night to relieve the 2nd Highland Light Infantry, immediately north of Oppy Wood, who had suffered very terribly from the fire from Oppy Wood. The attack had produced little gains.
On 1st May 1917 the front line was subject to heavy shelling at various times during the day. Relieved in the evening by a Company of 23 Royal Fusiliers, part of a composite “Brigade” (actually this was more of a Battalion) formed by the Division to take over the line under the direction of 99 Brigade. 24 Royal Fusiliers had supplied one Company, three Officers and 95 Ranks to this new unit. A further attack to the north of the Wood was mounted on 1st May 1917 by this composite Battalion, which also failed to achieve very much. Given the date recorded for his death, Sidney Liddle may have been among this group. It certain that he was not subsequently recovered from the battlefield after the actions at Oppy.
X/R: Sergeant Leslie Stuart Liddle (Brother)
Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian
Sources:
Ancestry.com