Peter Wise and Brenda McMahon have submitted the following:-
Sydney was born in 1890 at Brocklesby, Lincolnshire the son of Oliver and Mary Ann (nee Jagger). It appears Mary Ann had been married previously as living with the family were two stepsons.
The 1891 census shows the group with Oliver as the head, he was a gas manager. Also there was George and Willie Hemmingway, his step sons. George was a gas apprentice. The family were able to afford a general servant.
By 1901 the family were living in accommodation at the gas works. They also had another child born 1894. She was named Elsie. The older lads had left home by now.
The 1911 census shows Sydney now working as a foreman at Barnard Castle Gas Company.
After the 1911 census had been completed Sydney married Madeline Foster. Their daughter Elsie was born October 14th 1914. Sydney also took responsibility for Thomas born March 3rd 1911.
Sydney enlisted at Barnard Castle. Before he joined the Tank Corps he had served with the Suffolk Regiment as service no. 317698.
He was reported missing at the beginning of May 1918 but confirmation of his death near Amiens only came through via the Red Cross Inquiry Department in early December.
The Teesdale Mercury 11/12/1918 reported the following:-
“A mystery has been solved be the receipt of intelligence by Mrs Sissons of Marshall Street through the Red Cross Enquiry Department that her husband, Gunner Sydney Sissons who was with the Tank Corps was killed on 03/05/1918 near Amiens. He was the son of Mr Oliver Sissons late gas manager of the town.”
Sydney Sissons is remembered at Barnard Castle on B135.02, B135.23 and B135.25
