Level Crossing Cemetery Fampoux
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Sydney Charles Lillystone was born in the district of Sunderland, County Durham in 1890, one of 8 children he was the 6th born and eldest of 2 brother with 5 elder and 1 younger sister. His father Zedekiah Terence Lillystone native of Lyng, Norfolk born in 1858 migrated to the north east where he married in the district of Stockton in 1880 to a local girl, Louisa Florence Harris, born 1862. Newly married they lived with Louisa’s widowed mother and her 5 siblings, also her aunt Mary Hodgson, her 2 daughters and a lodger William Bethal, curate of Holy Trinity Church (C of E) Stockton, at 1, Outram Street, Stockton. Frederick Harris (22) was employed as a hot water engineer, Zedekiah was an accountant and Louisa’s aunt Mary is listed as a annuitant, receiving and annual income, source unknown. Ten years later they had moved to Peel Street, Zedekiah is still listed as married although Louisa does not appear on the census and he was now a travelling horse trader and went on to be a commercial traveller in the flour trade.
Sydney Charles Lillystone does not appear in the census of 1911 with his family as he had left the area and was living as one of two boarders with Alfred and Mary Garner at 50, Bolthram Avenue Lincoln. Employed by an engineering firm he was an arc lamp trimmer, his landlord Alfred Garner and Thomas Richard Webb were both fitters.
On the outbreak of war he enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne and was assigned as Private 351875 to The Royal Scots. The 9th Battalion Royal Scots served with the Lothian Brigade in Edinburgh, initially part of the Scottish Coast Defences, later it departed for France where it landed at Le Havre, February 26th 1915, however Private Lillystone did not depart until after January 1916.
Having transferred to the 14th Brigade, 5th Division, January 25th 1916, March 1st 1916 they joined the 154th Brigade, 51st (Highland) Division in action during the Battles of the Somme including the attack at High Wood and the Battle of Ancre, capturing Beaumont Hamel taking over 2,000 prisoners. In 1917 they took part in the Arras Offensive, April 9th-May 16th 1917.
Private 351875 Sydney Charles Lillystone was killed in action during the Battle of Arras, April 23rd 1917 and interred at Level Crossing Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France, grave I. A. 65. He was 27 years old and single. Recipient of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
His father Zedekiah Terence Lillystone died aged 83 years in 1941, his mother Louisa Florence Lillystone nee Harris in 1949 aged 87 years, both registered in the district of Hammersmith, London.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Sydney Charles Lillystone is remembered at Monkwearmouth on M46.08
