William Kirby and Brenda McMahon have submitted the following:-
Sydney was the son of Robert William and Elizabeth (nee Defty) of 8 Helen Street, Dawdon, Seaham Harbour. Together they had 5 children all of whom survived childhood.
He was their youngest child who was born at Trimdon Grange in 1896 and later was baptised at Kelloe, County Durham. His other siblings were Richard, William, Nicholas, and Gertrude.
According to the 1901 census father Robert was employed as a colliery overman below ground. His son Richard, was an apprentice blacksmith/horse shoer, William worked as a colliery clerk whilst the other children were at school.
In 1911 the family are still at the same address, 8 Helen Street. Robert has been promoted is now recorded as a colliery official below ground, William is still a clerk in the colliery office whilst Nicholas has become an engineer in the Mercantile Marine. Unfortunately, Nicholas died at the early age of 24 years in 1913.
The military records for Sydney are not available but he gained the Military Medal for his gallant action. The details are shown in the London Gazette, edition number 25854, page 12053.
Sydney died of wounds at No. 5 General Hospital, Rouen on October 9th 1916 aged only 21 years.
An inscription added to his headstone reads :-Asleep in Jesus, Until the Resurrection Morning
Sydney was buried at St Sever Cemetery alongside over 3000 of his comrades. A number of dead from hospitals surrounding No. 5 General Hospital were taken to the city cemetery of St Sever for burial.
For his war service Sydney was awarded the Military Medal, British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Sydney Thornton is remembered at Dawdon on D41.02, D41.04, D41.06 and D41.08
