Driver Sidney Henry Bagwell

Sidney was the fourth child of Sarah Ann Jones and William Bagnell, His parents had met and married on the 3rd of 0ctober 1875 at the parish Church if St Mary in Lambeth. His father William was employed as a floor clerk printer. Sidney was baptized on the 27th of May 1883 at the parish Church in Stoke Newington.

The 1891 Census reveals that the Bagnell family resided at 191 Regency Square in Lambeth. 0n the 13th of 0ctober 1891, eight-year-old Sidney and his elder brother Albert attended Walnut Tree Walk School. School admission records reveal that the Bagwell family lived at 27 St Albans Street.

In 1901, Sarah Ann and William still lived at 27 Albans Street with their 5 youngest children. William was employed as a house decorator. His son Albert was employed as a coach painter labourer, his daughter Jessie was a shirt maker and his son, seventeen-year-old Sidney was employed as a boot and shoemaker.

0n the 15th of November 1908, Sidney met and married Selina Eliza McDougall at St Mary’s Church. The couple were living at 9 Prioress Street in Southwark. Seventeen-year-old Selina had been employed as a domestic servant according to the 1901 Census.

By 1911, Selina and Sidney had been married for 2 years, the couple’s first child had died according to the Census. The couple’s first surviving child Rosina May was born on the 19th of July 1911. Sidney and Selina lived in 3 rooms at 68 Redcross street Sidney was employed as a machine boot and shoe finisher while Selina was employed as a shop manageress at an oil and Italian store.

Sidney’s son, Arthur Frederick was born on the 22nd-of-July 1913.

The couple still lived at Redcross street according to the 1914 Electoral register. Sidney’s third child Florence Lilian was born on the 3rd of August 1915 and died on the 25th of 0ctober 1918.

Thirty-two-year-old Sidney enlisted in the army on the 8th of May 1915, his medical records at the Bricklayers Arms on the 0ld Kent Road reveals that Sidney was 5 ft 3 ½ inches tall who weighed only 125lbs, his physical development was described as good. Sidney had a fresh complexion with brown eyes and dark brown hair.

Sidney served in France with the British Expeditionary Force on the 29th of November 1915 and returned to England in 1917.
Sidney was admitted to the Central Military Hospital in Winchester on the 7th of December 1917 with mitral and aortic valve disease of his heart. Sidney said that he had suffered from rheumatic fever at the age of 12 years. Sidney had complained of being ‘done up’ after the slightest exertion also that he was suffering from shortness of breath when climbing stairs. Medical records reveal that Sidney had an irregular heartbeat with a degree of dilation of the heart, heart murmurs revealed the presence of aortic and mitral valve disease.

A medical review board concluded that Sidney was no longer fit for active war service under para 392 and he was discharged from service on the 27th of March 1918. Sidney was advised to attend as an outpatient to hospital if necessary. Sidney was discharged to reside at 38 Doddington Grove in Kennington.

Sidney died on the 19th of 0ctober 1919, and he was buried at Streatham Park Cemetery.