Sidney Francis Till

Personal Information
Date of Birth	unknown
Place of Birth	Tottenham, England
Death	29 Jul 1947, aged 64
Place of Death	Armadale, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	33 years, 5 months
Description	5' 3½" (1.61m) tall; weight 108 lbs (49 kg); fair complexion, blue eyes, fair hair; top of little finger of right hand missing.
Occupation	farm labourer
Religion	Church of England
Address	c/- Mr A Briggs, Armadale, Western Australia*
Next of Kin	Mother Mrs Alice Till
Military Information
Reg Number	5106
Date of Enlistment	10 Mar 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	28th Battalion, 13th Reinforcement / 7th Brigade, 2nd Division
Date of Embarkation	18 Jul 1916 - 9 Sep 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A48 Seang Bee
Date of Return	12 Dec 1918 - 18 Jan 1919
Ship Returned On	HMAT A71 Nestor
Fate	Wounded in Action 9 Aug 1918 at Lions Returned to Australia
Monument	Armadale (West Armadale panel)
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Electoral Roll entries - 1909 at 57 John street, Fremantle a groom; 1912 - 1916 Wongong Brook, a farm labourer

War Service

Original training received at the Helena Vale Camp before being allocated to the 13th replacement draft for the 28th Battalion on 4 Apr 1916.

On arrival in England Sid was sent to the 7th Training Battalion at Rolleston to prepare for service in France and Belgium.

He proceeded to France from Folkestone on the HMT Victoria, and taken on strength of the 28th Battalion in France on 4 Dec 1916. On 28 Jan 1917 he was charged with appearing on parade unshaven and with dirty ammunition, and awarded 48 hours Field Punishment. On 6 June 1917 he reported to the 5th Australian Field Ambulance before being passed to the 56th Casualty Clearing Station, who placed him on a hospital train to Rouen where he was admitted on 9 Jul 1917 to the No 11 Stationary Hospital. On the 26th he embarked for England on HMHS St George, to be admitted to the Devonport Military Hospital with pyrexia of unknown origin.

As his health improved he was moved to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford after which he enjoyed a fortnight's furlough.

On 27 Dec 1917 he embarked again for France ex Longbridge-Deverill, and rejoined the 28th Battalion on 4 Jan 1918. On 4 May 1918 he absented himself from a billeted area, which was serious enough to earn him 20 days Field Punishment, and the loss of 15 days pay.

At 4:35 am on 9 Aug 1917, Sid was amongst the men of the 28th Battalion that commenced an attack on the ruined village of Lihons in support of the Canadians on their right. The battalion's objective was more than 3,000 metres away, but by 6:55am it had been reached, and they were then relieved by the 26th and 27th Battalions at 8:00am. Sid's wounds (Shell Wound to right thigh) had been received before that time.

He was first assessed by the 8th Australian Field Ambulance, and the 53rd Casualty Clearing Station before being placed on a hospital train for Boulogne, where on 14 Aug 1918 Sid was evacuated on the HS Stad Antwerpen to England.

In England he was admitted to the Essex County Hospital in Colchester before transferring to the 3rd Auxiliary hospital Dartford to rebuild his strength.

Invalided home on 12 Dec 1918, and discharged at 5th Military District on 2 Mar 1919.

Mentioned in the 1917 Feb-Mar edition of The drill of the Foot-Hills which calls him Samuel F.. "overseas with the 28th Battalion.".

Post War

Electoral Roll entries - 1919 - 1925 Wongong Brook, a farm labourer; 1931 - 1943 c/- Briggs, Eighth road, Armadale. It would appear that he worked for Briggs for more then 30 years.

Notes

Sid is buried in the Karrakatta Cemetery.

• A Briggs is listed as a farmer in the Post Office Directory of the time.