Private Sydney Alfred DUCKETT
Remembrance - The Yorkshire Regiment, First World War
Private Sydney Alfred DUCKETT. 3331
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Private Sydney Alfred DUCKETT

Select the thumbnail image above for a larger image of the 4th Battalion Band, which opens in a new window.

Private Sydney Alfred DUCKETT, 3331.

4th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment.
Husband of Eva Duckett, of 24, Henrietta St., Thornaby-on-Tees. Died 7 August 1916. Aged 49.
Buried THORNABY CEMETERY.

Dave Shaw (<SHAWSAMOS@aol.com>) has been researching the names of those who fell in the First World War who came from Dawley in Shropshire. Amongst them was Sydney Alfred Duckett, who came to live and work in Thornaby. Dave Shaw provides the following biographical information on Sydney Duckett;-

Sydney was born in 1869 in Malinslee, Dawley, Shropshire. According to the 1881 census he was a 13 year old collier, and then in 1887 he enlisted into the Artillery at Liverpool. He served for 8 years, with nearly 5 years abroad including India & Aden.

At some time he moved to Thornaby on Tees with his wife Eva, probably to work in the local Iron and Steel industry. They had a large family of 10 children but this was not uncommon at the time. By his battalion number it can said that he was amongst the first to join up when war was declared and probably went to France with them in April 1915. (Curiously, there doesn't appear to be a Medal Rolls Index card for Sydney Alfred Duckett which would provide this date.)

The exact circumstances of his death are unknown, but he was brought back to a hospital in England from France and there died from his illness. His body was brought back to Henrietta Street in a coffin which was too big to go through the front door and had to be brought into the house through a window. His wife was sent his outstanding regimental pay of £6 12 shillings and notification that she would receive his pay and overseas allowance for a further 26 weeks ( Standard army practice at the time). Sydney was the second eldest man to serve in the 1/4th Yorkshire regiment during the War.

The above information is corroborated by Sue Horn (<sue.horn@hotmail.com>), a g-g-grandaughter of Sydney Duckett.

The photo of the 4th Battalion band, in which Sydney Duckett is seen, was supplied by Bill Danby (<hollybush@ntlworld.com>) and can also be seen on Bill Danby's website for the 4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment.

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