Corporal Sydney Markham
Corporal Sydney Markham
2/4th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment
Corporal Sydney Markham was born on 26th March 1896 in Amcotts Lincolnshire. He was the son of Walter and Olive Markham and one of a family of seven, having four brothers and two sisters. The 1911 census records the family as living at ‘Ivy House’ in Roxby Lincolnshire, where Sydney’s father, Walter Markham, was recorded as working as a farm bailiff. Before his enlistment, Sydney was working as a ‘Groom’.
He enlisted at Scunthorpe Drill Hall on the 24th January 1916 into the 2/4th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, training in Harpenden (Hertfordshire) before travelling with the 177th Brigade, 59th (2nd North Midland) Division to Ireland in April 1916 to assist in quelling troubles that broke out in Dublin and elsewhere during the Easter Risings rebellion.
The Battalion returned to England in January 1917 and was based at Fovant. In February 1917 the Division embarked on the ‘S.S Lydia’ and sailed for France, arriving in Le Harve. They proceeded by route march to Bayonvillers, and then onto Foucaucourt en route for the trenches where they took up front line duties on the 6th March 1917. The Division then remained in France and Flanders and took part in the following engagements: The pursuit of the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line; Battle of Polygon Wood; Capture of Bourlon Wood ; The German counter attacks; Battle of St Quentin and the Battle of Bailleul (14th to 15th April).
Corporal Sydney Markham was killed in action on 15th April 1918 during the Battle of Bailleul
Remembered with Honour
Ploegsteert Memorial, Hainaut, Belgium