Hogburn, Sidney 1915

Sidney Hogburn Died 5 October 1915

Sidney was born in 1897 to Fanny and Henry Hogburn in Warfield. Henry was a brickyard labourer and in 1911 lived with his wife and their 6 surviving children in Plough Lane, Wokingham, in a 4 roomed house.

Sidney enlisted into the 5th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment (number 10255) and died at the Battle of Loos on 5th October 1915.

John Chapman, from his research of the 5th Battalion tells us:  ‘Throughout the summer of 1915 they alternated between trench duty and periods in reserve and for most men it was all a great game. When the Battle of Loos opened on 25th September they were engaged in creating diversions and uncertainty in the German lines well to the north of the main battlefield. The following day however they began a move south and were brought to grim reality by the sight of casualties and apalling conditions. They made their attack on the 13th October at Hulluch Quarry and acquitted themselves well but 65 were either killed or died of their wounds and 91 wounded, many of whom later died’. (For more information go to: www.purley.eu).

Sidney died on 5th October, during a period before the main attack. His body was not recovered and as a result, his name was placed on the Loos Memorial. Therefore, although we do not know of the exact circumstances of Sidney’s death, it is likely he was killed in the field of battle and not from an earlier injury or illness.

We are lucky enough to have the photos from the Reading Chronicle’s report of the brothers in arms. In the centre is Frederick Hogburn of the Royal Marines, who went on to have a son, Henry in 1921. Allan Mees, tells us the story: “My Father in Law is Sidney’s brother Frederick’s son – Henry Frederick Hogburn (dob 21/10/1921). He turned 90 just 5 weeks ago, never met his Grandmother or Grandfather or any of Frederick’s siblings. Henry was only 2 when his mum (Isabella) lost contact with Frederick. Henry never met Frederick who died at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in 1973″.

A few months later we were contacted by another member of the family and a mystery developed whereby Frederick had three children when his son Henry believed he was an only child. At 91 years old, Henry discovered he had a sister and within a short period he flew to Australia to meet her. The Wokingham Times ran a story of the  ‘reunion of Sidney Hogburn’s nephew and niece’,

Name: HOGBURN, SIDNEY
Initials: S
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Royal Berkshire Regiment
Unit Text: 5th Bn.
Age: 21
Date of Death: 05/10/1915
Service No: 10255
Additional information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry W. J. Hogburn, of Ladysmith Terrace, Plough Lane, Wokingham, Berks.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 93 to 95.
Memorial: LOOS MEMORIAL

Son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry W. J. Hogburn, of Ladysmith Terrace, Plough Lane, Wokingham, Berks.