Background
Sidney Findley was born September 10, 1896 in Birmingham, England to
Charles Findley and Letitia Maria Turner. While there are few details of
their marriage, Charles’ military record suggests that they married July
22, 1896, just before the birth of Sidney. Census records reveal that
Sidney had two siblings, a sister and a brother born to Letitia and
Charles. The 1901 British Census suggests that Sidney’s early upbringing
was in Birmingham at the Turner family residence located near 119 Barr
Street; however, by the spring of 1908, Sidney would sail for Halifax, Nova
Scotia from Liverpool aboard the S.S Carthaginian as part of the Middlemore
Boys, British Home Child program. Little is known regarding the
circumstances of his upbringing and why Sidney would leave England,
especially since documents highlight that his father worked as a jeweler
and had been a veteran of the South African War. Regardless, Sidney would
find himself living in New Brunswick by 1911 as a domestic work hand for
Charles and Alice Ross, of Nashwaak Bridge, later having a residence at 246
Queen Street in Fredericton. In addition to having Sidney in the home, the
Ross family had a daughter named Pearl.
According to Sidney’s attestation record, he was only seventeen years old
when he formally enlisted to join the Canadian Expeditionary Force.
Documents show that he was working as a farmer in the area and had no prior
military experience. Along with other Fredericton residents, while Private
Findley left with the 71st Regiment at the beginning of the war under the
leadership of Lt. Col. Harry F. McLeod, he would formally enlist at
Valcartier, Quebec with the 12th Battalion and would soon begin training in
preparation for going overseas. Standing approximately five feet six inches
tall, Private Sidney Findley was described as having hazel eyes, light
brown hair, and a swarthy complexion. He would never return.
Wartime Experience
On October 4, 1914, Private Findley embarked from Valcartier, Quebec aboard
the S.S. Scotian for England. Upon arrival, Sidney would remain with the
12th Battalion over the winter of 1914-1915 for training, perhaps also
getting an opportunity to visit his family for the first time in eight
years. Records indicate that both his father and brother were also serving
with British units in Egypt while his mother worked as a Royal Nursing
Sister in England. By February 1915, Private Findley would leave England,
transferring to the 14th Battalion, and land in France making his way to
northern France and the Ypres Salient region. While few details exist of
his exact location during the next six months, the 14th Battalion was
engaged in battles at Festubert and at Ypres making it likely that he was
fighting there as well.
The spring and summer of 1915 was an active year of trench warfare and the
introduction of poisonous gas brought added stress to conditions faced by
soldiers. For Private Findley, any opportunity to find a break away from
the frontline was important. In late November 1915, Sidney would be granted
a week-long leave of absence to England. Upon return from his leave,
Private Findley would find himself in trouble for being absent from his
billets, forfeiting three day’s pay and receiving field punishment #1,
which meant that he would be chained to a heavy object in a public space
for approximately ten days. A few months later, Sidney would be admitted to
hospital suffering from German measles and would remain in treatment for
two months.
By July of 1916, he would proceed to take a grenade course at the Canadian
Divisional Training School in preparation for key battles he would be part
of as the Somme began and continued over the summer and fall of 1916.
Perhaps sensing that he would be part of something significant, Sidney
signed his last form of will August 8 leaving everything to his mother. On
September 3, 1916, the Canadian Corps would take over a section near
Pozieres Ridge on the Somme in France, and Private Findley would be with
the 14th Battalion as they moved into position. According to his
circumstances of death record and the battalion’s official war diary,
Sidney was with his unit on September 7 defending counter-attacks from the
German line when he was killed. In the ferocity of attacks, his body would
never be found nor recovered.
News of his death would be reported in the Daily Gleaner on October 3, 1916
revealing a letter had just been received at home prior to the news of his
death. Sidney had told his mother that he “would be home soon” on leave to
see her again. While papers in Fredericton reported Sidney’s death, news
would also be received by the family that his father, Charles, and brother
would be injured as well in engagements they had been a part of. Private
Sidney Findley was only twenty years old at the time of his death, leaving
behind his family in England as well as friends and loved ones in
Fredericton.
Lest We Forget
Private Sidney Findley is honoured on the Vimy Memorial, located in Vimy
Ridge, France. According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Sidney
is one of approximately 11,161 names on the memorial. It was designed by
W.S. Alward and was created on the highest point of the ridge for all
Canadians who served in France during the First World War that have no
known grave.