Sydney Joseph Favell

Sydney Joseph Favell – Private 425542 10th Battalion London regiment died on Friday 28th December 1917. His grave is in Cement House Cemetery, Langemarck, Belgium.

 

‘Soldiers Died’ gives his place of birth as Islington, his residence as Finsbury Park and place of Enlistment as Holloway.  The census return of 1911 lists Sydney as a 29 year old Milk Carrier, living in Enkel Street, Holloway, London.  Married to Elizabeth, they had children Joseph (aged 7),  Nelly (6) and Harry (4).

Earlier census returns show he was the son of Henry Favell, a Horse-keeper of Black Horse Yard, Barnsbury Mews, Islington.  Young Sydney seems to have used his second-name Joseph, from time to time.

Sydney Joseph Favell grave
Cement House Cemetery
Cement House Cemetery

The 1st/10th Battalion served in Gallipoli, Egypt and Palestine, so to have been in Belgium Sydney must have belonged to the 2nd/10th (Hackney) Battalion, who were raised in London in September 1914. By November they were stationed at Crowborough as part of the 175th Brigade, 58th Division. They moved to Ipswich in June 1915 then Bromeswell Heath near Woodbridge in May 1916, then onto Longbridge Deverell in July before landing in France at Havre on the 4th February 1917.

There is a record of Sydney dying on wounds 28th December 1917 at 11 Corps Main Dressing Station, with £6, 7 shillings and 1 penny of pay outstanding.  His will left a total sum of £385 10 shillings and sixpence to Elizabeth his wife.  Elizabeth was awarded a widows pension of 29 shillings and seven pence a week (approximately £1.47).  The pension record card also notes the date of the 16th Birthday of each of the children, presumably as they would no longer be classed as dependants.