AN IMMEDIATE "ARRAS" GALLANTRY FIELD COMMISSION & MILITARY CROSS, with 1914-15 "CASUALTY" TRIO & PLAQUE.

To:
Lance Sgt, late Captain A.E. SIDWELL.
13th Middlesex Regiment
& 9th Bn Royal Fusiliers,
(THE LONDON REGt)



KILLED-IN-ACTION, 7th JULY 1917.
Captain Albert Edward Sidwell was killed instantly by a splinter from an anti-aircraft shell which apparently exploded at low level over his position and entered his heart. He was 28.

[BIOGRAPHY]
Albert Edward Sidwell was born in Cholsey, South Oxfordshire in 1890. The eldest son of Henry Thomas & Caroline Sidwell of Gondola Villa, Rayleigh, Essex. Albert had a younger brother, Harold, and a younger sister, Gladys. Prior to WW1 in 1911 the 21 year old Albert was employed as a Mechanical Engineer at Rochford Rural Council and later served on the engineering staff of the Southend Waterworks Company.

Albert initially enlisted into the 13th Middlesex regiment and entered France with this unit on 1st September 1915.

He was clearly a very keen, highly motivated and useful individual as on Easter Monday, 9th April 1917, during an attack at ARRAS (then as a Sergeant with the Essex Regt ) in a position just South of the Arras-Douai railway line, he took over command of the attack when his commanding officer was killed and led the men into action.
He was immediately promoted via a field commission to Temp 2nd Lt with 9th Royal Fusiliers and awarded the Military Cross for his gallantry in the field.

[CITATION] (London Gazette 18th July 1917)
Temp 2nd Lt Albert Edward Sidwell, Royal Fusiliers.

"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He led the attack against a highly organised strong point. He succeeded in overcoming the enemy, capturing a large number of prisoners. He then went on clearing two lines of trenches beyond, taking in all over 100 prisoners, a machine gun, and a trench mortar".

Further good work and gallant conduct saw Albert quickly promoted to the rank of Captain with 9th Royal Fusiliers. Sadly, and even before the printing of the 18th July London Gazette, Captain Sidwell was dead.

Albert had been a keen footballer before the war and left a widow, Edith Maude Sidwell who was then residing at 19 Undercliff Road, Lewisham, London. Albert's medals were sent to Mrs A.E. Sidwell c/o Mrs Minten, 40, Annandale Road, East Greenwich, S.E.10.

Albert's body was originally buried at Maison Rouge Cemetery, but later exhumed and reburied with eternal honour at his present resting place of Tilloy British War Cemetery, Tilloy-Les-Mofflaines, Pas da Calais, France.

This is a most unusually complete grouping which comprises much original paperwork:
1) Military Cross (in original case) Privately Engraved
1a) War Office letters of issue & original citation (3)
2) 1914-15 Trio. (with three original boxes & mint ribbons)
3) Original War Office medal issue letter. (17th April 1923)
4) Memorial Plaque (with card cover & Royal letter)
5) Civil Memorial service card & envelope with photograph of recipient.
6) Private letters of condolence, from war office & friend. (2)
7) Commonwealth war graves original cross memorial illustration card.
8) Military post cards of Shoreham Camp (sent 1914) & private card (3)

AN EXCEPTIONAL GALLANTRY GROUP TO A MAN OF IMMENSE BRAVERY WHO ROSE THROUGH THE RANKS FROM A HUMBLE PRIVATE TO THE RANK OF CAPTAIN AND WHO GAVE HIS LIFE IN THE DEFENCE OF FREEDOM & HONOUR.

Fit for the finest collection.

SOLD

With part-exchanges welcome.