Pte
Sydney Frederick France

Informationen zu Geburt

Geburtsjahr:
1896
Geburtsort:
Leichhardt, New South Wales, Australia

Allgemeine Informationen

Letzter bekannter Wohnsitz:
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Beruf:
Lebensmittelhändler
Religion:
Church of England

Informationen zum Armeedienst

Land:
Australia
Truppe:
Australian Imperial Force
Rang:
Private
Dienstnummer:
4720
Einberufung datum:
24/01/1916
Einberufung ort:
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Einheiten:
 —  Australian Infantry, 17th Bn. (New South Wales)  (Letzte bekannte Einheit)

Informationen zu Tod

Sterbedatum:
20/09/1917
Sterbeort:
Anzac, Belgien
Todesursache:
Im Kampf gefallen
Alter:
21

Gedenkstätte

Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial
Tafel: Bay 17 stone M

Auszeichnungen und Orden 2

British War Medal
Medaille
Victory Medal
Medaille

Punkte von Interesse 4

#1 Geburtsort
#2 Letzter bekannter Wohnort
#3 Einberufung ort
#4 Ort des Todes (ungefähr)

Meine Geschichte

Private Sydney Frederick France enlisted, 19 years of age, together with his older brother Joseph Douglas on the 24th January 1916.
They were given consecutive regimental numbers in the 17th Battalion AIF, part of the 2nd Australian Division, 5th Brigade.
Sydney worked as grocer in the city of Sydney, New South Wales and was single.

20th September 1917 was the first day of the Battle of the Menin Road, part of the Battle of Passchendaele ( also known as the Third Battle of Ypres).
The 5th Australian Brigade attacked at 05.40 a.m. with the 20th Battalion and 18th Battalion in support; the 17th and 26th Battalions were in reserve.
The attack went well, although the left of the 20th Battalion met some resistance from a line of old concrete artillery shelters, causing a slight hold up. They went on to the first objective, but whilst attempting to consolidate, came under fire from two pillboxes 200 yards away. To save further casualties, these were dealt with on the spot.

The 18 Battalion took over the attack on the Blue Line, taking Iron Cross Redoubt and Anzac House in its stride.It was then forced to take Garter Point to prevent sniping on troops consolidating the Blue Line.

The third objective, the Green Line, was assaulted by the 17th and 28th Battalions supported by the 26th Battalion, and was taken easily.

An eye witness to Sydney’s death, Corporal J.V. Jacka stated to the Red Cross, “Syd France was a runner when our Battalion went over the top on the 20th. He was sitting in a trench when a shell burst on our parapet. A piece of shell struck him on the chin and caused the bone to be broken right away. He received immediate attention but died at the first dressing station. He would have been buried there. The exact position of the place I can’t tell you.”

Private Sydney Frederick France was only 21 years old, and although it states in his file that he was buried in the vicinity of Westhoek and Anzac Ridge, his remains were never found. He is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres, bay 17 stone M.
His brother Joseph Douglas was also killed in action the same day, during the same Battle.

Verwandte, die auch Soldat waren 1

Dateien 1

Maps Anschauen

Quellen 8

"Passchendaele, The Day-by-Day Account",McCarthy C., Arms&ArmourPress, London, 1995, page 80 + 82-83"
Verwendete Quellen
CWGC
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/923589/sydney-frederick-france/
Verwendete Quellen
Service Record
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=4033161
Verwendete Quellen
The AIF Project
https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=102935
Verwendete Quellen
The Australian War Memorial
https://www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search/people?people_preferred_name=France&people_service_number=4720&people_unit=
Verwendete Quellen
The Long Long Trail
http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/2nd-australian-division/
Verwendete Quellen
War Diary 17th Battalion
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1343929
Verwendete Quellen
War Diary 5th Brigade
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1347529
Verwendete Quellen