Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Sidney was born in Islington in 1895; the second of four children born to Cornelius Waterton and Catherine Fowler.  Shortly after his birth, Sidney’s family returned to Hertfordshire and his sister, Leonora Bessie was born in St Albans on 01 July 1897; followed three years later by the birth of his brother, Francis Charles on 03 September 1900 in Watford.  On 14 November 1903 the three siblings were baptised together at St Mary’s, Watford. At the time of the 1901 Census, Sidney, along with his parents and siblings, were residing at 75 Cecil Street, Watford.  His father was a gardener and likely moved around for work. Over the next decade, the family relocated to Berkhamsted and were residing at 87 Shrublands Avenue at the time of the 1911 Census.  Sidney was working as a grocer’s assistant, his father a jobbing gardener and his younger siblings were attending school.  His eldest sister Kate had married and started a family of her own. Like so many men, Sidney joined military life to serve in the Great War.  He was a Private in the 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment; service number: 19171.  This period of time was devastating for the Waterton family.  Sidney’s father died on 19 October 1915 and less than a year later, Sidney was killed in action in France on 27 September 1916. The Army Register of Soldiers' Effects states that the sum of £8 was authorised to Sidney’s mother.  For his service, Sidney was awarded the Victory, British and Star medals. Sidney’s name can be found at Thiepval Memorial, France (Pier and Face 2 C) and on the Berkhamsted War Memorial outside St Peter’s Church and he is commemorated here at on his parent's memorial in Rectory Lane Cemetery.