Category: Military
Rank: Sergeant
Regiment or Ship: 5th Bn Royal Sussex Regiment
Service Number(s): 5/2660; 240635
Occupation: Piano Forte Tuner
Date of Birth: 1890
Place of Birth: Islington
Date of Death: 26.04.1946
Place of Death: 80 Neville Road, Hove
Address: 83 Windsor Road, Bexhill
Photos and newspaper articles
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Family Information
Parents: William Henry Potter (1856-1913) and Mary Ann Potter – nee Webb – (1856-1917).
Spouse: Sydney married Edith Amelia Brown (1896-1962) on 23rd August 1919 at Marchwood, Hampshire.
In the 1911 census Sydney was a boarder with the Gwynne family at 83 Windsor Road, Bexhill.
Sydney’s probate shows that he left £2346-8-2d to Basil Arthur, stockbroker. His wife’s sister Nelly’s husband.
First World War Experience
Sydney enlisted on 5th October 1914 in Hastings when he was a boarder at 83 Windsor Road, Bexhill.
He was 5’ 7” tall, with a chest measurement of 34” (expansion 3”), a normal complexion, and his physical development was deemed ‘Fair’. His home address was 248 Brecknock Road, Tufnell Park, London, N, and he gave his mother as his next of kin – Mary Annie Potter.
He was promoted from L/Cpl (5/2660) to Sergeant (240635) and fought in France where he was obviously subjected to gas attacks.
Sydney was discharged with disabilities – weak chest due to gas poisoning – in April 1919 and was awarded a pension of 6/- per week.
He was awarded the Victory Medal, British War Medal, and the 15 Star.