Category: Military
Rank: Sapper
Regiment or Ship: Royal Engineers
Service Number(s): 1593
Occupation: Painter and Mechanic
Date of Birth: 1865
Place of Birth: Kentish Town, Middx.
Address: 62 Windsor Road, Bexhill
Photos and newspaper articles
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Family Information
Parents: John Thomas Routledge (1828-1911) and Eliza Ann (Ellen) Routledge, nee Grimbly, (1828-1911).
Siblings:
John Routledge, b. 1856 in Hackney.
Charles Routledge, b. 1858 in Highgate.
Albert Routledge, b. 1864 in Kentish Town.
Alfred Routledge, b. 1867 in Battersea.
Douglas Routledge, b. 1870 I Wandsworth.
In 1871 John and Eliza were living at Camillia Street, Lambeth, with their family, and john was employed as a telegraph engineer.
Spouse: Sidney married Annie Humphreys on 20th September 1886 at All Saints church, Walworth. They had nine children:
John Sidney Routledge, b. 1888 in Peckham.
Henry Percival Routledge, b. 1889 in Peckham.
Thomas James Routledge, b.1890 in Peckham. W0269 ROUTLEDGE Thomas James
Blanche Routledge, b. 1893 in Peckham.
Ella Routledge, b. 1896 in Peckham.
Winifred Routledge, b. 1898 in Peckham.
Robin Routledge, b. 1900 in Bexhill. W0268 ROUTLEDGE Robin Coghill H.
Hilda Routledge, b. 1904 in Bexhill.
Gwynne Routledge, b. 1906 in Bexhill.
In 1901 Sidney, Annie, and family were living at 68 Windsor Road but by 1911 had moved to 62 Windsor Road, and Sidney’s occupation was paperhanger.
First World War Experience
Sidney’s war history is very sketchy which is a great pity as he lied about his age in order to join up. He gave his age (on 15th October 1914) as 35 but he was, in actual fact, 49. This may be why the only record of dates we have is a reference to “Home Service” 18.10.1914 – 2.11.1914. We can only assume that, having found out his true age, he was demobbed before serving – which would explain the total absence of any records at all of his war service.
He joined the 2nd. Home Counties Brigade, Royal Engineers, on 15.10.1914, as a Sapper – giving his address as 62 Windsor Road and his next of kin as Annie Routledge (wife). He gave his occupation as Painter and Mechanic – which was an extension of his Paperhanger employment in the 1911 census.
Sidney had a fresh complexion, dark brown hair, was 5’ 5½” tall, with a chest measurement of 38” plus 1½” expansion. He was of good physical development and his vision was good. His religion was Church of England.