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| Photograph kindly provided by Lynn Chilvers, Sidney's grand daughter. | ||
Sidney Robert Chilvers born on 21 June 1884 in Snettisham, Norfolk was the elder son of James Chilvers and Mary Crisp. He was a second cousin to my grandfather. The 1901 census records that by then the family had moved to Hornsey, Middlesex.
On 16 March 1912 he married Jessica Eliza Hurcombe and they had one son Leornard born in 1915. Jessica died shortly after giving birth.
Sidney was "volunteered" into The Great War in 1915 and became 96376 Gunner Sidney Robert Chilvers, Royal Garrison Artillery, 26 Siege Battery No.2 Gun, 6 Corp, 3rd Army.
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This is on the inside of the back cover of Sidney's sketchbook |
The battery embarked for France on 1st August 1915 and landed in Boulogne the following day.
The Third Army Heavy Artillery Group in November 1915 comprised :-
| 25th Siege Battery | Four 8 inch howitzers | ||
| 26th Siege Battery | Four 6 inch howitzers | ||
| 36th Siege Battery | Four 8 inch howitzers | ||
| 46th Siege Battery | Four 9.2 inch howitzers |
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A Siege Gun Battery (four 6inch howitzers drawn by
caterpillars) on the move on the Albert to Fricourt Road on 25 August 1916. Photograph Q.4146 reproduced by kind permission of the Imperial War Museum. Please note that Imperial War Museum images may not be reproduced without permission from the Imperial War Museum. |
The first battle that the 26th Siege Battery fought appears to have been the Loos offensive which began on 25th September 1915 following a four day artillery bombardment in which 250,000 shells were fired. The attack was called off as a failure on 28th September and in any case the artillery were running out of shells.
In September 1916 the 26th Siege Battery was again in action - at Bazentin le Petit.
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6 inch 26cwt howitzer |
"6 inch gun in action - Somme Battle outside Wallencourt" |
In April 1917 Sidney drew the following picture with a note "Cove & Brill killed here on March 7th".
I have been unable to identify Cole on the Commonwealth War Graves site.
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Pottenhoek (on Elverdinghe Road) 26th Siege Battery - shattered buildings (for cartridge and shell storage) "after a packet" |
In September 1917 the Battery was in action near Vaulx-Vraucourt and Sidney painted the following pictures there.
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Damaged buildings and archway |
Damaged archway |
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Ruined Church at Vaulx-Vraucourt |
The Church as appears now! |
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Ruins with the title "Cafe Belge, Dickebusche on Ypres Road - September 1917 |
On the 21st March 1918 it is recorded :-
Until dark the 26th Siege Battery with two 6 inch (H.V.) guns at the north edge of Vraucourt shelled enemy infantry advancing up the Hirondelle valley. The other two guns of this battery, engaged near Quéant in harassing fire on roadways, were silenced, as was a 6 inch howitzer battery, about 6 p.m. by German 5.9 inch (H.V.) guns. The four guns were got away at 5.30 a.m. on the 22nd, but one subsequently slipped into a shell-hole and was left behind.
September 1918 in action at Ervillers.
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Signal Headquarters outside Ervillers |
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"This village is Ervillers" |
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And now for a painting without a title! I would be very pleased to hear from anyone who recognises it.
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| I am not sure when or where this chateau was painted. It could have been Elverdinghe which was used by the Royal Artillery until it was destroyed by a fire started in a kitchen. |
Much later the chateau was rebuilt. |
After the war Sidney continued his career as an artist and signed his paintings as Sid R. Chilvers. Nothing much is known of his career as a commercial artist but a great deal of Sidney's work (including the above paintings) was found by David Cohen of David Cohen Fine Art.
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A Christmas Card by Sid R. Chilvers
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Sidney married Elsie Winifred Brown on 12 September 1919 but they had no children. Sidney lived most of his life at 42, Umfreville Road, Harringay, London and it was there that he passed away on 16 February 1961.
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A postcard scene of Umfreville Road |
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These are the names of some of the soldiers who served with the 26th Siege Battery
| Name | Rank | Reg. No. | Notes |
| Charles Victor Stewart | Acting Captain | Military Cross (18/11/1916) and 2 Bars | |
| Thomas Alfred Boggins | Gunner | 55150 | Medal Card Available |
| Michael Carey | Gunner | 39977 | Medal Card Available |
| R L Leigh | Lieutenant Captain | 1915/16 Star | |
| Norman John McMorrin | Gunner | 50804 | Killed on 26th July 1916 near Aveluy, Somme |
| Harold Gilbert Brill | Gunner | 54271 | Died on 7th March 1917 near Vlamertinghe |
| Wilfred John Cove | Gunner | 96378 | Died on 7th March 1917 near Vlamertinghe |
| Albert James Godden | Bombadier | 358058 | Died on 19th September 1918 at Lagnicourt |
| Percy Vivian Philcox | Second Lieutenant | Killed on 1st November 1918 near Romeries |
Information sources.
| The British Army on the Western Front 1916 | Bruce I. Gudmundsson | |||
| For Conspicuous Gallantry - Winners of the Military Cross and Bar | Scott Addington | |||
| Military Operations France and Belgium, 1918 | Compiled by Sir James E. Edmonds | |||
| The Commonwealth War Graves Commission | ||||
| Ancestry.com | ||||
| David Cohen Fine Art | ||||
| Paul Read - War Diary (part) of the 26th Siege Battery. | The National Archives | |||
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Back to the index of stories |
Richard Chilvers - Updated November 2008 |
