Sydney Appleby (1898-)
Chester-le-Street coalminer escaped Prisoner of War camp
In April 1901 Sydney Appleby lived in Lamesley with his father, John Henry who was a gamekeeper, his mother Isabella and younger sister Jane Ann. By 1911, his father was working as a coalminer and the family had moved to Chester-le-Street.
In October 1914, at the age of only sixteen, he enlisted in the 8th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. The fact that he was under age seems to have gone unnoticed as he was among the first men of 8th DLI who went to France on 20 April 1915.
Within a month of landing in France, the 8th DLI found themselves in the thick of the Second Battle of Ypres. Seventeen-year-old Sydney was one of the lucky ones who escaped unharmed and was among the 40 per cent of the Battalion who were left at the end of the battle.
He served with 8th DLI right through the war but his luck ran out on 27 May 1918 at Craonne Hill in France. He was taken prisoner with two other 8th DLI men, Privates John Williams and William Walker.
After being captured they were made to work carrying railway sleepers and wounded men until 11p.m. They were allowed a few hours sleep and then marched to Ramecourt where they were put into a compound with about a thousand other prisoners. Conditions were very bad. The accommodation was dirty with no washing facilities. They were short of food and were made to work very hard. Men who fell sick had their food ration cut.
On 25 June 1918 they managed to escape and succeeded in returning to England.
Sydney Appleby was interviewed about his experiences by the Committee on the Treatment of British Prisoners of War. The interviews and reports that they compiled can now be found at the National Archives (WO 161/100/308).
The National Archives website:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Civil Parish: Chester le Street
Birth date: Jan-Mar-1898
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: Cookey House, Lamesley (1901 Census)
5 Poplar Terrace, Chester-le-Street (1911 Census)
Employment: Miner, 1918 (National Archives WO/161/100/307)
Family: Parents: John Henry Appleby, Isabella Appleby
Sibling: Jane Ann Appleby
Military service:
8th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry
Second Battle of Ypres 1915
27 May 1918 taken Prisoner at Craonne Hill, France
25 June 1918 escaped Prisoner of War camp and returned to England
Medal(s): Military Medal
Gender: Male
Contributed by BFB, Sunderland
