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Pte. Sidney Earnest Earley
British Army 2nd Btn. D Company Hampshire Regiment
from:Winchester
(d.5th Feb 1915)
Hamphire Privates Sad Death.
The ranks of D Company, 2nd Battalion, Hampshire Regiment, have been deprived by death of a genial, virile, and popular comrade in Private Sydney E. Earley, whose home was at Winchester. Earley came to Stratford with the battalion about a month ago, and was quartered in Bridge-street. His vivacious nature quickly won him friends among the civil population, and sporting proclivities led to his being selected captain of the victorious Hants.’XI, which recently engaged Stratford in a football match on Pearcecroft. The weather of the past month, trying as it has been to those accustomed to the vagaries of our climate, has proved infinitely more so to soldiers lately quartered under Indian Skies, and Earley was among the many members of the battalion who contracted chills of a more or less acute type.
On the 20th of last month his condition was such that it was deemed advisable to remove him to the Town Hall Hospital, where unremitting care and attention were at his disposal. He failed to rally, and death ensued on Friday from a malignant form of pneumonia. Late in the evening the body was removed to the mortuary near the Parish Church, and the interment took place on Saturday afternoon. Many years have rolled by since a military funeral of similar proportions was witnessed in the borough. At the cemetery gates the coffin was taken from the transport and borne shoulder-high to the grave, the Vicar and Rural Dean being at the head of the procession. The long line of khaki was relieved only by the bright hues of the flag of liberty and justice and the sorrowing figures clad in the habiliments of mourning. At the close of the service three volleys rang out from the rifles of the firing party, and the bugler sounded “ The Last Post†as a tribute to their departed comrade. In addition to the floral tributes from the family, handsome wreaths were sent by Major Beckwith and Lieutenant White; the commandants, sisters, and staff of the Town Hall Hospital; “M.,†his friend “D†Company, 2nd Battalion Hampshire Regiments; sergeants of “D†Company; and his comrades in platoon number 16. The coffin was of polished elm, and the breastplate bore the inscription; “Sydney E. Earley No. 8014, 2nd Hampshire Regt., died February 5th. 1915, aged 27 years.†The funeral arrangements were in the hands of Mr. H. Humphreys.
Stratford-upon-Avon Herald 12th February 1915
A Soldier's Memorial.
Messrs. Taylor and son, of this town, have recently executed and erected in the Borough Cemetery a memorial to Private Sidney Ernest Earley, of the 2nd Battalion Hampshire Regiment, who died on February 5th while billeted in Stratford. It was partly subscribed by deceased’s comrades, and will perpetuate the memory of one of the most cheerful and genial of soldiers. A headstone of Gothic design, the memorial is executed in Forest of Dean stone, a deeply moulded edge terminating in ivy leaves. Cleverly carved in the centre is the regimental crest, consisting of a tiger, Tudor rose, and laurel wreath.
Stratford-upon-Avon Herald
