231818 Pte. Sidney Beardmore MM.British Army 16th (1st Battalion Bradford Pals) Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment from:Bradford, West Riding Yorkshire Sidney Beardmore originally enlisted with 16th West Yorkshire Regiment (1st Battalion Bradford Pals) as private 16/1103. He departed from Liverpool in December 1915 after a year of basic training as part of the 93rd Brigade. They sailed on the Empress of Britain a Canadian steamship and docked at Port Said on 22nd December 1915 with orders to protect the Suez Canal. However as this theatre of the war was quiet the 93rd Brigade was ordered to France, departing Egypt 1st March 1916. The Brigade disembarked at Marseilles 6th March and traveled to their destination of Bertrancourt arriving 29th March. The time between then and 1st July was taken with preparations for the first day of the Battle of the Somme. Private Sidney Beardmore took part on the attack of Serre on 1st July when the Pals Battalions were virtually wiped out in the bloodiest day of the war for the British Army.
Sidney remained with the 16th West Yorkshire Regiment until the Battalion was disbanded in France in February 1918. He transferred to 13th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers and continued to act as a regimental stretcher bearer. During 1918 the 12th/13th Battalion were in the thick of the action first defending against the German "Spring Offensive" and then as part of the "100 Day Offensive" pushing the German Army back to the German border. Sidney was exceptionally busy as stretcher bearer and first-aider when the fighting of 1918 became open warfare. The Battalion suffered hundreds of casualties and Sidney was rescuing wounded comrades during periods of heavy fighting risking his own safety. He was wounded 18th September 1918 and returned to England for convalescence at Beacowood VAD hospital, Rednal, Worcestershire. He was awarded the Military Medal for his devotion to duty repeatedly rescuing comrades under fire. (Gazette issue number 31142 MM, Gazette date 21/1/19 page 1216). Sidney returned to France just prior to Armistice Day, ending the war with 25th Battalion Northumberland fusiliers who were located protecting lines of communication at Aumale. He ended the war as A.R. Class Z still a private.
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