Sydney Alfred Everton was born on 5 October 1894 in Sudbury, Middlesex (now Greater London), the elder child of Alfred Wallis Everton (1863-1931) and Jessie Everton née Langford (1873-1965). His birth was registered in the 4th quarter of 1894 in the Hendon Registration District, Middlesex (now Greater London). On 31 October 1894 he was baptised at St John the Evangelist Parish Church, Wembley, Middlesex (now Greater London), where the baptismal register confirms his date of birth, that the family were living in Sudbury and that his father was a meat purveyor (butcher). When his brother, Edwin Everton (1896-1993), was baptised on 10 July 1896 the baptismal register shows the family address as Canterbury Terrace, Sudbury, Middlesex.
The 1901 census shows him as aged 6 years and living at 1 Lyme Terrace, Camden, London, the home of his widower maternal grandfather, Benjamin Langford (1833-1916) who was a pianoforte key maker, together with his mother, his maternal aunt, Amy Langford (b.1869) who was described as a singer and his brother Edwin Everton.
In November 1910 he was appointed as an Assistant Postman (Telegraph Messenger) in the London Postal Service and this occupation is confirmed in the 1911 census that shows him as aged 16 years and living with his mother, still in the four roomed property at 1 Lyme Terrace, Camden Town, London, whilst his father is recorded at 55 Turnpike Lane, Hornsey. In 1912 he enlisted at 33 Fitzroy Square, London, W1, in the 1st (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) - a Territorial Army regiment and his service number was 1220. In January 1914 he was promoted to the grade of Postman in West London.
On the outbreak of World War One he was called upon to serve full time in his regiment and entered France on 11 March 1915. He was killed in action, aged 21 years, on the 15 September 1916 whilst serving in the Battalion's 'F' Company and as he has no known grave he is commemorated on Pier and Face 9D & 16B of The Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme at Rue de l'Ancre, 80300 Thiepval, France.
He was posthumously awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal which on the 6 October 1920 were sent to his mother at 1 Lyme Terrace, Camden Town. It was not until 18 July 1925 that his army effects of £12-2s-5d and his £9-0s-0d war gratuity were divided and sent to his mother and his brother.
He is shown as 'EVERTON, S.A.' on the Western Postal District war memorial in Mount Pleasant, London, WC1. He is also commemorated in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website, on the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War website, on the A Street Near You website, on the London WW1 Memorial website and on Page 120 of the Post Office Fellowship of Remembrance's 1914-1920 Book of Remembrance.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
