Trafford

Born - Sydney Allan Colthorpe during the December quarter 1886 in the
Altrincham R.D. - ref: 8a/171, the son of George Sidney & Elizabeth
Colthorpe (nee Woodhead).

1891 Census - No Trace.    But in 1881 the family was residing with
Elizabeth's parents at Edge Terrace, Ashton Upon Mersey

1901 Census - 5 Palmer Street, Sale.    Boarder - aged: 15 - occ: Labourer
- born: Ashton on Mersey.    Head of household - Catherine McDonald - Widow
- aged: 64 - born: Ireland.   Also - George S. Colthorpe (father) - Married
- aged: 52 - occ: Gardener (Domestic) - born: Suffolk.   Plus Sydney's 18
year old sister - Annie Colthorpe.    His mother - Elizabeth Colthorpe -
Married - aged: 45 - occ: Domestic Servant, was at this time an Inmate in
the Altrincham Union Workhouse.

His father died in 1905, but despite her workhouse and Lunatic Asylum
experience, his mother survived until 1935.

1911 Census - The Ridge, Jubbulpore.     Listed as Sidney Allan - Unmarried
- aged: 24 - occ: Private in 2nd Bn Cheshire Regiment - born: Sale.
His mother is now and inmate at the County Lunatic Asylum, Parkside,
Macclesfield, Cheshsire.

WO363 - Enlisted at Altrincham on the 1st September 1914, aged: 25 years
315 days, employed as a Labourer.  Height: 5 feet 8½ inches - Weight:161
lb - Expanded chest: 39½ inches with an expansion of 2½ inches -
Complexion: Fresh - Eyes: Grey -  Hair - Brown - Church of England.  
Embarked for France on the 4th December 1915 and joined the 2nd Battalion,
South Lancashire Regiment.   On the 2nd January 1915, he was tried by
F.G.C.M. (Field General Courts Marshal) and sentenced to 2 years I.H.L.
(Imprisonment with Hard Labour) for drunkenness & for striking a superior
officer when on active service.   He was released on the 31st May 1915
under "Army suspension of sentence" order.   Reported as missing on the
25th September 1915.

By 1920, his family comprised:- Mother - Inmate at Macclesfield Asylum -
Brothers - David Colthorpe (42) & John (32).   Sisters - Annie (34) &
Esther (30).     His medals were sent to his brother - David Colthorpe, 16
Roebuck Lane, Sale, on the understanding that if his mother, now in the
County Asylum, Macclesfield, recovers, they must then be handed to her.

Presumed to have died at Hooge on the 25th September 1915.  On the 21st
February 1915, the Germans explode the first mine beneath the trenches at
Hooge.  On the 19th July 1915, the British explode one and a half tons of
ammonal beneath the German positions and consolidate the huge crater torn
in the German lines.    Liquid fire (Flamethrowers) were used for the first
time on the 30th July 1915 and the Germans break through the British lines,
to capture the crater.   On the 9th August 1915, the British recapture the
crater and hold it until the summer of 1916.  The 2nd British attack on
Bellewaarde (Hooge) on the 25th September 1915, becomes an expensive
failure, costing some 4,000 casualties, one of whom was Sydney.

See also the Altrincham Database.