In the Parish Magazine of August 1915 it was reported that Sidney had been a ‘Territorial’ for 18 months prior to the outbreak of war. Commonwealth War Graves Commission report this was in 1913.
Sidney was the son of Matthew & Mary Best of Welbury, Northallerton. In 1901 Matthew was a Railway Station Master in the Northallerton District. By 1911 Sidney’s mother had died but he was not recorded on the census.
He joined the Yorkshire Territorials in March 1913. On the outbreak of war he served in France. Sydney was severely wounded at Ypres & died from his wounds in hospital at Boulogne in May 1915 aged 19. He is buried at Boulogne Eastern Cemetery.