Category: Military
Rank: Corporal
Regiment or Ship: Army Service Corps
Occupation: Assisting in Business – Licensed Victualler
Date of Birth: 16.03.1884
Place of Birth: Ashmore House, Cudham, Kent
Date of Death: 22.12.1944
Place of Death: Ashmore House, East Hoathly, Sussex
Address: Devonshire Hotel, Devonshire Road, Bexhill
Photos and newspaper articles
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Family Information
Sydney George Sewell married Florence Lilian Mary Dendy in the March quarter of 1913, in the Registration District of Eastbourne.
Parents:
Richard Sewell, born 1837, in Newington, London and Fanny Sewell born 1849, in Paddington, London
Siblings:
Fanny Elizabeth Sewell born 1878, at Ashmore House, Cudham, Kent.
Richard Cecil Sewell born 1879, at Ashmore House, Cudham, Kent.
Frederick Charles Sewell born 1881, at Ashmore House, Cudham, Kent. W0109 SEWELL Frederick Charles
Ada B Sewell born 1886, at Ashmore House, Cudham, Kent.
Elsie V. Sewell born 1888, at Ashmore House, Cudham, Kent.
Winifred A. Sewell born 1889, at Ashmore House, Cudham, Kent.
Descendents:
There is one record of a possible son, Derek S. Sewell, born in 1920, in the Tonbridge Registration district. No record of any other children of this couple has been found.
First World War Experience
None of Sydney’s service records has survived – not even his Medal Roll Index card, which is something that can usually be found.
There are two reports, both in the Bexhill Chronicle, but published at different times, that give some information on him during the war but very little detail.
The first, in June 1917, mentions his appointment as Corporal in the Expeditionary Force, Canteen Branch, of the Army Reserve Corps, and the second, in April 1919, noted that he had been detained in India on his way home.
Additional Information
Sydney survived the war and, at some stage, took over the Post Office Stores in East Hoathley, Lewes. He named his house, in East Hoathley, “Ashmore House”, obviously after his home in Kent, where he was born, perhaps, because of fond memories.
His probate was proved on 5th March 1945 and he left £11,441 9s 5d. According to various on-line sources this would be worth about £400, 000 today but could have a value far greater depending upon what is being compared.
Some of the information in this biography came from a granddaughter of William and Grace Robinson (formerly Sewell, née Nye). She is Sandra Sylvester and her family has been researching the life of the Sewells for many years.
Also used – FreeBMD.org.uk (online); Ancestry.co.uk (online); the Imperial War Museum’s website “Lives of the First World War”; and the local newspapers at the time – the “Bexhill Observer” and the “Bexhill Chronicle”.