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Auction: 24002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 164

Three: Private S. J. Hart, Worcestershire Regiment

British War and Victory Medals (38308 Pte S. J. Hart. Worc. R.); Memorial Plaque (Sidney Joseph Hart); Memorial Scroll, the VM officially re-impressed, otherwise extremely fine (4)

Sidney Joseph Hart was born on 9 July 1887 in Redmarley, near Newent, Gloucestershire, the son of Sidney and Selina Hart, the eldest of 6 other brothers, Allen Richard, Walter Reginald, Francis Victor, Gordon Seymour, Rowland and Edward. At some point, the family moved to live in Malvern where Sidney and his eldest son, conducted a family business as Poulterers. Sidney Hart married Maude E. W. Field in late 1913 at Upton, Worcestershire. After the Great War was declared, five of the brothers were called to the Colours. Three would not live to see the end of the conflict.

S. J. Hart was killed in Macedonia on 15 February 1918. He had served with the 11th Battalion and was manning trenches in Macedonia in the region of the Vardar River, having taken over a stretch of the line on 7 February 1918, relieving the 7th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment. His Battalion had arrived in the Balkans in December 1915, experiencing several tough battles and skirmishes in the rocky and unforgiving landscape against the Bulgarians.

Front line trenches were to be deepened and reinforced and working parties were being constantly troubled by enemy shell fire. On 15 February, Hart was killed immediately by shell fire whilst working on a trench known as 'The Dirk', and four others were wounded in a nearby trench. Hart was 30 years old.

He was eventually buried in the Karasouli Military Cemetery in Greece (Row E, Grave 1162). A memorial service was held at Emmanuel Church, Malvern on Sunday, 17 March 1918. The Rev. H. Russell '...referred to Private Hart as one of the youngest business men of the town, highly respected by all who knew him, active, energetic, full of ambition and hope, a worthy son, a devoted husband and a good brother...a comrade writes that Private Hart was one of the best of pals, always cheerful and full of hope.' (Malvern Gazette, refers).

At the time of his death, he and his wife were living at Clive Villa, Chase Road, Malvern. Hart is also commemorated upon the memorial at St. John the Baptist Church, Eastnor, Herefordshire.


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Sold for
£200

Starting price
£200