Private Sydney Payne, (Feltwell), 1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers KiA Cambrai 1917

This photograph of him appeared in the edition of the Norwich Mercury dated January 26 1918. The caption reads : Pte. Sidney Payne, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, of Feltwell, killed in action.

 

S. PAYNE, ROYAL INNIS. FUS.*********

 

On the Church Roll of Honour he is recorded as Sidney Payne.

 

Private PAYNE, SYDNEY

Service Number:…………… 43973

Died:……………………….. 20/11/1917

Unit:…………………………1st Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Son of Lemon Payne; husband of Mabel Ella Payne, of Shrub Cottage, Feltwell, Brandon, Suffolk.

Commemorated at CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, LOUVERVAL

CWGC: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1755848/payne,-sydney/

 

SDGW records that Private 43973 Sydney Payne was Killed in Action on the 20th November 1917 whilst serving in France & Flanders with the 1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. He was formerly 018179, Army Ordnance Corps. He was born “Felwell”, Norfolk and enlisted Norwich. No place of residence is shown.

 

The Medal Index card for Private 43973 Sydney Payne, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, is held at the National Archive under reference WO 372/15/162291

However its shows him previously as 50347 North Staffordshire Regiment.

discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D4561416

He qualified for the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. The related Medal Roll shows that he was original 50347 5th North Staffordshire Regiment, then 43973 1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.

 

His Service Records do not appear to have survived the incendiary attack during the Blitz on the Warehouse where all the Other Ranks Army Service Records were stored.

 

No match on Picture Norfolk, the county image archive.

 

No obvious Missing Person enquiry received by the International Red Cross.

 

The 1918 Probate Calendar records that ‘Sidney’ Payne of Feltwell, Norfolk, Private Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers died 20th November 1917 in France, Probate was granted at the Norwich Court on the 27th May 1918 to Henry Addison and Wilfred Addison, house decorators. His effects were valued at £284 19s.

probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Calendar?surname=Payne&y...

 

The balance of his pay was sent to his Executor, Henry Addison, in July 1918. Sydneys’ War Gratuity was also paid in November 1919 to Henry.

 

The relevant Panel on the Cambrai Memorial can be seen here:-

www.findagrave.com/memorial/56029128/sydney-payne#view-ph...

 

 

1889/1890 – Birth and Baptism……..

 

The birth of a Sidney Payne was registered with the Civil Authorities in the Thetford District in the January to March quarter, (Q1), of 1890. Then, as now, you had 42 days after the event to report the birth without facing prosecution and a fine. A baby registered at the start of Q1 could therefore have been born as early as the middle of the previous November.

 

The baptism of a Sidney Payne, no date of birth recorded, took place in the Parish of St Mary and St Nicholas, Feltwell on the 25th October 1890. His mother was Clara Genese Payne. No father was listed.

The two of them lived in the Parish.

www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5818f8fde93790eca32d257...

On the same day and in the same parish, two other Paynes were baptised.

Avis Hilda, no date of birth recorded. Parents John Lemon, a Farmer and Mary Ann.

www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5818f8fde93790eca32d256...

Katie Louisa, no date of birth recorded. Parents John Lemon, a Farmer and Mary Ann.

www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5818f8fde93790eca32d256...

 

1891 Census of England and Wales

 

The 1 year old “Sidney” Payne, born Feltwell, was recorded living in a dwelling on Howard’s Drove, Feltwell, This was the household of his grandparents, Lemon, (aged 39, a Farmer + Machinist, born Feltwell), and MaryAnn, (aged 40(?) and born Northwold, Norfolk). As well as Sidney their own children living with them are:-

Clara…………aged 16……born Feltwell

Robert………..aged 12…….born Feltwell

Manella(?)……aged 7……..born Feltwell

Katie………….aged 4……..born Feltwell

Aves(?)……….aged 2……..born Feltwell

 

1901 Census of England and Wales

 

The 11 year old “Sidney” was probably still living with same family, but now his relationship is shown as son. They were living at the Farm House, Near Elm Tree, either on or near the junction with Howard’s Lane, Feltwell. Parents were John L. Payne, (49, a Farmer, born Feltwell), and Mary A, (aged 53, now stated to have been born Feltwell). Children still single and living with them are:-

Frederick W……..aged 24…..born Feltwell….Engineer

Kate……………..aged 14…...born Feltwell

Avis……………..aged 12……born Feltwell

Clement…………aged 9……..born Feltwell

 

1911 Census of England and Wales

 

The Payne family were now recorded living at Short Beck, Feltwell. Parents John Lemon, (aged 60. A Farmer) and Maryann, (62, now reverted to being born Northwold), have been married 38 years and have had 8 children, who were all then still alive. The only other person living with them is their 21 year old unmarried son, Sidney Payne, a Farm Bailiff.

 

1913 – Marriage……………………..

 

The marriage of a Sidney Payne to a Mabel E. Leonard was recorded in the Thetford District in the October to December quarter, (Q4), of 1913.

 

Until September 1911 the quarterly index published by the General Registrars Office did not show information about the mothers’ maiden name. A check of the General Registrars Office Index of Birth for England and Wales 1911 – 1983 shows no likely children of Sidney and Mabel.

 

 

On the day…………………………….

 

Selected extracts from “The Story of the 29th Division: A record of gallant deeds” by Captain Stair Gillon – pages 151 – 159

 

1st Royal Inniskillings were part of 87th Brigade in 29th Division

 

20th November 1917

 

Page 151

 

The advance of the 29th, which began between 1 and 2 a.m. on the morning of November 20, was carried out without a hitch. The 87th, which led, reached the point of assembly at 3.30 a.m.

The only audible sound was the chug, chugging noise of the tanks,378 of which had been allotted to the III. and IV. Corps. The 86th and the 88th were in position in ample time for zero.

 

………

 

At 6. 10 a.m. the tanks started. It was one of the most dramatic moments in the war. At 6.20, from concealed guns which had only just registered, there burst a torrent of smoke, gas, and high explosiveshells. And all this in an autumn mist so thick that one

 

(Page 152) could only see 100 yards ahead. It is recorded by the 2nd Royal Fusiliers that they marched on a compass bearing of 40° till they passed through the 6th Division, who had captured and were holding the Hindenburg Line. The assaulting three divisions of the corps attacked with the barrage, and the 29th moved forward quickly to allotted positions in the old front line., which was reached about 7.30 a.m. The feeble counter-barrage did little damage, and soon ceased. Prisoners were soon seen in masses.

 

……….

 

Soon after 10 a.m. the bugle sounded G., and the three brigades advanced towards their objectives preceded by twelve tanks, four being assigned to each brigade. The machine-guns went forward on the backs of mules, and although there was some hoof-frisking under the stimulus of the gun fire, not a gun was lost or injured, as Captain K. M. Moir has testified.

 

The orders to the 29th were to wait until information arrived that the leading divisions had gained the Hindenburg Support Line, timed for 10 o'clock. Owing to fog an aeroplane could not act, and it took two hours for information to reach the 29th Divisional Headquarters that we had gained the Hindenburg Line. To have waited for news of reaching the second objective would have rendered the pursuit by the 29th abortive owing to want of time. At 10.30 a.m. therefore, the three brigades were ordered to advance, the 88th Brigade (Nelson) on the right moving north-east against Masnieres, the 87th Brigade (Lucas) in the centre due north against Marcoing, by the east slopes of the Couillet valley, and the 86th Brigade (Cheape) north-north-east by the west slopes of the Couillet valley against Nine Wood, a copse at the top of a ridge overlooking Marcoing, and a mile to the north of it. There was no divisional reserve, as the 29th had three distinct and widely separated positions, to attain each of which would require a full brigade. But a pursuing force is frequently entitled to take extraordinary risks, and in this case there was no choice. The two brigades on the flanks

 

(Page 153) moved in diamond formation with a battalion at each point, so that if the leading battalion was unable to advance, the flanking battalions by continuing to advance would automatically turn the flanks of the defenders. This manoeuvre proved most successful. All the brigades advanced through the broad lanes torn by the tanks through the forest of barbed wire. The 16th Battalion Middlesex Regiment, acting as advanced guard to the 86th Brigade, was held up by heavy machine-gun fire from a chalk quarry in front of Nine Wood, a place essential to the safe holding of Marcoing, but the 2nd Royal Fusiliers on the right, and the Guernsey Light Infantry on the left, pushed in and took the quarry by reverse fire with hardly a check, the latter battalion receiving their baptism of fire in the course of this flawless manoeuvre. In addition to many prisoners, 26 machine guns were captured there. The centre brigade adopted the square formation, the two leading battalions finding their own advanced guards. After the garrison of the quarry had been thus disposed of, Nine Wood was captured with hardly a check, and outposts pushed on to Noyelles-sur-L'Escaut, a village about a mile to the north-west of the top of the spur, and lying, as its full name tells, on the (left) bank of the Scheidt.

 

………

 

(Page 154) Meanwhile, the 87th in the centre progressed steadily (and likethe 88th, without any artillery help), and with a certain degree of caution, as prisoners stated that Marcoing was held by three battalions. Some troublesome machine-gun fire was met with at Marcoing Copse, half a mile south-east of the village, and a certain number of casualties occurred, but the advance continued, and it was soon seen that any resistance this side of the canal was more apparent than real. The K.O.S.B., the leading battalion on the left, on capturing Marcoing, secured only 50 prisoners. The rest had fled, and yet it was evidently a place of great importance. Valuable assistance was rendered to the K.O.S.B. by tanks in this well-fought action. Nor did the K.O.S.B. forget their instructions regarding bridgeheads. Leaving two companies to mop up the village., Colonel C. A. G. O. Murray sent on the two others to capture the main bridge over the canal. Thanks to the intrepid advance of Major B. T. Wilson, R.E., in front of the infantry, this bridge was saved from destruction in the nick of time. It had been mined, but the engineers were up in time to cut the leads. As soon as the bridge was in our hands, the Borders, under Lieutenant-Colonel A. J. Ellis, D.S.O., carne sweeping through to attack the third and last line of the German system of defence. It was at this time that a check was threatened by a well-posted machine gun. The Germans were evidently regaining their heads and hearts. But it was not for long. Sergeant Spackman, of the Border Regiment, dashed across to the far side, for he had located the danger. Single-handed, and with great tactical skill, he worked round the gun by short rushes from cover to cover, shooting down the detachment in his advance. He shot all but one man, who abandoned his gun and bolted. By this intrepid act Sergeant Spackman cleared the way for those of his comrades, who did not cross by the lock bridge at the little Chateau of Talrna, north of the village, to cross the canal. For this dashing exploit Sergeant Spackman won the twenty-first V.C. for the 29th.

 

 

(Page 155) Now for the S.W.B. and R.I.F. on the right. It will be evident to the reader that, when mention was made of firing at Marcoing Copse, it would principally affect the right half of the brigade. It was the S.W.B. under Colonel G. T. Raikes, D.S.O., who met with and overcame this opposition. They continued their march towards the river and the canal, which at this point are almost contiguous. About two-thirds of the two miles of distance between Marcoing and Masnieres, in the direction of Masnieres, is a lock. This lock the S.W.B. seized, and, crossing by it, formed a bridgehead on the farther side. Hard behind them came the R.I.F., but, by the time they came up, a machine gun, firing from a building on the far side, made any attempt to cross futile. It was then that the initiative and bravery of their commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Sherwood-Kelly, C.M.G., D.S.O., once more restored the situation. He ran under fire to a tank, with which he returned, and the fire of which he directed against the building. He himself at the head of his men then crossed the lock-bridge, followed by his leading company. Opposition then collapsed, and the remainder of the battalion passed over in safety. Although it is out of the order of events, it may be stated here that the same officer, on the same day, covered another company through a belt of wire, using a Lewis gun himself. His final exploit on that day was personally to lead a company against the defenders of some sunk gun pits, between Masnieres and Marcoing, which resulted in the capture of 46 prisoners and 5 machine guns. The Times correspondent, in giving his account of this record of gallantry, speaks of '' his coolness and nonchalance which were the inspiration of the whole battalion." His arm bore four wound stripes, and his last wound in the lung, as we know, would have entitled him to be permanently invalided. For these exploits he was subsequently awarded the V.C., the twenty-second won for the division.

 

(Page 157) But the N.F.L.D., on reaching the canal lock on the left edge of Masnieres, met with

stubborn resistance. After a severe combat the bridge was won, but, as the final objective, the Beaurevoir line, was beyond reach, a defensive flank was dug, linking up with the 87th Brigade.

 

From a coign of vantage General Lucas had been an eye-witness of much of the earlier part of the 29th's operations, which might have been a field day on Salisbury Plain: the 86th with their

tanks moving up the slopes and capturing Nine Wood, and his own Borders moving up the slopes towards the Beaurevoir line in extended order, just as a mass of Germans were hurrying from the opposite quarter towards the same goal. As the mist closed in on the combatants, it seemed as though the Germans would win the race, and this proved to be the case. It was the 107th Division, fresh, in every sense, from Russia, just arrived in the very nick of time to save the Mas-Beau Line. In many ways the Germans had the luck that day. And then the mist swallowed up the combatants. Most terrible and significant of all was the sight of the hold-up of the 51st at Flesquieres, with a tank in flames on the edge of it, and some six or eight others round about also on fire. Incidentally, it may be mentioned that the tanks cut all telephone wires, so

that no communications came from the front for a considerable time.

 

87th Brigade Headquarters then moved to Marcoing, where the battalion headquarters were already ensconced, and attention was directed to discovering how the attack on the Beaurevoir line and the north-western suburbs of Masnieres had succeeded. Great results were not to be expected from a few tired battalions (the R.I.F. had had a rencontre of considerable asperity 1,000 yards north-west of Masnieres and taken some prisoners en route) and

 

(Page 158) one tank, confronted with a wired and entrenched position about a mile away. On the extreme left a company of the Borders captured a portion of the hostile trenches and 19 prisoners. As it could not be supported, it was ordered to retire. This order was carried out with masterly skill by alternate platoons. Not a prisoner escaped. It was a very fine example of "fire and movement'' in retreat.

 

Elsewhere all efforts failed, and a bridgehead line of trenches was dug from the canal north of the Talma Chateau to the canal at the outskirts of Masnieres, manned from left to right by the Borders, R.I.F., and N.F.L.D.

 

The net result from north to west was that the 86th had reached their objective at Noyelles, the 87th had two battalions confronting the final objective and two in reserve in Marcoing. The 88th had captured three-fourths of Masnieres, and had three battalions across the canal and one in and around L.R.V. Rain had begun to fall early in the aftemoon. It was a nasty, cold winter’s night. The men had no blankets, but, though dog tired, they had plenty to do with pick and shovel.

 

……….

 

(Page 159) Perhaps the notable feature of this operation lay in the sustained endurance of the troops prior to, during, and subsequent to the attack. There had been no night's rest for three nights previous to the battle, and a night in the train had been followed by three night marches, some of the units doing as much as 12 miles in a night. On the actual day of battle the 29th Division marched 10 miles to the canal, carrying 6o lbs. of equipment. They fought till dark, and then consolidated a position 5,000 yards long by 1,500 deep.

 

Tank involvement

 

Orders

9, 11 and 10 sections, each with four tanks, were allotted respectively to 86th, 87th and 88th brigades, 29th Division. This division was to pass through the leading waves at the Brown Line and then assault toward the Bridges in Marcoing and Masnieres.

 

11 Section. With 87th Div, start R14b.5.9. advance when 3G's sounded from bugle. To capture Bridges over canal in Marcoing then advance to Flot Farm.

 

11 Section

The section stared from at L38b.8.1at Z+ 3.45. The lead tank A54 was asked to turn half right and deal with two enemy MGs that were holding up advance and did so. The other three tanks proceeded to Marcoing A53 smashed its right sponson door on the post of the level crossing and remained there for some time fixing it, it was joined by A54 which had to re affix its unditching gear.

 

A52 and A55 crossed the Canal and then fired into the rear of Talma Chateau before proceeding to the left and right of Flot Farm. The infantry however didn’t advance and A52 retired; A55 was lost at this point according to “Cambrai 1917” (S40p184) possibly due to penetration by AP ammo (S40p185) , the Company commanders report also indicates one tank was out of action in the German Lines, the OIC 2Lt Lipscombe was reported missing.

 

A second attack was launched at 5pm: A53 advanced without infantry, going along the trenches on the right of the railway and dispersing some infantry there; A52 advanced with a Company of Border Regt and attacked trenches in front of Flot Farm but got lost in the dark; A54 was ordered to support 1st Inniskillings in attacking trenches from Flot Farm to Rumilly the infantry didn’t attack but the tank conducted a recce to the front.

 

All three surviving tanks then rallied at Marcoing station.

 

11 Section Capt Raikes DT. 87th brigade

A52, m, 8091, “Artful Alice II”, 2Lt Charles

A53, m, 8087, “Angelina II”, 2Lt Wright

A54, f, 8079 “Adsum II”, 2Lt Johnson

A55, , 2878, “Aggressive II”, 2Lt Lipscombe

Source: sites.google.com/site/landships/home/narratives/1917/camb...

 

 

Done