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G/60637 2nd/4th Battalion, The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regiment
Sidney Griggs was born in Sudbury in 1898, one of six surviving children of Walter and Emma Maria Griggs. His father was employed as a warehouse porter, his mother a silk winder and the family lived at 11 Church Row, before moving to 70 East Street.
Sidney was living in Marylebone, London when he enlisted to serve with the Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regiment which formed part of 101st Brigade, 34th Division. In July 1918 the Allies launched their offensive at the Battle of the Marne (20 July – 2 August) and Sidney’s battalion saw action at the Battle of the Soissonais and the Ourcq (23 July – 2 August).
On the morning of 29 July at 4.10 am fog covered the ground as the battalion pushed forward through the enemy barrage which contained a belt of tear gas. A short halt was called at 6am before they continued but the French support was late in starting and the short halt allowed the enemy to reinforce. There was a problem with the artillery support due to a fault in communication and the enemy machine gunners strongly opposed the battalion’s progress. That night the enemy shelled them using mustard gas.
Sidney died aged 20 on 29 July 1918 and lies buried in Raperie British Cemetery, Villemontoire, Aisne, France. A Cross of Remembrance was laid by his grave in September 2016.
He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
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