Sidney Banfield CAREY

Miscellaneous Information

(Courtesy of David Judd, Farmborough)

SIDNEY BANFIELD CAREY (1868 - 1918)

Sidney Banfield Carey was born in the December Quarter of 1868 in Timsbury, Bath, his birth was registered in Clutton. His parents were Abel and Hannah Carey (previously Branch), both of his parents were born in Farmborough, his father was baptised on 2 July 1837 and his mother was born in the December Quarter of 1839.

In the Bath Quarter Sessions records for 17 October 1868 there is a reference to Abel Carey appearing for stealing (Larceny), he was found "Not Guilty".

In the 1871 Census his father is shown as being age 36 and a wheelwright living at Bolwells Court in Bath, (Sidney) Banfield Carey is age 3 and living with his brothers and sisters, namely Dorchas age 12, Arckley age 10, Thomas age 8 and Dinah age 5.

On the 1881 Census Return (Sidney) Banfield Carey is age 12 living with his mother, a Char woman, at High Road in Farmborough, also at home are Arckles age 20, Thomas age 17 and a younger sister Lowisa age 9. There is no sign of his father, so whether he was out of the Country and serving with the military, or not recorded is unknown.

On the 1891 Census his mother is recorded as being a widow age 54 living on the Timsbury Road, Farmborough with her son Thomas Carey age 24 a coalminer. (Sidney) Banfield Carey is not at home but is recorded as being a Carpenter at Mill, age 22, and boarding with James and Eliza Southard in Church Street, Bathford. Therefore seeing as Sidney's mother is recorded as being a widow on the 1891 Census, his father must have died sometime between 1871 and 1891. A search of death records has been undertaken and nothing found, a search was also undertaken of the Probate records for this period but again nothing was found. It must be assumed that perhaps Abel Carey might have been involved in some Military campaign overseas and was killed.

On the 1911 Census Return Sidney (Banfield) Carey is single and living as a boarder with a Janet Morgan, married woman age 42, he is a Labourer, Farm Foundry, they are resident at 66 Spring Street, Rishton, Lancashire.

In the December Quarter of 1912 Sidney Banfield Carey marries Janet Morgan in Blackburn, Lancashire.

August 1914 saw the outbreak of the Great War and Britain committed to supporting Belgium who had been invaded by the Germans. Whether Sidney Banfield Carey joined immediately or soon after we don't know, but we do know that he was allocated service number 95281 in the Royal Field Artillery and was at the Number 1 Cadet School of the Royal Field Artillery which is located at St Johns Wood.

On Friday 30 August 1918 Gunner Sidney Banfield Carey died (of causes unknown), he was a Wheeler or Wheelwright with the Royal Field Artillery and is buried with his mother who died on 11 December 1918 aged 80 at All Saints Church, Farmborough, Bath. A death was registered in the September Quarter of 1918 in Marylebone, London and gave an age of 46(?).

He is remembered on the Commonwealth War Graves site and his name appears on his mothers grave viz;

"In Loving Memory of Wher B S Carey RHA, who died for his Country,

August 30th 1918 aged 49 years. Thy will be done"