Ernest Sidney – known as Sidney to his family – was born in Melton on 1st September 1896. In 1911, he was working as a messenger boy with the Post Office and, when the war started, he worked as a porter at Melton Station. Sidney enlisted in the Suffolk Regiment on 26th April 1915. After training, he was posted to France on 22nd December 1915, joining the 7th Suffolks at Festubert early in the new year. Sidney’s time with them was short as he was soon wounded on 13th January and sent back to England for treatment. Once recovered, he was posted back to join his battalion, the 7th Suffolks, on the front line.

Sidney was promoted to Lance Corporal on his return to his battalion and on 14th October 1917, was wounded once more and returned to England for treatment to a scalp wound. He was given ten days hospital leave that he spent at home in Melton. This coincided with a period of leave from France for his brother Edward.

On recovery from this incident, Sidney was posted to join the Labour Corps with whom he remained until his discharge on 23rd March 1919. For his war service, Sidney received the 1914-15 Star and the British War and Victory Medals.

Sidney married Emma Hudson in 1922. In 1939, Sidney was still working as a railway porter and living with his wife and three children in Little Bealings, Suffolk. Sidney died in 1971 and his wife in 1982; they are buried in Little Bealings.