Sidney William Alner

Story:
Sidney William Alner was born on 25 Jan 1899 in Shaftesbury, Dorset, and was baptised there at Holy Trinity Church on 6 Mar 1899. He was the son of Sidney William Alner, a labourer, and Mary Ellen Alner (née Franklin). At the time of the 1911 Census, he was single and living with the family at 14 Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, Dorset. He enlisted as a Private in the Hampshire Regiment (Service No. 28329) and at the time of wounding in action was with the 1st Battalion in France & Flanders. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals. He died of his wounds at the Military Hospital in Farnham, Surrey, on 19th November 1918 and was buried at Holy Trinity Churchyard, Shaftesbury, to the west of the church. He is remembered on the Park Walk War Memorial and on the Holy Trinity Memorial Plaque, now in St. Peter's Church, Shaftesbury. His mother was awarded a dependent's pension of 7s.6d (37p) per week.

Sidney's brothers Harry Walter (b.1886) and Frederick Sidney (b.1896) also served in the war. Sadly Harry died in France less than a month before Sidney.