Sidney William Imber

Story:
Sidney William Imber was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 15th July 1891, the son of John Imber and Elizabeth Ann Imber (née Lodder).  He lived his early life in and around the St. James area of Shaftesbury, Dorset. By 1911 he had moved to Poole, Dorset, to live with his cousin, following the death of his mother in 1900. His father died in 1912. He married Maude Ellen Rhoda Anderson at St. Osmund's Church, Parkstone, Dorset, on 14th November 1915. Sidney enlisted and joined the 1st/5th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 55086), later transferring to the 2nd/4th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 202147).  He served in Egypt and on his discharge on 25th October 1919 he was awarded the Victory and British War medals.  The 1921 Census shows him boarding out with his wife at 3 Parsons Pool, Shaftesbury, working as a Butcher's Assistant, then by 1922 to 31 Salisbury Street, Shaftesbury. By the 1939 Register he had again moved to 39 Coppice Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, now described as a Butcher.  By the time of his death on 3rd June 1966 he had moved to 124 Churchill Road, Parkstone, Dorset.  His ashes were interred at the church in Hinton Parva, Dorset, on 22nd July 1966. Of his brothers, Bertie Howard, was killed in action whereas Leonard Charles MM, served and survived.