SYDER, Percy George

War
1st World War
Date of Birth
Date Attested
Attested at
Valcartier, Quebec
Regimental Number
6962
Rank
Private
Date of Death
Age at Death
24 years 1 month
Cenotaph
Biographical Summary

DIVISIONAL UNIT:  1st Canadian Infantry Division, 1st Infantry Brigade, 1st Battalion - Western Ontario  Canadian Infantry Corps                                                                                                
RESIDENCE: Wingham - Ontario 
MOTHER:  Mrs. C. Syder - Norwich - Norfolk - England
FRIEND:  W. Paul - Wingham - Ontario                                                                                        
PERSONAL: Percy was 5'  6" tall and had a fair complexion with blue eyes.

Percy was born at Norwich - Norfolk in England and his mother was living there. Percy came to Canada to begin a new life and embarked from Liverpool on the Canadian Pacific SS Lake Manitoba arriving in Quebec on May 28, 1913. He then found his way to Wingham - Ontario and found employment as a machinist at the Walker & Clegg Furniture Factory.

When war was declared on Germany, Percy left Wingham and travelled to Valcartier in Quebec where he enlisted into the Canadian Corps. Private Syder and many 1,000s of other Canadians then went to Quebec City in preparation for going overseas. He boarded the SS Laurentic on October 4, 1914 and he arrived in Liverpool and from there he went to a Canadian camp for additional training. We know he departed for overseas into France on February 11, 1915. He then joined the 1st Battalion already in the field.

We know that Private Syder was wounded on April 23, 1915 which was during the battle for Gravestafel Ridge. In the early morning hours of April 23rd, the 1st / 4th Battalions moved from Vlamertinghe via Brielen and crossed the Yser Canal. Once across they were on the east side and were to occupy positions facing northwards along the track leading east to Pontoon 4. This was located 500 yards south of the first bend in the Canal north of Ypres. This position ran from the Ypres-Pilkem Road to the Canal. The 1st was left and the 4th was right.

At 5 am the Canadians attacked toward Pilkem with the 1st Battalion moving to the Ypres-Pilkem Road in support of the upcoming French advance on their left. The 1st Battalion for this advance were to be in support. The first objective was the enemy occupied ridge 1,200 yards south of Pilkem and the Canadians moved ahead under heavy artillery, machine gun fire and rifle fire. 

As they advanced the enemy abandoned his front trenches and at 9 am the Canadians found themselves 500 yards from the ridge.  During the morning the 1st Battalion had thrown up a stong line of defensive trenches facing the Pilkem Ridge on the high ground near the track leading to the Canal Pontoon No. 4. Here the advance halted and the infantry began to entrench. At 3:45 pm the French began their advance and the new trenches remained occupied while the rest of the Canadians advanced. This advance reached to within 200 yards of the ridge crest and here the advance stopped with the Canadians keeping their ground but not able to move because of the lack of artillery support. At the end of the day the front line troops were relieved and the 1st Battalion now occupied the trenches constructed that morning and were in reserve.

While advancing Private Syder received wound to his right leg and calf from enemy shrapnel and laid on the battlefield for two hours. He was tended to and was invalided to the coast and then to England. His medical care was performed from May 2 - June 26, 1915 at Red Cross Hospital Torquay - Devon;  then July 28, 1915 at Monks Horton Convalescent Hospital Horton Park - Kent and September 11 - 29, 1915 Woodcote Park Convalescent Hospital Epsom - Surrey
September 29, 1915, to the 36th Battalion, West Sandling - Kent

Private Syder was able to return to light duty on October 19, 1915 and at the time he was found to be short of breath but did not suffer pain in his right leg but was unable to walk great distances. Since being wounded he had lost a great deal of weight, was suffering from tachycardia which was where the heart beat at over 100 beats a minute and as well he was very shaky. His care then was resumed February 15, 1916 to the Canadian Casualty Association Centre. March 11 - April 19, 1916 Woodcote Park Convalescent Hospital, Epsom - Surrey   Private Syder then transferred to the 1st Battalion on May 16th to go back overseas into France where he rejoined his unit on June 6, 1916.

June 13th was the second day of the advance by the 1st Battalion against the enemy at Mount Sorrel and each man was carrying 200 rounds of ammunition, 2 Mills grenades, 2 rolled up sand bags and one shovel between two men.  A preparatory artillery bombardment came down upon the enemy during the daylight hours of June 12th and then at 12:45 am on June 13th an intense artillery barrage came down onto the enemy front trenches. At 1:30 am the bombardment lifted and then switched to the enemy support trenches. Again, the enemy received a barrage onto his front trenches and the push for the final objective began. The enemy artillery replied and this fell onto the assembly trenches and a number of casualties were taken. Then the enemy machine guns on Hill 60 became active but were quickly silenced. 

The Battalion advance was slow due to the amount of mud but the objectives were attained and consolidated. Now, a number of parties began carrying grenades to the front and as the day began to lighten the enemy snipers became active and several casualties were taken. Now, the enemy artillery became active onto the Battalion and numerous casualties were taken. The supply of stretchers was in short supply and many men who had been wounded had to endure lying on the battlefield for a long period of time .

The records of Private Syder do not provide the details of how he fell in battle but the war diaries do state that the enemy machine guns did not play a role in casualties being taken by the 1st Battalion . We feel that he fell in battle from enemy artillery or enemy snipers.