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Sidney John LightSidney John Light was one of five sons born to John Light and Frances Emma née Morse, all of whom served during the war, although only two had direct Frampton connections, the other being Edward Thomas Morse. Sidney was born on 15 August 1882, and his birth was registered in Gloucester. The family moved around during his childhood, his father finding work as a coachman in Quedgeley and later as the innkeeper of the Plough Inn, Sheepscombe. Sidney worked as a blacksmith before serving in the Royal Army Medical Corps from June 1900 for twelve years, including active service during the Second Boer War (1899 to May 1902), for which he was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal, with Clasps for 1901 and 1902. Remaining in South Africa until April 1906, he also earned Good Conduct badges. Following his discharge in 1912, he became a private chauffeur and lived in Gloucester. With the outbreak of the First World War, it is clear that Sidney rejoined the Army, this time in the Army Service Corps, where he served as a private in Mechanical Transport, almost certainly as a lorry driver. His joining date and training is not known, but by 18 July 1915 he was in Egypt. He was later reported to have served at Salonika until late 1918. Sidney was discharged on 27 June 1919 to the Army Reserve and awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. During 1918-19 he was listed as an absent voter in The Street, Frampton. However, his service during the war is not commemorated on the plaque in the village hall. In the autumn of 1919 he married Alice Green. The couple had two daughters, Frances and Marion Elizabeth, and later lived in Sheepscombe. The death of Sidney John Light was registered in the Stroud district during the last quarter of 1961. |