SIDNEY RUMSEY
From May through to September 2026, Andrew will be fulfilling his dream to hike the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats! You are all warmly invited to follow Andrew’s epic journey on his Facebook page, “Andrew Beal LEJOG” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577588795730
As Andrew hikes the 1,300+ miles, he will raise funds for the Ipswich War Memorial Project to help finance our future exhibitions and research of the brave Ipswich men and women who lost their lives in conflict. If you would like to make a small donation, please click on the link: https://gofund.me/5d4a50570
Thank you for your love and support. Andrew & Helen – I.W.M.P.
Born: 2nd January 1885, Copdock, Suffolk.
Baptised on the 5th April 1885, at St. Mary’s Church, Copdock – family home at Copdock.
Died: 3rd November 1918; age 33; died whilst a Prisoner of War – drowned by suicide in the River Elbe.
Residence: 111, Belle Vue Road, Ipswich.
Occupation: Stationer’s Clerk.
Enlistment Location: Ipswich.
Rank: Private; Service Number: 126264
Regiment: Machine Gun Corps (Infantry), 25th Battalion.
Medals Awarded: Victory, British War.
Sidney’s grave at Parchin Prisoners of War Cemetery was never found. The Kipling Memorial was erected to Sidney and two other British Soldiers who died in 1918 and 1919, whose graves are now lost.
Grave Reference:
Kipling Memorial,
Parchin Prisoners of War Cemetery,
Germany.
Relatives Notified & Address: Son of Walter & Mary Rumsey; husband of Edith Maud Lamb (formerly Rumsey), of 111, Belle Vue Road, Ipswich.
CENSUS
1891 Cottages, Tuddenham Road, Ipswich.
Sidney was 6 years old and living with his parents.
Walter, 35, a Gardener – domestic, born Copdock, Suffolk.
Mary Rumsey (nee Last), 35, born Waldingfield, Suffolk.
1901 433, Bramford Road, Ipswich.
Sidney was 16 years old, a Drapers Assistant. He was living with his parents.
Walter, 45, a Market Gardener – own account.
Mary, 46.
1911 111, Belle Vue Road, Ipswich.
Sidney was 26 years old and a Stationer’s Clerk. He was married and the head of the household.
Edith, 24.
On the 10th August 1910, at St. Margaret’s Church, Ipswich, 26 year old Sidney, a clerk, of 76, Finchley Road, Ipswich married 24 year old Edith Maud Gurney, of 32, Cobbold Street, Ipswich, born June 1886, Ipswich – daughter of Walter Harry Gurney, a cabinet maker and French polisher, and Annie Eliza Gurney (nee Carr), of 7, North Hill Road, Ipswich.
Edith and Sidney had two children:
Leslie Sidney Walter Rumsey, born August 1911, Ipswich and baptised on the 6th September 1911, at St. Clement’s Church, Ipswich – family home at 111, Belle Vue Road, Ipswich.
Doris Edith Rumsey, born January 1914, Ipswich and baptised on the 5th October 1921, at St. Helen’s Church, Ipswich.
Doris Rumsey was baptised with her stepsister, Peggy Maud Lamb (father Charles Alexander Lamb) – family home at 111, Belle Vue Road, Ipswich.
Soldiers’ Effects to Edith Maud Lamb – widow.
MACHINE GUN CORPS.
The Machine Gun Corps was formed in October 1915 as the machine gun proved effective as infantry support in trench warfare. Cavalry and Motor branches, followed in 1916 by the Heavy Branch. A depot and training centre were established at Belton Park in Grantham, Lincolnshire, and also a training base depot at Camiers in France. The men were trained to a higher technical standard, capable of stripping down and mending the guns in the field.
The Machine Gun Corps had 62,049 casualties, including 12,498 killed out of 170,500 officers and men, earning it the nickname ’the Suicide Club’ mainly as machine guns were static or fixed in positions, becoming prime targets for the enemy.
Machine Gun Corps (Infantry),
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