Gunner

Sydney Christopher (Sid) Harford

Conflict: 
Anglo Boer War
Additional Information: 

Son of Christopher and Jane Harford.

References:
  • Watt (2000)
NZ WAR GRAVES
CONTRIBUTED
Natal Naval Volunteers ABW Memorial, St Cyprian's Anglican Church, Durban, South Africa.
Natal Naval Volunteers ABW Memorial, St Cyprian's Anglican Church, Durban, South Africa - detail
Durban ABW Memorial Panel 4, Francis Farewell Square, Durban.
Durban ABW Memorial Panel 4, Francis Farewell Square, Durban - detail

Biographical Notes:

“The melancholy news of the death at Durban of Seaman S. C. Harford was received with much regret by many in Nelson on 28th inst and great sympathy is felt for his mother (Mrs Harford, of Collingwood street) and the other members of his family. After passing through the South African campaign unscathed, and taking part with the Navals who did such splendid work in the relief of Ladysmith, and just when he was on the eve of returning home, poor " Sid " Harford was stricken down with enteric fever at Durban, and after a few days' illness he passed away on October 16th, at the age of 25. Our readers will remember the letters we have published which were written by deceased, and particularly his vivid description of the execution done by the Naval guns during the fierce fighing at Spionkop, the guns being in charge of the Natal Naval Volunteers, which corps deceased joined very early in the campaign, after he had seen service in the British Navy. Poor " Sid " was a favorite [sic] with those who knew him in Nelson, and from the letters his mother received yesterday from officers and members of the Natal Naval Volunteers, it is evident that he was the same at the front. One letter states that Petty-Officer Francis and his wife acted as father and mother to " Sid," of whom they were very fond, Mrs Francis giving him the last kiss for the sake of his mother. Petty-Officer Francis wrote giving an account of deceased's last moments. The officer in command of the corps also wrote a sympathetic letter to his mother, and "Sid's" old comrades in the former Nelson Navals will be pleased to know that his officer states: — "I am pleased to say that the exemplary manner in which he did his duty was highly satisfactory." One comrade states: "Poor 'Sid' was the best chum I ever had." Deceased was accorded a military funeral, as many as possible of the corps attending, while the coffin was covered with flowers by the wives of his comrades.” [Colonist, Volume XLIV, Issue 9972, 3 December 1900, Page 2 (Supplement)]

Public Contributions:

Submitted by: Kevin Jordan
Relationship to casualty: None

Personal Tributes:

Casualty

Name:
Sydney Christopher (Sid) Harford
Rank: 
Gunner
Date of Birth:
03 September 1875
Place of Birth:
Nelson, New Zealand
Date of Enlistment:
Not known
Marital Status:
Single
Nationality of Force:
South African
Unit:
Natal Naval Volunteers

Casualty Details

Cause of Death:
Date of Death:
16 October 1900
Day of Death:
Tuesday
Conflict: 
Anglo Boer War

Embarkation Details

Text in italics supplied by Cenotaph Online, Auckland War Memorial Museum

Cemetery

Cemetery Location: 
South Africa
Sydney Christopher (Sid) Harford
Images
More information
  • Files must be less than 100 MB.
  • Allowed file types: png gif jpg jpeg.
Files
More information
  • Files must be less than 100 MB.
  • Allowed file types: txt pdf doc.