Moody Sidney

Name of Researcher / Enw’r ymchwylydd: Patricia Satchell
Name of Memorial / Enw’r gofeb: Bodelwyddan
Regiment/Catrawd: Canadian Field Artillery
Service Rank and Number / Rheng gwasanaeth a rhif: Gunner 342637
Military Cemetery/Memorial / Fynwent milwrol: St. Margaret's Church, Bodelwyddan
Ref No Grave or Memorial / Rhif cyfeirnod bedd: 425
Country of Cemetery or Memorial / Gwlad y fynwent neu gofeb: Wales, U.K.
Medals Awarded / Medalau a ddyfarnwyd: British War Medal
Date of Death / Dyddiad Marwolaeth: 17 October 1918
Circumstances of Death / Dyddiad ac amgylchiadau marwolaeth:
Died on 17th October 1918 at the Canadian Military Hospital, Kinmel Park Camp, Rhyl, cause of death, Acute Endocarditis, complicating Influenza with Broncho-Pneumonia attributed to exposure to infection while in Military training.
Commonwealth War Grave Certificate / Tystysgrif Bedd Rhyfel y GymanwladView certificate

The 1901 census on Ancestry.co.uk shows that the Moody family was living in Toronto, Head of the household was Isaac Moody who was 46. He was born in 1854 in England and was a Painter by trade. His wife Martha, 36 was a native of London, England. They had five children llisted at home. They were Evaline Mary aged 14 who was born on the 22nd May 1887. Florence Maude was 1. She had been, born on the 4th July 1888. Henry Isaac, 10, was born on the 7th September 1890. Alice, 6, was born on the 8th January 1895. Finally, Sidney James aged 3, was born on the 14th March 1898 in Toronto.

Ten years on in 1911, the Moody family was still in Toronto living at 38 Havelock St. Isaac Moody was still in the same trade (Painter). He and his wife Martha had seven children listed at home in 1911. Evaline 24 was a Bookeeper. Florence was 21 and worked as a Ledger Keeper. Henry 19, was a Clerk. Alice was 16 and worked ‘ at home’. Sidney was a 13 year old Scholar. There were two additions to the family since the 1901 census, Clarence Philip, age 9 born 26th April 1901 and Myrtle Dorothy age 8 born 5th November 1902.

Sidney Moody’s Army records tell us that he enlisted into the 77th Depot Battery of the Canadian Field Artillery in Toronto on 25th May 1918, he gave his address as 38, Havelock St. Toronto, trade, Optical Trade, and his next of kin was named as Martha Moody, his mother.

After basic training in Canada, Sidney embarked from Quebec on 10th September 1918 aboard the HMAT Themistocles and arrived in London, England on 25th September 1918 when he was posted to Whitley Army Camp to complete training.

As hostilities were coming to an end, Sidney was quickly transferred to Kinmel Park Army Camp in Rhyl to await discharge and repatriation to Canada. Tragically Sidney contracted Broncho-Pneumonia as a complication of Influenza and died in the Military Hospital at Kinmel Camp on 17th October 1918.

(From The Library of Canada).

Kinmel Park Camp was a segregation camp used to house Canadian Soldiers awaiting repatriation to Canada after the end of WW1. Unfortunately the conditions at that time were extremely harsh with a lack of every kind of commodity, the camp was overcrowded and the services were poor, there were shortages of clothing, food and blankets. As a result of this situation, a vast number of servicemen and women became ill and many succumbed to the Influenza Epidemic or complications associated with this infection.

Sidney Moody is buried in St. Margaret’s Cemetery, Bodelwyddan.

He is commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.