Sidney John Busby's grave in High Wycombe Cemetery
Sidney John Busby 1885 - 1920
I am Sidney John Busby and I was born in April 1885 in High Wycombe. My parents were Benjamin & Ellen nee Abbott who married in 1881 in High Wycombe. I had an older brother, William, a younger sister, Elsie and a younger brother Albert.
By 1891 we were living at Newland Street, High Wycombe and my father was a chairmaker. Ten years later, in 1901, we were living at 1, Westfield Row, High Wycombe and I was working as a chair polisher. We were to live in Westfield Row for quite a number of years. My father was no doubt pleased that both myself and later my brother Albert found employment within the chair making industry.
In 1913 I married Dora Langley in High Wycombe and we went on to have two children.
I enlisted on 17th July 1916 at Oxford and joined the 2nd Battalion Oxford& Bucks Light Infantry. I completed 200 days service from November 1916 until June 1917 but I was discharged as unfit for War Service on 19th August 1918.
Unfortunately I had suffered two attacks of rheumatic fever in 1908 and although I did not show any signs of heart problems when I arrived in France on active service these attacks must have taken their toll. My 'disability' began in April 1917 when I was in the Arras section of France. The Medical Board found that the stress of active service, damp conditions, fatigue and rough surroundings had broken me down and I was evacuated back to England. I was classed as having a 60% disability and was awarded an Army Pension and entitled to wear a Silver Badge which showed that I had fought in the War and was invalided out. My Army Pension was reviewed in 1919.
Sadly I never recovered and I died on 3rd March 1920. I was buried here, in Wycombe Cemetery.
The inscription on my grave reads: “HE ANSWERED HIS COUNTRY’S CALL”
Researched by Ruth Bowler, Flackwell Local Area History Group
