Sidney Chambers

(1919 - emigration)

Sidney was born in 1890 in London, the fifth child of Charles Chambers and Alice Bateman. He first appears on the 1891 census when Charles & Alice are recorded with their five children: Amelia (aged 11), Esther (9), Charles (7), William (6) and Sidney (1); living at 58, Linda Street, Wandsworth.

In the early 1890s the family moved to Charlton, south London where Charles & Alice had two more children, Eva (aged 6) and Ivy (aged 2). They appear with Sidney and his two elder brothers (Charles and William) in the 1901 census – at their ‘new’ home at 35, North Street, Charlton.

Sidney Chambers: Research

By the time of the 1911 census, Sidney (aged 21) was recorded living and working in the Coventry area as a 'Motor Fitter'. He was living with his elder brother Charles (27) and they were both boarding with the Beeson family.

Sidney returned south to find work and in 1912 he was living at 20 Alexandra Road in Basingstoke, Hampshire, from where he wrote the postcard (right) to his elder brother Charles. The picture shows Sidney (far right) playing cards with his colleagues.

The postcard reads:

“Dear Charlie, Just a line hoping you are still alive & kicking & getting ready for Xmas. We are going to play away tomorrow we told them it’s too cold in brakes so we are going in taxis more swank. Best wishes to all Sid"

Sidney Chambers: About

In April 1913, aged 23, Sidney travelled to Ontario in Canada - departing by ship from Southampton, bound for New York. The postcard below that he later wrote to his younger sister Ivy, suggests that the purpose of this first visit to Canada was for work.

Sidney Chambers: About

Sidney Chambers: Text

The postcard reads:

“Dear Ivy, Thanks for welcome letter, its too bad I got the birthdays mixed up I guess I shall have to square little Eva on your birthday. I have been down to Montreal on a business trip & haven’t been to work today (Monday). Could have started down there but it looked too much like work so I told the guy I wasn’t a heavy weight wrestler, & I am back to the old place for a little bit longer. Isn’t the ship disaster awful the lot of d___ murderers. Well I haven’t any news this time hoping all are in the pink best of wishes to all at home with love from your aff [affectionate] brother Sid xx

P.S. The girl is my little ‘tango’ partner."

Sidney Chambers: About

The postcard is thought to have been written in mid/late May 1915. (Sidney had seemingly recently written home and muddled his two sister’s birthdays (Eva’s being the one in April). In addition the “ship disaster” that Sidney refers to, is thought to be the sinking of the S.S. Lousitania. The Lusitania was torpedoed and sank on 7th May 1915 in the early days of the First World War, with the loss of 1198 lives. The sinking is now considered to be a key event in the war, as the loss of civilian life galvanised support for America to enter the war.

In July 1915 Sidney returned to the UK to be at his brother Charlie’s wedding. He travelled by ship from Quebec, Canada and arrived at Tilbury Docks in London on 25thJuly, just six days before the big day. Sidney is in the wedding group photo on the home page of the website.

Sidney presumably returned to Canada after his brother's wedding in 1915 and became a resident soon after as, when he next appears on a passenger list, in March 1919, (returning once again to Ottawa from England - this time sailing from Liverpool to St. Johns, Newfoundland), the documentation lists Sidney as one of a number of "Returning Canadians" It also records the fact that Sidney had previously lived in Canada for three years from 1915.

Sidney Chambers: About

The postcard/photo (right) was written and sent to Sidney by his sister-in-law Grace, in 1919. The photo is of Sid’s elder brother Charles and his wife Grace with their two children, Charles and Doris, and reads:

“Dear Sid, Best Wishes from Grace & Charlie. 1919”

Passenger records show that Sidney travelled back to the UK at least once more - in 1921 (probably for his younger sister Eva’s wedding), when he also sent another postcard to his sister Ivy, from Broadstairs, Kent. Currently the last passenger list record found for Sid shows him returning to Canada in November 1922, (by ship from Southampton to Quebec).

Sidney Chambers: About

In 1924 Sidney married Beatrice Price in Ottawa when they were both aged 33 (Beatrice was originally from Liverpool, UK). They lived together in Ottawa and had two children, Doreen and Sidney junior.

Sidney Chambers: Image

Sidney & Beatrice and their son, Sidney junior, appear in the 1953 electoral roll for Ottawa West, but currently, no more is known of Sidney and Beatrice's life together in Canada.

Records show that Sidney died in 1970 and Beatrice in 1977. They are buried together in the Sermon on the Mount Cemetery in Carleton, Ontario, Canada.

Sidney Chambers: About

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Sidney Chambers

(1919 - emigration)

By the time of the 1911 census, Sidney (aged 21) was recorded living and working in the Coventry area as a 'Motor Fitter'. He was living with his elder brother Charles (27) and they were both boarding with the Beeson family.

Sidney returned south to find work and in 1912 he was living at 20 Alexandra Road in Basingstoke, Hampshire, from where he wrote the postcard (right) to his elder brother Charles. The picture shows Sidney (far right) playing cards with his colleagues.

The postcard reads:

“Dear Charlie, Just a line hoping you are still alive & kicking & getting ready for Xmas. We are going to play away tomorrow we told them it’s too cold in brakes so we are going in taxis more swank. Best wishes to all Sid"

​

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In April 1913, aged 23, Sidney travelled to Ontario in Canada - departing by ship from Southampton, bound for New York. The postcard below that he later wrote to his younger sister Ivy, suggests that the purpose of this first visit to Canada was for work.

The postcard reads:

P.S. The girl is my little ‘tango’ partner."

​

In July 1915 Sidney returned to the UK to be at his brother Charlie’s wedding. He travelled by ship from Quebec, Canada and arrived at Tilbury Docks in London on 25thJuly, just six days before the big day. Sidney is in the wedding group photo on the home page of the website.

​

The postcard/photo (right) was written and sent to Sidney by his sister-in-law Grace, in 1919. The photo is of Sid’s elder brother Charles and his wife Grace with their two children, Charles and Doris, and reads:

“Dear Sid, Best Wishes from Grace & Charlie. 1919”

In 1924 Sidney married Beatrice Price in Ottawa when they were both aged 33 (Beatrice was originally from Liverpool, UK). They lived together in Ottawa and had two children, Doreen and Sidney junior.

Sidney & Beatrice and their son, Sidney junior, appear in the 1953 electoral roll for Ottawa West, but currently, no more is known of Sidney and Beatrice's life together in Canada.

Records show that Sidney died in 1970 and Beatrice in 1977. They are buried together in the Sermon on the Mount Cemetery in Carleton, Ontario, Canada.