Private 11140 Sylvester Carey

BMD details:
Buried 20/10/1918

Family details:
Son of Mrs. Ellen Carey, of 10, Lord St., St. Helens. Mother Ellen is legatee.

Census details:
1901 - Shows 3 years old Sylvester living at 11 Cowley Street, St Helens with parents Thomas (46), Ellen (45) and three siblings: James (20), Thomas (12), [cas=297]John Carey[/cas] (10). 1911 Sees 13 years old schoolboy Sylvester living at 10 Lord Street, St Helens with widowed mother Ellen (55) and three siblings: James (30), Thomas (22), [cas=297]John Carey[/cas] (19).

Notes:
[note=19]Two Carey Brothers who died in The Great War[/note]

On 29th February 1916, 18 year old Sylvester Carey, an Iron Moulder's labourer of 10, Lord Street, St Helens, attested for military service at Warrington. After attestation, he was immediately posted to the Army reserve. On 10th May of that year, he was mobilised and then after training he was posted to the 2nd/4th Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers as private 11140. As Sylvester was single, he recorded his mother, Ellen Carey of the same address as his next of kin. On 10th November 1917, he was transferred to the Labour Corps as Private 202477, being posted to an Agricultural Company (555th then 553rd) at Great Yarmouth, then in March 1918 he was transferred to 362nd Reserve Employment Company. On 23rd August 1918 he was discharged from the army as 'bring no longer physically fit for war service'. A medical report on 30th July 1918 at St Helens, when Sylvester was aged 20, reported that he was suffering from Phthisis. He stated that until December 1917 he was in good heath but then developed a pain in his left chest and also a cough. This became progressively worse over time. The opinion of the medical inspection was that his illness had been aggravated by Military service, noting that signs of TB were present. Sylvester's weight was 9st 6lbs. He was ultimately discharged on 23rd August 1918, and his records note that he died on 16th October 1918. He was buried at St Helens cemetery on 20th October in a grave with his brother John, who had died in 1916, aged 24. Their mother, Ellen, was also buried with them when she passed away in 1930, and finally their elder brother James was interred with them when he died in 1952, aged 70. [pic]imgs/WW1_misc/11140SylvesterCarey.jpg[/pic][caption]Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects, 1901-1929[/caption] [pic]imgs/S1PWHYAOTV/CareyBros.jpg[/pic] [caption]The headstone of Private Sylvester Carey at St Helens Cemetery (Photo courtesy of Jeff Keenan)[/caption] [pic]imgs/WW1_ext/LoweHouseMem1.jpg[/pic] [caption]Sylvester is also remembered on the [url=lmem.php?lmem=10]Lowe House Memorial[/url][/caption]