Sydney Ernest Bergin

Sydney was born on 8 April 1873. He was the son of George Bergin and Frances Cook. He was christened in the parish church at Christ Church, Streatham on 1 August 1875, aged 2. At the time of his christening the family were living at Brighton Terrace, Streatham.

In 1881 Sydney is living with the family at 18 Church Street, Lambeth and is shown as a scholar. By 1891 the family have moved to 138 Dorset Street, Lambeth and Sydney's occupation is shown as a tin tack maker.

On 8 May 1891, Sydney followed in his brother Fred's footsteps and enlisted in the 2nd Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) at Perth, Scotland. He was now known as Private 4540. He would go on to serve for just over 12 years.

Only a month after the declaration of war by the Boers in late 1899, Sydney's battalion arrived in South Africa. There it was to be part of the Highland Brigade in the column sent to the relief of Kimberley. Unfortunately the Brigade was soon committed to a disastrous dawn attack on Boer positions at Magersfontein. No proper reconnaissance had been carried out and the night advance was delayed by a storm, by thorn bushes and barbed wire. The 2nd Battalion, in the lead, was caught in the open in daylight and subjected to rapid and accurate fire from the Boer entrenchments. Despite gallant efforts to reach these trenches the Battalion was pinned down all day, losing over 300 men, either killed or wounded.

The news of the battle was received in England and families were informed of the death of their loved ones, including Sydney's family. It emerged in July 1900 that 45 men from the 2nd battalion Black Watch were indeed still alive. The men had been captured and held in a prison of war camp in Magersfontein. Their ID tags had been taken from them and buried alongside dead soldiers which lead to the misidentification of the bodies.

Sydney was awarded the Kings South Africa Medal and two clasps for his service in the 2nd Boer War. He was officially discharged from the army at Perth, Scotland on 28 April 1903.

Three months prior to his discharge from the army, Sydney married Laura Creed on January 13, 1903 at St Marks Church, Kennington in London. The couple had two children together Cuthbert and Sidney.