BASTERFIELD, Sydney

Sydney Basterfield was the son of William and Elizabeth Basterfield of Halesowen and was married to Gladys, later Checketts, of 80 Blackberry Lane, Halesowen. He joined the Royal Army Medical Corps and was attached to the 6th (Service) Battalion of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment which was sent to Gallipoli and then to Mesopotamia. Conditions made both campaigns very difficult and the battalion's losses were marked by a special memorial, now brought into Baghdad. Private Sydney Basterfield died on the 26th July 1917 and is buried at Baghdad North Gate Cemetery (XX C 2) and commemorated on the Halesowen Memorial.