PART TWO - War Record

Sid�s War Records do reveal a few things. He was born in Adelaide on 17 December, 1895.
There is a quaint correction of the birth year (in Sid�s handwriting) on the Attestation papers:-

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Sid attests to being a Fitter & Turner by trade, 22 and a half years of age, and single.
We know some physical details:

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Sid was sent to London and then garrisoned near Vovant in Southwest Wiltshire. It then
appears that he was attached to the Australian Mechanical Transport Service (A.M.T.S.) at
Chelsea for duty as an artificer (fitter & Turner). He returned to Australia at the end of 1919.

I have no doubt that Sid signed up late in the war because of his occupation.
He was needed here for the war effort.

Most importantly, we know that he served 6 years as an apprentice and tradesman at the renowned
Adelaide firm of Dobbie and Company. This is highly significant because Scott Bonnar�s War Records
also reveal he served � 6 years at Dobbie and Company! Sid signed up 15 June; Scott, less than a
week later, on 21 June. Scott and Sid were about the same age.

The significance, then, is that it is very likely Scott and Sid knew each other from their time
at Dobbie�s. It may also be that Sid worked for Scott prior to the formation of the Scott Bonnar
Company (the one we know about) in early 1920. That�s another story.

In the meantime, Malcolm Bonnar, when 83 years of age, wrote his Memoirs. In it he made
a few brief references to Sid Bowditch. I'll cover that in the new part.

TO BE CONTINUED ...