Just Another Pair Of Socks

Melton District ANZACS

Sydney Langridge BEST

Personal

Born: 1887

Birthplace: Fitzroy, Victoria

Parents: Father: Sir Robert Wallace Best
Mother: Jane Caroline Langridge

Died: 23 February, 1950

Burial place: Springvale, Victoria, (Cremation)

Awards and Honours

  • British War Medal 1914-20
  • Victory Medal

Battalions

6th Battalion, 18th Reinforcements

Events

Enlistment

Regimental Service Number: 5656

Enlistment date: 29 July, 1915 Melbourne

Age at enlistment: 28 years 7 months

Address at enlistment: 58 Acland street, St Kilda

Religion: Church of England

Marital Status: Married

Next of kin: Wife: Mrs M. L. M. Best

Physical Description: Height: 5 feet 10 inches
Weight: 11 stones 5 pounds
Complexion: Fair
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Brown
Distinctive marks:

Embarkation ship: H.M.A.T. A 33 Aryshire.

Rank: Sergeant

Return Date: 21 July, 1917

Return Vessel: Euripides.

Arrival at Australia: 18 September, 1917.

Discharge Date: 22 February, 1918

War Service Summary

08/08/1916 - Ill on board
02/09/1916 - Debarked at Plymonth
12/11/1916 - Processed overseas to France with
the 6th Battalion.
04/01/1917 - Admitted to hospital Gastro Ulcer
15/01/1917 - Transfer Hospital England
20/05/1917 - Discharged hospital to No 2 Com. Depot
21/07/1917 - Embarked for return to Australia
22/02/1918 - Discharged Medically Unfit
Rheumatism Muscular, Neurasthenia.
23/02/1918 - Granted Pension for Self, Wife and 2 sons

War Service Commemerated

Life After the War

Names of wife
1910 - Sydney Best married Myra Linda Melville Gamson (1887-1943) Reg. # 2636
Children: Ormonde Sydney b. 1911 Maxwell Elliot b. 1913 Marjorie Myra b. 1918 Keith b. 1921

Place/s of residence & Occupations from Electoral Rolls:
1914 - Eynesbury, Melton; Station Hand
1914 - St Kilda; Traveller
1919 - Bendigo; Area Officer
1924, 1931 - Beaumaris; Store Keeper
1936 - Howlong; Overseer
1942 - Balaclava; Inspector
1949 - Caulfield; Munitions Worker

Date of death: 23/02/1950 Reg. # 2049
Place of burial: Springvale (Cremation)
{Note: Myra does not appear on the Electoral Rolls with Sydney after 1924. In 1931 she is at Sandringham, 1936 Bentleigh and 1943, the Austin Hospital. Myras death notice in the Argus makes no mention of Sydney.}

Additional Information

The Argus

9 July 1910, page 11

MARRIAGE

BEST-GAMSON - On the 27th June, 1910 at All Saints, East St Kilda by the Rev W. F. Wentworth Sheilds, Sydney Langridge, son of Sir Robert Wallace Best and the late Mrs Best of Melbourne to Myra Linda Melville, only daughter of the late Herbert Elliot Gamson and Mrs. Gamson of Taurina," Claremont street South Yarra

The Argus

25 May, 1943, page 2

BEST.-On May 22 at Heidelberg, Myra

Linda, dearly beloved mother of Ormonde,

Maxwell, Marjorie, and Keith, only daughter of the late Herbert and Lily Gamson, and loved sister of Claude. -At rest. (Interred Brighton Cemetery.)

The Argus

25 February 1950, page 12

DEATHS

BEST. - On February 23, Sydney Langridge, husband of the late Myra Lynda, and father of Max and Marjorie.

BEST. - On February 23, Sydney Langridge, loving son of the late Sir Robert and Jenny Best, brother of George (deceased), Blanche, Beattie.

FUNERAL NOTICES

BEST.-The Funeral of the late Mr. SYDNEY LANGRIDGE BEST (late 6th Battalion, 1st A.I.F.), will leave W. G. Apps and Sons' chapel, 395 High street, St. Kilda, on MONDAY, February 27, at 10.15 a.m., for the Springvale Crematorium.

W. G. APPS & SONS PTY. LTD

Sources

Service Record
Nominal Roll
Newspaper accounts