Sydney and Edith Rosier

Sydney and Edith Rosier ran The Retreat from 1911 to 1923. The photo and information below were supplied by Ruth Robinson, great granddaughter of Sydney and Edith.

Photo above: Sydney and Edith Rosier standing with their five children (and Edith’s mother seated). Taken in 1916.

Sydney Joseph Rosier was born in 1879 in Reading. At the age of 15, in 1894, he enlisted in the Devonshire Regiment. He served at home, in the East Indies, and in South Africa. He was medically discharged in 1901. He was back in the British Army during WW1. His moustache (see the photo above) was covering a bayonet wound scar which he got while serving in the 2nd Boer War (11 October 1899 – 31 May 1902). The injury blinded him in his right eye.

The 1911 census shows the Rosiers living at Awbery Terrace. At that time Sydney’s occupation was listed as ‘tin factory worker’ (most likely at Huntley, Bourne and Stevens). The 1920 electoral register shows them living at The Retreat but by 1925 the electoral register notes them living in Albert Road, Newtown.

Awbery Terrace and Arthur were streets in the Newton area of Reading that were demolished in the 1970s: Albert Road, Arthur Road, Awbrey Terrace, Kennet Side, Kingsgate Street, Leopold Road, Orts Road, Rupert Street and Victoria Road.

Sydney passed away on  15 November 1934 in Reading, Berkshire, England.