Sydney was a member of Southend High School for Boys from 1909 to 1913. He is noted as being a member of the Tuscany house and is recorded in the 'Tech' magazine as having sustained an injury in the school sports championships of 1910 - a tradition still carried on till this day. In his final year he was a senior house prefect.  Enlisting on the 30th of January 1914, Sydney first served in a territorial reserve regiment pre-war. He was 5ft11 which was one of the tallest soldiers known to fight from Southend High School for Boys. Sidney was mobalized in August 1914 and later sent to France in March 1915. By December he had qualified to fight. He was made an officer in the 9th York and Lancaster regiment.  Upon return from leave in June 1916, he was sent back into battle. His batallion were part of 70 Brigade in the 8th division of III Corps, on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. He would’ve been in the far left of his division's line of advance, next to the village of La Boisselle. His battalion was extremely hard hit and nearly lost half their men to machine gun fire from the Thiepval Spur.  Sydney died in this attack, but was remembered by his C.O. in a quote saying he, "Met his death calmly and gallantly at the head of his men under terrific fire". He is one of seven old boys to die in the first day of this attack.  Sydney was a credit to Southend High School for Boys in terms of his achievement and the legacy he left. He will forever be remembered here for his sporting achievements. His bravery and his sacrifice shall not be forgotten, and will always be commemorated, it gave us the opportunity to build a better tomorrow. Thank you Sydney.

Oliver Randall