Sergeant Sydney Wilson Douglas Royal Air Force
The Man Sydney Wilson Douglas was born on Saturday 29th May 1926 at 4 Granville Terrace, Redcar, North Yorkshire. Son of George Norman, a Timber Merchant and former Special Constable and Norma Thompson nee Wilson. He was named after an uncle, Sydney Douglas, who had been killed in action on the Western Front during World War I.
In the census of 1939 taken just before the start of World War II on 3rd September, Sydney aged 13 was living with his parents at 48 Harrow Road, Middlesbrough and shown as still at school. Sadly, Sydney’s father George died on 28th July 1942 when Sydney was just 16.
Sydney’s 18th Birthday fell on 29th May 1944 and he was conscripted and enlisted into the South Lancashire Regiment with service number 14784245, from a batch allocated in late June. Following his initial training saw he service in Belgium and France during the last six months of the conflict. He appears to have stayed in the Army as immediately after the war, the 1st Battalion served in Egypt and Palestine before being reduced to a cadre and amalgamated with the 2nd Battalion at Trieste in 1948. Sydney, who seems something of a hockey player, was photographed having played for the Regimental team whilst in the Middle East.
For his service he was awarded the France and Germany Star and War Medal 1939-45, being ineligible for the 1939-45 Star because of his time of entry into the theatre of war.
In the census of 1939 taken just before the start of World War II on 3rd September, Sydney aged 13 was living with his parents at 48 Harrow Road, Middlesbrough and shown as still at school. Sadly, Sydney’s father George died on 28th July 1942 when Sydney was just 16.
Sydney’s 18th Birthday fell on 29th May 1944 and he was conscripted and enlisted into the South Lancashire Regiment with service number 14784245, from a batch allocated in late June. Following his initial training saw he service in Belgium and France during the last six months of the conflict. He appears to have stayed in the Army as immediately after the war, the 1st Battalion served in Egypt and Palestine before being reduced to a cadre and amalgamated with the 2nd Battalion at Trieste in 1948. Sydney, who seems something of a hockey player, was photographed having played for the Regimental team whilst in the Middle East.
For his service he was awarded the France and Germany Star and War Medal 1939-45, being ineligible for the 1939-45 Star because of his time of entry into the theatre of war.
During the last quarter of 1957 aged 31, Sydney married Ruth Dalziell in Middlesbrough and two years later on 28th May 1959 aged 33 enlisted into the Royal Air Force with service number F4252316 (from a block 4235000 to 4264081 allocated to regular enlistments non ATC at RAF Cardington).
He rose to the rank of Sergeant and served amongst others with 55 Squadron at RAF Marham in King's Lynn, RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus and in 1975 his final posting at RAF Innsworth as a Personnel Administrator (Ex Clerk Secretarial) in the Personnel Holding Flight. He was awarded the Royal Air Force Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1977 for 18 years’ service. The qualification for the medal being reduced to 15 years on 1st December the same year.
Sadly, Sydney’s marriage to Ruth did not last and they divorced, he re-married during the last quarter of 1974 aged 48 in Scarborough to Elizabeth Joan Bayley.
He rose to the rank of Sergeant and served amongst others with 55 Squadron at RAF Marham in King's Lynn, RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus and in 1975 his final posting at RAF Innsworth as a Personnel Administrator (Ex Clerk Secretarial) in the Personnel Holding Flight. He was awarded the Royal Air Force Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1977 for 18 years’ service. The qualification for the medal being reduced to 15 years on 1st December the same year.
Sadly, Sydney’s marriage to Ruth did not last and they divorced, he re-married during the last quarter of 1974 aged 48 in Scarborough to Elizabeth Joan Bayley.
Sydney retired from the RAF 29th May 1981 aged 55 and was described on discharge as 173cms tall, with brown eyes and hair. His service as given as exemplary and he received a letter from Air Commodore C A Grennan CBE, Air Officer Commanding RAF Personnel Management Centre, thanking him for his services in the RAF. At the time of his retirement he lived at 2 Everest Road, Leckhampton, Cheltenham, about 10 miles from RAF Innsworth.
Sydney’s mother Norma, who had also lived at Gloucester in Hucclecote, (where the Gloster Aircraft Factory had been, the M5 now running along part of what was the main runway!) and later Cheltenham, lived to the age of 92 and died in January 1985, having outlived his Father by 43 years.
Following his mother’s death, Sydney and Elizabeth moved back to North Yorkshire and lived at 29 Newlands Park Drive, Scarborough. Elizabeth pre-deceased Sydney and was cremated at Woodlands Crematorium, Scarborough. Sydney passed away on 5th July 2000 age 74 in North Yorkshire and was cremated at the same crematorium and his ashes scattered in the garden of remembrance with Elizabeth’s.
Sydney’s executors were Juliette Elizabeth Turner and Sheena Elaine Mosey, but it is not established if they were relatives from either marriage.
Sydney’s mother Norma, who had also lived at Gloucester in Hucclecote, (where the Gloster Aircraft Factory had been, the M5 now running along part of what was the main runway!) and later Cheltenham, lived to the age of 92 and died in January 1985, having outlived his Father by 43 years.
Following his mother’s death, Sydney and Elizabeth moved back to North Yorkshire and lived at 29 Newlands Park Drive, Scarborough. Elizabeth pre-deceased Sydney and was cremated at Woodlands Crematorium, Scarborough. Sydney passed away on 5th July 2000 age 74 in North Yorkshire and was cremated at the same crematorium and his ashes scattered in the garden of remembrance with Elizabeth’s.
Sydney’s executors were Juliette Elizabeth Turner and Sheena Elaine Mosey, but it is not established if they were relatives from either marriage.
The Story The medals awarded to Sydney Wilson Douglas and his Father, George Norman Douglas were acquired from E-Bay following a negotiated deal on 30th October 2020.
They were of interest because of the unusual combination of the France and Germany Star and War Medal 1939-45 only, together with the Royal Air Force Long Service and Good conduct Medal and good quality photographs of Sydney with associated paperwork and service record. The former indicating entry into the World War II theatre of War within the final six months of the conflict. This would be correct as he was born in 1926, thus not 18 until May 1944, so given time for conscription and initial training his entry period would be correct.
As Sydney had only joined the RAF in 1959, it begged the question in what service had he served during World War II. This was confirmed via two means, firstly, there were a set of dog tags with the medals and it was initially thought they belonged to another relative. However, they appear to be Sydney’s as the service number on them indicates enlistment in late June 1944 thus fitting exactly his join up period.
They were of interest because of the unusual combination of the France and Germany Star and War Medal 1939-45 only, together with the Royal Air Force Long Service and Good conduct Medal and good quality photographs of Sydney with associated paperwork and service record. The former indicating entry into the World War II theatre of War within the final six months of the conflict. This would be correct as he was born in 1926, thus not 18 until May 1944, so given time for conscription and initial training his entry period would be correct.
As Sydney had only joined the RAF in 1959, it begged the question in what service had he served during World War II. This was confirmed via two means, firstly, there were a set of dog tags with the medals and it was initially thought they belonged to another relative. However, they appear to be Sydney’s as the service number on them indicates enlistment in late June 1944 thus fitting exactly his join up period.
There was also a blank Christmas Card from the South Lancashire Regiment showing their distinctive badge. One of the photographs with the lot showing Sydney during the war had one of his colleagues wearing a beret and with the aid of a magnifying glass, it was possible to identify the same distinctive badge, confirming his service in the South Lancashire Regiment.
Only basic additional detail was found on Ancestry.UK, but together with the papers, extraction of Sydney’s will and birth certificate a brief biography could be completed.
Of equal importance was the fact Sydney’s Birth Certificate showed his parents’ names as George Norman and Norma Thompson, thus, not only confirming the Special Constabulary Long Service Medal was his Fathers, but allowing George’s biography to be pieced together from Ancestry as well.
A pleasing acquisition and one that enables father and son to be kept together and preserved for history.
Only basic additional detail was found on Ancestry.UK, but together with the papers, extraction of Sydney’s will and birth certificate a brief biography could be completed.
Of equal importance was the fact Sydney’s Birth Certificate showed his parents’ names as George Norman and Norma Thompson, thus, not only confirming the Special Constabulary Long Service Medal was his Fathers, but allowing George’s biography to be pieced together from Ancestry as well.
A pleasing acquisition and one that enables father and son to be kept together and preserved for history.
Medal Details:
- The France and Germany Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- RAF Long Service and Good Conduct Medal: A/SGT.S.W.DOUGLAS (F4252316) RAF
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This page last updated 5 Dec 20