A Special Medical Menage
Staff Sergeant Sydney Albert Haddock Special Constabulary, St John Ambulance and RAMC
1939-45 Star. Africa Star. Italy Star. France and Germany Star. Defence Medal. War Medal 1939-45. Efficiency Medal 'Territorial' and clasp. Special Constabulary Long Service Medal. Service Medal of the Order of St John and two clasps.
The Man Sydney Albert Haddock was born on Sunday 8th September 1907, his birth registered in Holborn, London. Son of Albert Edward, a Printer’s Cutter and Florence nee Pelling. He was one of seven children, Frederick Richard born in 1900, Edward Victor 1902, Grace Ivy 1904, Maud Lilian 1906, Florence Emily 1908 and Alice Edith 1914. By 1911 the family were living at 1b Peabody Buildings, Roscoe Street, London. During the 1920s unemployment was high in the United Kingdom and volunteering for service was considered a tangible way of helping one’s country. Sydney clearly fitted this category of man as he became a Special Constable during the 1920s and awarded their Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. At about the same time he was also a member of No 1 Division St. John Ambulance (City of London) and awarded their Service Medal in 1941, continuing with them and being awarded an additional two clasps. He clearly put his experience with the St John to good use as he also enlisted into the Territorial Army, Royal Army Medical Corps with service number 7342710 (from a block 7245001-7536000) allocated to the RAMC) in 1931. The electoral register of 1929 shows Sydney now aged 22 living with his parents still at Peabody Buildings but at number 10 Block A. Sydney was mobilised and embodied into the RAMC just before the start of World War II and in the last quarter of the 1939 married Ivy Winifred Baston, a food packer working at Bovril, in Finsbury. Sydney saw service during the War in Africa, Italy and North West Europe and awarded the 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, Italy Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45 and the Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’ with additional clasp in Army Order 183/1944 dated September 1944. Sydney and Ivy lived at 134 Grasmere Avenue, Preston Road, Wembley, Middlesex and it was to this address his medals were sent. Sadly Ivy died during 1964 aged just 54, and Sydney remained at the same address until his death on 7th October 1978 aged 71. Having no children Sydney left everything to his sister Alice, a total of £32090.08 (approximately £161,000.00 in 2020).
The Story The group of medals awarded to Sydney A Haddock were acquired on E-Bay on 27th November 2011 and coveted due to the treble long service awards of the Efficiency Medal with clasp, Special Constabulary Long Service Medal and the St John Service Medal, an unusual combination. Interestingly and despite Sydney's unusual surname, there were several people on Ancestry.UK with the same name and research proved difficult. However, a review of Ancestry.UK during the 2020 ‘lockdown’ was more successful, allowing his birth, marriage and death details to be downloaded, including the fact he had left a will and confirming his middle name as Albert. This all enabled a more detailed biography to be pieced together, with the address on the medal award box, proving invaluable in confirming this was the correct man.
Sidney Haddock's Medal Award Certificate
|
|
Medal Award Box showing Sydney's address
Peabody Buildings, Roscoe Street, Clerkenwell, London. CLICK ON IMAGE to read more about the Peabody Estate.
Reverse of Sydney Haddock's 1939-45 Star privately engraved.
Medal Details:
- 1939-45 Star: 7342710. S/SGT. S.A.HADDOCK. R.A.M.C.
- Africa Star: 7342710. S/SGT. S.A.HADDOCK. R.A.M.C.
- Italy Star: 7342710. S/SGT. S.A.HADDOCK. R.A.M.C.
- France & Germany Star: 7342710. S/SGT. S.A.HADDOCK. R.A.M.C.
- Defence Medal: 7342710. S/SGT. S.A.HADDOCK. R.A.M.C.
- War Medal 1939-45: 7342710. S/SGT. S.A.HADDOCK. R.A.M.C.
- Efficiency Medal: 7342710 SJT. S.A.HADDOCK. R.A.M.C.
- Special Constabulary Long Service Medal: SYDNEY HADDOCK
- Service Medal or the Order of St John: 23703 PTE. S.A.HADDOCK No 1 DIS.SJAB 1941
This page last updated 30 May 20
