Sydney Newman was born in 1897, the son of Jacob and Ellen Newman. He was baptised at Holy Trinity, Bramley on 13 Jun 1897, his father’s profession was listed as a bricklayer. He came from quite a large family, with three older brothers and an older sister, plus four younger brothers and a younger sister. Both the 1901 and 1911 censuses list the family living in Birtley Road, Bramley.
Sydney’s war service record has survived, showing that he enlisted with the Royal Engineers on 16 March 1916. His attestation record shows that he did have previous military service with the 5th Battalion of the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment, from August 1915 to March 1916. He served on the Home Front from 12 Mar 1916 to 15 Mar 1916, and was attested Pioneer on 12 March 1916 and posted to No1 Battalion Specialist Brigade RE on 16 March 1916.; then he was posted overseas joining the BEF from 16 Mar 1916 to 10 Oct 1916. During this period he was wounded twice; firstly on 24 August 1916 when he suffered gunshot wounds to thighs and buttock; and then a few days later he was injured by wire on 30 August. He was then posted back to the UK on 11 Oct 1916. He was transferred to the 648th Agricultural Company Labour Corps on 22 May 1918 and then was discharged as no longer fit for war service on 3 July 1918. He was discharged from Horfield Military hospital in Bristol. Under his discharge details it states Disability GSW (Gun Shot Wounds) left and right (due to enemy overseas). The discharge papers also note that he was entitled to the Silver War Badge. This small silver badge was a pin designed to be worn on civilian clothes after early discharge from the army. It was first issued in 1916, when it was also retrospectively awarded to those already discharged since August 1914. The main purpose of the badge was to prevent men not in uniform and without apparent disability being thought of as shirkers – it was evidence of having been on military service.
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