Sidney was born on 2 July 1915 in New York, USA to Russian born parents, Nahum, a doctor, and Bessie nee Golden and he had two younger sisters Helen, who died when she was eleven, and Rosalind. When Sidney was eighteen he travelled to England to study medicine at Magdalene College, Cambridge.

Sidney a temporary surgeon and joined the ship Vortigern.

On 15 March 1942, HMS Vortigern was torpedoed and sunk off Cromer, Norfolk, England in position 55º06’N, 01º22’E by the German motor torpedo boat S-104. HMS Vortigern was escorting coastal convoy FS-749 at the time of her loss.

The wreck lies in 17 meters of water in position 53º13’06″N, 01º06’54″E.