Sydney was born on 19 Aug 1916 to Michael and Kate Desmond. No further family details can be found.

Sydney died on active service at St Frances Sanitorium in Quebec from Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

The Jewish Chronicle stated: Sidney Desmond, RAF. Desmond died in Sherbrooke, Canada, and was laid to rest in the Baron de Hirsch Cemetery in Montreal, with full military honours. A squad of 300 RCAF men paid their last respects to the flyer, and a delegation of the Brigadier Frederick Kisch Branch (Jewish) of the Canadian Legion was present.