Sidney was born on 7 November 1917 in Steyning, Sussex to John and Chrissie née Rosenbaum. Sidney’s father John was a wax manufacturer in Poplar. In the 1939 Register, Sidney is listed as living in Hendon and working as a house furnishing representative and his parents at the time of the census were staying at the Mostyn Hotel in Eastbourne. Sidney had two older siblings, Sophia who married Stanley Baron and Lionel who married Rose Jacobs.

Sidney was the observer in Whitley Z6934 which departed RAF Leeming on a night operation to Berlin. The aircraft was shot down by anti-aircraft fire over Hoebrechtsfelde, Germany killing all the crew.

Pilot, Reginald Frederick Archer, 1181824
W/Op, Cedric Arthur Foster, 944444
Pilot, Lloyd George Sinclair, RCAF R/59542
W/Op, Bruce George Wilbee, RCAF R/63731