Sydney Fink, born on 28th October 1894, was admitted to King Edward’s School in September 1907 as a Foundation Scholar. He lived with his parents, the Reverend Jacob, and his mother, Annie, and his five siblings, at 10, Duchess Road, Edgbaston (and later at 98, Beaufort Road).
Sydney does not appear in the School magazines, but the School Lists reveal that that he was a strong linguist and able scientist. After School he worked as a Jeweller’s clerk, rising to be a junior manager in the firm of Ahronsberg Brothers, manufacturing jewellers, Albion Street, Birmingham.
Sydney obtained a commission in the South Lancashire Regiment in August 1915 and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1917. He served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Belgium from 12th February 1917, and died just two months later, aged twenty-two, at Armentieres on 20th April 1917 from wounds received the previous day. Major Schulz wrote to Sydney’s father: “Your son was in charge of a party of his men in the trenches on the late evening of the 19th April carrying out an important duty when he was suddenly wounded by shellfire … this occurrence has occasioned much grief to his officers and men by whom he was universally loved.” Captain Thomas, Non-Conformist Army Chaplain said, “His blithe, genial spirit made him a great favourite with us all.”
Sydney is buried at Estaires Communal Cemetery and the inscription on his gravestone, written by his father, reads: “In Everlasting Memory of our Beloved Boy. His Soul Rest in Peace.”