DIFFY, Sydney George

Credit: CWGC

Able Seaman

HMS Odin

Royal Navy

Sydney was born 1888 in Chale to Frank & Emily (nee BUTCHERS) DIFFY who were living at 42 Upper St James' Street, Newport at the time of Sydney’s death. The Odin was a Cadmus Class Sloop based at the East Indies Station in the Persian Gulf.

Sydney was part of a shore party, engaged in hand to hand fighting with Turkish soldiers. Sydney was close to AB Herbert SPRING, when a Turkish soldier aimed his weapon & fired. At that moment, Herbert was pushed aside by Sydney, who was fatally wounded by the bullet intended for his shipmate.

He was taken back on-board, where he later died from his wounds on the 4th of June 1917. Sydney was laid to rest beneath a Commission Headstone at Maala Cemetery, Yemen. He is also remembered on the County & Newport Borough War Memorials. Sydney was 28.

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CWGC Casualty Record

Cemetary

Sons & Daughters Commemorated Far From Home

Those from the Newport & Carisbrooke area who are buried or commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission outside of the area, both in the UK and in other countries.

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The image is of the Tyne Cot Military Cemetery & Memorial in Belgium.