MIDDLETON, Sydney Albert
| Service Numbers: | Not yet discovered |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Major |
| Last Unit: | 17th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Pyrmont, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 24 February 1884 |
| Home Town: | Pyrmont, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Natural, South Kensington, London, 2 September 1945, aged 61 years |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Sydney Scots Church Great War Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 25 Jun 1915: | Involvement Lieutenant, 19th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Jun 1915: | Embarked Lieutenant, 19th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ceramic, Melbourne | |
| 8 Oct 1915: | Promoted Captain, 19th Infantry Battalion, Alexandria, Egypt | |
| 18 Nov 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Major, 17th Infantry Battalion | |
| 1 Jan 1919: | Honoured Distinguished Service Medal | |
| 24 May 1919: | Honoured Officer of the Order of the British Empire |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Margaret Young
Sydney Albert 'Syd' Middleton DSO, OBE (24 February 1884 – 2 September 1945)
Syd Middleton was an Australian Army officer and national representative rugby union player and rower. He won a gold medal in rugby at the 1908 Summer Olympics and competed in rowing at the 1912 Summer Olympics.
He captained the Wallabies in a Test series in 1910. As a rower he was twice an Australian national champion and won the Grand Challenge Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta in 1912.
He had a distinguished career in World War I being awarded the DSO and later an OBE.He was a member of the AIF crew which won at the 1919 Peace Regatta and brought the King's Cup to Australia.
War Service
He enlisted in the AIF in 1915 as a 2nd-Lieutenant with B Company, 19th Battalion and embarked from Sydney on board HMAT Ceramic on 25 June 1915. He served at Gallipoli and in France. He was promoted to Major, 17th Battalion in May 1917. He was mentioned in despatches in 1918, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in 1919 for bravery in action and in 1920 he was awarded the Order of the British Empire.
His recommendation for the DSO recorded:
"The battalion owes much of its success to the splendid example set by this very fine type of officer. He was in command of the 17th Bttn. on 14 May 1918 east of Heilly, near Amiens when the enemy made a very determined attack on the front held by the 17th Bttn and the manner in which he handled the situation and quickly restored the line showed great initiative and leadership."[citation needed]
AIF Sports Control Board
After the armistice Middleton was integrally involved, as organising secretary of the AIF Sports Control Board in arranging sporting events for the allied troops prior to their demobilisation.
Rowing
Middleton took a keen interest in the trials and selection of the overall rowing squad as they began to assemble in February 1919 to train for the 1919 Henley Royal Peace Regatta planned for July 1919 and he took personal responsibility for finding their accommodations, boat fleet and coaching staff.
The King's Cup
The AIF#1 crew won the Henley Roal Peace Regatta cup for eight-oared boats, which was presented by King George V; and now, the "King's Cup" is the trophy presented to the winning men's eight at the annual Australian Rowing Championships.
(Details obtained from Wikapaedia) and confirmed by grand niece
Click images to start slideshow.