SHEEN, Sydney John
| Service Numbers: | Not yet discovered |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 3 September 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia, 3 October 1888 |
| Home Town: | Goulburn, Goulburn Mulwaree, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Goulburn Superior Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Business Manager |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 20 September 1918, aged 29 years |
| Cemetery: |
Tincourt New British Cemetery Plot V, Row E, Grave No. 5. |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 3 Sep 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 2nd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Nov 1915: | Involvement Lieutenant, 2nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: '' | |
| 2 Nov 1915: | Embarked Lieutenant, 2nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Sydney John Sheen was the son of Emma Ann Daniel (formerly Sheen), and the late Joseph Sheen. His father had died when he was about seven years of age and his mother had remarried. Sydney was the husband of Alma Mary Sheen, of Goulburn, New South Wales, and the father of a three-year-old daughter when he enlisted in 1915.
He was working as a business manager in stationery shop in Goulburn and was noted as a fine athlete. He was a top-rated sprinter, and won many races in Goulburn.
Sydney enlisted in the 2nd Battalion AIF during September 1915, with the rank of Second Lieutenant. He was ill in England for some time before he joined the 2nd Battalion in France during November 1916 and was promoted to Lieutenant a few weeks later.
His younger brother, Captain Walter Roy Sheen, M.C. 56th Battalion AIF was killed in action on 22nd October 1916, aged 26.
For much of 1917 he was in England with training units. Whilst in England he won a sprint race at a Sports meet held by the Australians at the Perham Camp. He was reported to have “won the 100 yards in 10.80 seconds, running in bare feet on rough ground, spikes being barred.” Sydney rejoined the 2nd Battalion in France during May 1918 and was wounded a few days later. He was shot in the thigh by one of his own men as he was returning to the trenches, the noise of a bombardment preventing him from hearing the sentry's challenge.
He was evacuated to England to recover and returned to France on 30 August 1918. Three weeks later, on the day of his death, he was hit by shrapnel from an exploding shell near the French village of Villaret. He lost a large quantity of blood by the time he reached the Unit Aid Post. He was evacuated to the 2nd Australian Field Ambulance but died there at about 10.00 pm in the evening of 20 September 1918.
His three-year-old daughter passed away in 2004, at 92 years of age.
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