Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Sidney was born in the town of Sandwell (now Birkenhead) on the 18th January 1916 to Ivy Alice Bert, daughter of Samuel Bert. The town of Sandwell was on the Lefever Peninsula to the north-west of Adelaide.
Sidney, known as Syd, was just two years old when his mother married widower, Swedish-born Captain Axel Frederick Dahlgren Paues in 1918. Axel was a Master mariner, who in July that year had been fortunate to escape a collision off Beef Head between his vessel, Excelsior, carrying 850 tons of wheat from Arno Bay to Port Adelaide; and the Adelaide Steamship Company's steamer Quorna.
The previous year, 1917, Axel’s 37-year-old wife, Anne Marie Eleanor died as had her new-born baby. Axel had already lost another child, two-year-old Frederick Harold who died in 1908. The blended family then comprised older children, Harold Edwin, Edwin Axel, and George Howard (Henry) Paues and later half siblings, Eric and Melva Ester, born when Sidney was four.
Sidney worked as a millhand and by 1935 welcomed the arrival of his daughter, Nita Mary. However, a few years later as a 23-year-old, Syd had a challenging year in ‘39. It began with a fine of 2/6 with 10/ costs for having ridden a bicycle, which had no lights attached in Port Adelaide. Then in in May he was granted a divorce from his then wife, Madge.
Aged 24, Sid enlisted on the 28th June ’40, naming his young daughter Nita as his next of kin. Sid was given the number SX7653 and placed in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. His early days were spent in the pavilions of the (now) Royal Adelaide Showgrounds before the new enlistees continued more intensive training at Woodside in the Adelaide Hills. Following pre-embarkation leave, Sid left on the Stratheden the 7th November, arriving in the Middle East on the 17th December.
Over the next year he was rapidly promoted through the ranks, to Corporal in July ’41. An unfortunate foot injury early in December caused three weeks of recuperation. However, by February the diagnosis was that he was not fit for active service with field formations. This did not prevent Syd from further promotions as in July ’42 he was appointed Acting Lance Sergeant. He was also to receive a very different title, that of being one of the highly famed and respected Rats of Tobruk. This was initially designed as a derogatory name by the Germans to demoralise the Australians who were living in self-dug underground conditions like rats in the heat and dust.
Syd survived the conditions, eventually returning home via Melbourne in February ’43.
Syd met Zena Constance Mutton of Berri who worked for the Berri Cooperative Packing Union and was also heavily involved in her local community. With the announcement of their engagement and forthcoming wedding, Zena’s workmates organised a surprise kitchen evening, where games and community singing were enjoyed, with Private Bill Hazla providing the music. Zena was presented with gifts for her future married life and thanked everyone for their thoughtfulness before a supper was served.
Sergeant Syd and Zeena married in November in a military wedding in the Berri Methodist Church. Sydney chose Sgt.-Major Battams as best man and SX8835 Pte. Jack Pillar (2/48th Battalion AIF returned) as his groomsman. A guard of honour was formed by Syd’s fellow sergeants from the camp where Syd was serving. Initially the two resided in Berri, then moved to Seaton when Syd was discharged on the 10th July ’45. In May the following year, he and Zena welcomed their son, John Sidney.
In a quiet wedding at Semaphore Sid’s daughter, Nita married Murray Hinde of Pennington at Semaphore on October 24th ’53.
Zena pre-deceased Sydney and died on the 23rd February 1997. Sidney lived to be 87. He died on the 12th October 2003 and was cremated at Enfield Memorial Park with his ashes returned to the family.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.