Royal Air Force
Sydney Albert Scriven was born on 25 May 1899 in Badgeworth, Cheltenham, the son of Charles John George and Caroline Annie Scriven (née Dimery). In 1901, he and his family were living at Rosedale House, Badgeworth, Cheltenham. His siblings were Charles Reginald (1896), and Gilbert George (1898).
Sydney was enlisted in London on 18 October 1917 as a Private in ‘C’ Company, 2nd Artists Rifles OTC (Officers Training Corps) and given the Regimental Service Number 767161. On 18 October 918, he was posted from 28th London Regiment and attached to Royal Air Force (RAF), Oxford on a temporary commission as Second Lieutenant. It appears from his RAF Service Record he was declared ‘unemployed’ on 8 February 1919, as many pilots were when the RAF was being cut after the war.
Sydney died on 14 March 1920, aged 20 years, and was buried on 19 March at Holy Trinity Church, Badgeworth, south of the church. At the time, his address was given as 120 High Street, Merthyr Tydfil. In his Probate record dated 9 August 1920, his father’s address was given as Godfrey House, The Reddings, Cheltenham. His mother died 21 March 1921, aged 48 years.
Sydney’s brother, Lance Corporal Gilbert George of the Household Battalion (formerly 1st Life Guards), is commemorated on the family memorial. He was killed in action at the Battle of Arras n 12 April 1917, aged 19 years, and is buried in Brown’s Copse Cemetery, Roeux, France.
Unfortunately, it would appear Sydney is not commemorated elsewhere locally.
Researched by Baden Russell January 2011
In compiling this biography I wish to thank and acknowledge Dave and Jimmy James, for their website ‘Leaving Cheltenham’; and Joe Devereux and Graham Sacker, for their book ‘Leaving All That Was Dear’.