Finding myself with time on my hands during the #CoronavirusUK #Lockdown I thought I’d spend some of that time wisely and tweet the story of Sidney Carlin MC DFC DCM who is, in my opinion, one of Hull’s bravest sons and a war hero that you have most probably never heard of…
Sidney Carlin was born in Kingston upon Hull in 1889 He enlisted with the 18th Hussars in 1908 but bought himself out and resigned in December 1909 for the sum of £18. In 1911 he was working as a farm labourer at North Frodingham in East Yorkshire.
He re-enlisted on 8th Aug 1915 and was refunded half the money (£9) he had bought himself out with. No 28677 Private Sidney Carlin 18th Hussars won the Distinguished Conduct Medal during the heavy fighting of 13th May 1915 when very heavy casualties were suffered
Private Carlin’s award appeared in the London Gazette of 5th August 1915 and the citation for the DCM reads “For Conspicuous Gallantry on the 13th May 1915”
“Although severely wounded he refused to leave the firing line and kept his Troop together in a very exposed position with the trenches demolished on both sides, after all his seniors had been killed. He gave a fine example of courage and devotion to duty”
Recovered from his wounds he was given a commission as a second lieutenant in the Corps of Royal Engineers in 1916, as a Lieutenant was awarded the Military Cross on 20th October 1916. The citation in the London Gazette reads
“For conspicuous gallantry during operations. Under continuous shellfire he laid out a fire trench, brought up his section, dug the trench and with his men, held it against a counter attack. He was severely wounded.
As a result of that wound he lost a leg and was therefore considered unfit for frontline service, so he asked to be transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, but when he was turned down Sidney Carlin learned to fly at his own expense, applied again and was accepted.
After serving as an instructor at the Central Flying School, he was posted in May 1918 to No 74 Squadron RFC where he earned his nickname “Timbertoes”
In September 1918 he was involved in a mid-air collision with his commanding officer, but survived relatively unscathed. On the 21st September he was shot down and remained a prisoner for the remainder of the war.
He was awarded the DFC on 2nd Nov 1918, the citation reads “A gallant and determined pilot who sets a fine example to his Squadron. Though handicapped by the loss of a leg, he is bold and skilful in his attacks and has destroyed four balloons and shot down two enemy machines”
He relinquished his commission on “account of ill-health contracted on active service” on 7th Aug 1919. In 1924 Carlin departed Britain for Mombasa and farmed for some years in Kenya. Where, from 1931-1935 Carlin served as the Justice of the Peace for Kisumu-Londiani District.
On the outbreak of World War II he returned to the UK and volunteered for the Royal Air Force and commissioned as a Pilot Officer on 27th Jul 1940 joining 264 Squadron as an Air Gunner stationed in Kirton-in-Lindsey. As a Defiant air gunner he took part in the Battle of Britain.
Sidney Carlin, MC DFC DCM was then posted on 5th Jan 1941 to 151 Squadron at RAF Wittering where he made several unofficial trips as an air gunner with No 311 (Czech) Squadron in Wellington Bombers.
On the 8th May 1941 RAF Wittering was attacked by Junkers 88 bombers, instead of sheltering, he chose to climb into a Defiant gun turret and fought back against the enemy aircraft. He was seriously wounded in the turret, the only casualty of the raid of 8th May on RAF Wittering
He died of his wounds in hospital in Peterborough on 9th May 1941 and was later cremated at Hedon Road Crematorium, Kingston upon Hull. He has no grave but his name is shown on Panel One of the memorial in Hull Northern Cemetery.
“Sidney Carlin F/O 8192 RAF (VR) 151 Squadron, died 9 May 1941, aged 52 years”
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