The amazing Sydney Carlin

**john snelling** · 05-21-2017 12:26

Some personal stories stand out and this one did it to me. Despite being wounded twice and losing his leg below the knee he became an ace in WW1 and flew and died in WW2.

The son of William and Caroline Carlin, who ran a tallow chandlery, Sydney Carlin attended boarding school in Westmoreland. He served for a year with the Royal Hussars as a private soldier (1908-09). When the war began, he abandoned farming and joined the 18th Royal Hussars in 1914. Sent to France on 15 August 1914, he was wounded in action (head wound) at Second Ypres in 1915, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. He was promoted to Lance Corporal, transferred to the 1st East Riding Field Company, Royal Engineers and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in September 1915. Carlin received the Military Cross after being wounded by a shell at Delville Wood in 1916, losing his left leg below the knee.

Equipped with a wooden leg, his request for transfer to the Royal Flying Corps was refused so he paid for private flying lessons and was accepted in 1917. His mates took to calling him "Timbertoes." After serving as an instructor, Carlin was posted to 74 Squadron on 26 May 1918. Flying the S.E.5a, he survived a mid-air collision with his commanding officer, Keith Caldwell, and scored ten victories, including 5 balloons. On 21 September 1918, six days after scoring his final victory, Carlin was captured by the Germans when he was shot down by Siegfried Westphal of Jasta 29.

Due to poor health, Carlin relinquished his commission in 1919 and sailed for Kenya aboard the SS Madura on 2 October 1924. There he was a farmer, big game hunter, Justice of the Peace, and member of the Kenyan Defence Force.

Returning to the United Kingdom when World War II began, he was initially classified as "unfit for duty" but was eventually commissioned as a Flying Officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and served as an aerial gunner on Defiants with 151 Squadron. At the age of 52, Carlin died from wounds received in an early evening air raid by a single JU87 Stuka dive bomber on the squadron's airfield at Wittering. Carlin rushed by bicycle to his aeroplane to combat the raid rather than seek cover. He was mortally wounded as he attempted to climb into his plane's turret and died the following day.

**Stumptonian** · 05-21-2017 20:28

Great story, John.

But Shirley that was a Ju87 ....

**gully_raker** · 05-21-2017 21:28

Yes another of those heroic people who do not let adversity stop them contributing 100%!

**flash** · 05-21-2017 22:42

Some people just define courage.

**john snelling** · 05-22-2017 05:40

Originally Posted by Stumptonian

Great story, John.

But Shirley that was a Ju87 ....

Great catch! I got this from an WW1 site they should have known better and me too for not proof reading. I got caught up in the story.
Fixed it thanks!!