Sidney Harston

Sidney was born in 1899 the second-oldest son of painter Sidney Charles Harston a house painter and his wife Margaret Kathleen (née Shepherd ) of 23 Lombard Street, Newark. Sidney was born in 1871 at Newark and Margaret Kathleen was born in 1871 at Collingham. Married at Newark in September 1896, they had 7 children - John b.1898, Sidney b.1899 Margaret Cicely b.1901, Eliza Kathleen b.1904, Thomas b.1906, Robert b.1908 and C Mary b.1911. In 1901, the family was living at 32, Crown Street, Newark along with15 year old Lizzie Hickman a general domestic servant. By 1911, they had moved to 23, Lombard Street, Newark with a servant Ada Hinson. Sidney Charles died at Kelham, Newark on 10th February 1916 aged 45.

After earning a scholarship from the Mount School, Sidney completed his education at the Magnus Grammar School. Aged 13, he won a two-mile open swimming race against adults. He also carried off Newark elementary schools’ premier swimming honours and captained the Magnus rugby XV.

Sidney joined up in October 1917. He went out to France in April 1918 and served with 204 Squadron RAF. He died whilst flying a Sopwith Camel over enemy territory in France. He is commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial.

The following is an extract from the Magnus School, Newark diary of the Great War : Saturday 29 June 1918: Sidney Harston, a multi-sports star while at the Magnus, disappeared at the age of 18 while flying a Sopwith F.1 Camel (serial No. D3361) over enemy territory in France. After earning a scholarship from the Mount School, the second-oldest son of painter Sidney Charles Harston and his wife Margaret Kathleen of 23 Lombard Street completed his education at the Magnus. Aged 13, he won a two-mile open swimming race against adults. He also carried off Newark elementary schools’ premier swimming honours and captained the Magnus rugby XV. Determined to select his own military unit, he joined-up in October 1917, a month before his 18th birthday, and entered the Royal Air Force. He went to France in April and had been engaged in hazardous work as a scout accompanying the bombers. Lieutenant Harston is remembered on the Arras Flying Services Memorial for airmen with no known grave. His elder brother John was also in the RAF, having originally gone to war as a bugler in the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry in 1914.