Sydney Carlin (Aircrew)
| Sydney Carlin | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Timbertoes |
| Born | 1889 Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire, England |
| Died | 9 May 1941 (aged 51–52) Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1908–1909 1915–1924 1940–1941 |
| Rank | Pilot Officer |
| Unit | |
| Battles/wars |
World War I • Battle of the Somme World War II • Battle of Britain |
| Awards |
Military Cross Distinguished Flying Cross Distinguished Conduct Medal |
Pilot Officer Sydney "Timbertoes" Carlin, MC, DFC, DCM (1889–1941) was a British World War I flying ace, despite having previously lost a leg during the Battle of the Somme. He returned to the Royal Air Force in World War II, serving as an air gunner during the Battle of Britain.
Sydney Carlin was born in Hull, the son of William Carlin, a drysalter. By 1901 he was a boarder at a small private school in the village of Soulby, Kirkby Stephen, Westmoreland. He enlisted with the 18th Royal Hussars in 1908, but he bought himself out and resigned in December 1909 for the sum of £18. In 1911 he was working as a farm labourer at Frodingham Grange, North Frodingham, Yorkshire.
He re-enlisted on 8 August 1915; the army refunded half (£9) of the money he had bought himself out with in 1909. Serving in Belgium with the 18th Royal Hussars he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal on 5 August 1915, and was later commissioned as a second lieutenant in September 1915 and made a lieutenant in May 1916. He lost a leg serving in the Battle of Longueval/Delville Wood, on the Somme in 1916, while commanding a Royal Engineers Field Company section holding a trench against repeated German counter-attacks. For this action he was awarded the Military Cross in October.
Extraordinarily, he joined the Royal Flying Corps in 1917, following his recovery. On 12 March 1918, Carlin was seconded from the Royal Engineers to the RFC. After serving as an instructor at the Central Flying School, he was posted in May 1918 to No. 74 Squadron RFC flying S.E.5As, where he earned his nickname "Timbertoes". Carlin is recorded as an ace balloon buster, with five balloons downed; he was also an ace against aircraft, with four machines claimed destroyed, and one aircraft 'driven down out of control'. His exploits earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross.
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