Sydney Davis was born in Hurst on 13 January 1897, to William and Alice. He was baptised at St.Nicholas church on 7th March that year.

Sydney attended the Forest Road School, and later the Palmer Church of England Junior School, which he left on 24th June 1910. The family were living at Ivy Cottage, Embrook.

In 1911 he was lodging with the Bridgewater family at 39 Clarendon Road in Reading, and working as an icer at a biscuit factory (probably Huntley & Palmers).

Sydney enlisted in Caversham in March 1914, joining the Royal Scots Fusiliers. His attestation form gives his age as 18 years, 24 days although he was only 17 at the time. His stated his occupation was factory labourer. He later transferred to the 33rd Coy, Labour Corps, where he was a Lance Corporal.

On Tuesday 16th October 1917 Sydney was killed in action at Passchendaele. He was 20 years old.

Sydney rests in the Menin Road South Military Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium.