WWI and WWII service

The next medal to be returned that came out of the Directorate of Honours and Awards package is the British War Medal awarded to 3394 Sydney Jon Clinch, 55 Bn AIF. Sydney also saw service during WWII as N448269.

Sydney was from a prominent Taree, NSW family. This is the obituary of his father, James Robert Clinch. This name continued on in the Clinch family and Sydney named one of his sons James Robert. 

The younger James also served during WWII in the militia with the number N448274. It looks like James was in a Reserved occupation and served part time. Unfortunately, tragedy struck the family in November 1944 when James died at the family property.

James' service record shows he did not die on duty.

Sydney died in 1963.

Sydney and his wife Bertha had several children including Irene 'Molly' Locke. It is Molly's son Peter who I've been in contact with and will send him his grandfather's medal in the near future.

Thank you once again to Donna from DHA. The returned medal tally is now 2917.