On Chatham Naval Memorial is the name of 271006 Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class Sydney Shiel, serving on H.M.S. Formidable with the Royal Navy who died 01/01/1915.

Colin Boyd has provided the following

Sydney was born on 05/11/1881 in Fulwell, Sunderland to Walter Shiel, a miner, and his wife, Jane.  By 1891 he was living with his parents, four brothers and three sisters at 23, Wreath Quay Road, Monkwearmouth. When Sydney left school he worked as a blacksmith.

Sydney joined the Royal Navy on 09/03/1903 when he signed on for 12 years’ service.   He was described as being 5 feet 2 inches tall with light brown hair, hazel eyes and a fresh complexion. His trade or profession was given as enginewright and his initial rating was ERA 3rd Cl..

In 1909 Sydney married Charlotte Helen Sedgwick and the couple set up home at 122, Livingstone Road, Gillingham.

Sydney was lost on 01/01/1915 when HMS Formidable was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel.

Acknowledgments: Barney Rice

Sydney Shiel is remembered at Monkwearmouth on M46.19, at Sunderland on S140.036 and in in S140.48 Part 8 page page 161 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.