Sydney is the eldest child of Arthur Philip Wharton (1867-1925) and Ellen Rose Matthews (1862-1925). He had one brother called Hugh Wharton (1896-1959) and a sister called Kathleen Wharton (1899-1986). He was christened at St Andrews Church, Bircham Tofts on 22 December 1895.

In 1901 census, aged 6 he was living at Pond House in Bircham Tofts, Norfolk, UK with his parents and siblings.

In the 1911 census aged 15 he was still at Pond House.

At the age of 21, and the onset of World War 1, Sidney signed up for the British Army and became a 2nd lieutenant for 8th Battalion, attd. Trench Mortar Bty, Norfolk Regiment.. I haven’t managed to find his enlistment papers yet, but he entered active service on 4 December 1915 and his death is recorded on the war graves commission website as 1 July 1916, his death “by wounds at the Battle of the Somme”. He is buried at Div Copse British Cemetery, Sailly, Somme, Picardie, France. His grave is listed as II. R 26.

Shortly after his death, his brother Hugh also entered active service arriving at Le Harve in November 1916 with the Royal Garrison and came home in 1919 after the war.