Sergeant Sydney E Guscott

Sydney Elliott Guscott was born in 1920 in Pennymoor, Devonshire, and originally enlisted into the Devonshire Regiment in June 1940 and transferred to The Special Air Service on the 1 April 1944. [1]

He did Parachute Course 111A, at RAF Ringway, 9 – 18 April 1944. This was specifically run for 13 Officers and 147 Other Ranks of the Special Air Service and would comprise of 2 descents, in daylight, from the balloon,1 stick of ‘fives’ from a Whitley, 1 night balloon, and 1 kitbag from a Dakota. The ground training was carried out from the 10 to 14 April and the parachute training was completed in three days. His Parachute Instructors comments: ‘A good performer, cheerful and hard working’. [2]

He was posted to 3 Squadron, 2nd Special Air Service Regiment and took part in Operation ‘Tombola’ in Northern Italy, March 1945.

Killed in action on the 27 March 1945.

He was the son of Fred and Molly Guscott, Cruwys Morchard, Devon and 24 years old when he was killed in action and now lies at rest in the Milan War Cemetery, Italy, plot VI. A. 7.

He is mentioned in the book by Roy Farran (the Commander of 3 Squadron, 2nd SAS), ‘Winged Dagger’, published in 1948, on pages 265, 301 – 303, 316 & 339.

On page 302 Roy Farran pays the following tribute: ‘Another grave loss was Sergeant Guscott, who marched across the mountains from Spezia to join me. It is strange how the best men are always the first to die. Perhaps we others are not good enough.’

NOTES:

[1] The Parachute Regiment, Transfer & Enlistment Book 19, page 24.

[2] Parachute Course Report, RAF Ringway.