SYDNEY ARTHUR HUNWICKS was born on the 2nd February 1927.
The son of a senior officer in the London Fire Brigade, aged thirteen, he was living in Fire Brigade quarters in Dockland when the Blitz of 1940 began. Even at this early age he responded bravely to the troubled London of 1940—41.
In 1943 he joined RAOC as a boy soldier.
In Malta in 1946 he was promoted Sergeant and later selected for OCTU but was badly injured in a road accident. He returned by hospital ship to Netley where remedial operations continued for over a year.
Posted to Officer Cadet Training Unit, still walking with a stick, he was medically down-graded and re-posted to RAE Farnborough (Guided weapons). Later medically up-graded, though permanently lame, he went to Eaton Hall, aged twenty six, to be commissioned Lieutenant and became an IOO.
In the late 1960’s as a Major at Didcot, working with Rapier, he resigned and transferred to the Abu Dhabi Defence Force.
He played a key role in the expansion and development of the Combined Services Ordnance Establishments, was promoted Lieutenant Colonel ADDF and commanded Arab troops for some fifteen years. He spoke, read and wrote fluent Arabic and in his personal and professional conduct upheld the high traditions of his parent Corps.Always a committed Christian, he played an active role in the Anglican Church and community in the Gulf. He was proud to have been appointed a lay-reader to the Gulf diocese. A warm, out-going, convivial man, he was also active in the communities in which he found himself: Soccer for the Crusaders, Honorary Secretary of the AD Golf Club, in amateur dramatics - a variety of leading roles and of course sailing.
After a tragically short retirement he died on Sunday, 29th September 1985, at prayer in his parish church.He leaves a widow, Monica, a widowed mother, two married daughters and a son at the Duke of Yorks School, Dover.

31/03/2010 William Allen-Muncey writes:

Sid joined No, 2 squad (one Squad before me) at Parsons Bks. in March 1943.
I remember him well, always up for a good laugh and , like most of us , ready for some escapade after lights out at 2200hrs.
What a marvellous career he enjoyed.
I am sad to hear of his early death.