Sid Gueran joined Exeter City from Arsenal in 1938 having had first-team experience with Southampton. Although a professional he never made a first-team appearance for City and returned to his native Kent after just a few months.

On the outbreak of war he enlisted in the Royal Engineers as a sapper attached to the 1st Parachute Squadron and took part in the North African and Italian campaigns before being assigned to the Netherlands where he was killed on the second day of the Battle of Arnhem in 1944. He is commemorated on the Groesbeek Memorial in the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery.

In Arnhem 1944: The Human Tragedy of the Bridge Too Far, written by Dilip Sarker in 2019, the story is related of how Sid, a member of B Troop, was shot and killed inside a former school building that was later destroyed by enemy tanks and fire. He has no known grave but is memorialised at St James’ Park.  

For more about Sid’s playing career see his entry in the A to Z of Exeter City players section of the archive which also contains a selection of pictures.