



In 1897, at the age of twelve, Sydney was sent off on a training ship called the Exmouth, while Charlie and his mother Hannah struggled to make a living in London and lived, at times, in the workhouses. In 1901, Charles Chaplin Sr. died. With Charles's Sr. death, Hannah lost what little child support payments he paid.



Both Charlie and Sydney worked very hard to help their mother. Sydneys best success was his continued work on the ships. It was while he was gone on one of these trips that he became quite ill and had to stay at a port while he was recovering. Unfortunately neither Hannah nor Charlie had received word of Sydneys illness. Hannah sat for days looking out the window, wondering when Sydney would return. She was already very weak from poor nutrition. The strain of waiting for Sydney's return was just too much.



In 1903, Hannah's struggles came to sad end. At 14, Charlie had to take his mother to the infirmary where she was committed as insane.



By the time Sydney returned, he found his brother Charlie in shambles. Not wanting to be sent to the workhouses again, Charlie was basically living on the streets by day, working odd jobs, and staying out of sight during school hours.



This was the turning point in both Charlie's and Sydney's lives. If anyone needed the support of a brother, it was Charlie. Without Sydney, Charlie may have never gotten the opportunities that would lead him to such great acclaim in the following years.



Sydney Chaplin played a key role in Charlie Chaplin's life and this would be just one of many times Sydney helped.



Sydney was well rested on his return and had saved money from his shipping job. Sydney had spent a great deal of time thinking about helping his mother and brother. So when he returned to the tragic events that had unfolded in his absence, he was greatly saddened, but became even more determined to change the course of their lives. He told his brother that with the money he saved he was going to enter the theatres.



The two brothers wasted no time in seeking their dreams. Within weeks on their quest for theatre work, it would be Charlie who would land the first job. But Charlie was very lucky he didn't have to read for the role during that first audition.



Sydney knew that Charlie lacked proper schooling and jumped in to help Charlie memorize his lines for the theatre production. It was a brotherly team effort that got Charlie that first job. Charlie never ever forgot that fact. But once the role was landed, it was Charlie's special talents that made him a success.



For the Chaplins, each brother had strengths that helped the other succeed.















Sydney's Karno Days

' Good Luck Charlie - Bon Voyage!

Love, Sydney' - when Charlie went to the U.S.













The Mutual Signing 1916 - Sydney center













'Man on the Box' Sydney and Charles Riesner - Stein Collection

