Ernest Sykes
Private, 27th (Service) Battalion. Northumberland Fusiliers
- Register No.
- 1198 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Private all Privates →
- Unit
- 27th (Service) Battalion. Northumberland Fusiliers all Northumberland Fusiliers VCs →
- Date of action
- 19 April 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 8th June 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Born
- 4th April 1885 at Mossley, Saddleworth, Yorkshire
- Died
- 3rd August 1949 at Lockwood, Yorkshire
- Memorial / grave
- at at Lockwood Cemetery, Meltham, Yorkshire and named on an LMS engine plate
- Medal held by
- the Northumberland Fusiliers Regimental
Digest of citation
The Battalion was held up, 350 yards in front of our lines, by a devastating fire from the front and flank on 19th April, near Arras, France, causing many severe casualties. Private Sykes, in spite of the intense fire made his way forward four times, each time bringing back a wounded soldier. Making a fifth excursion, under conditions which appeared to be certain death, remaining a out there whilst he bandaged and treated all the men who were too badly injured to be moved
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
SYKES, Ernest. (reg No. 1198).
Private. 27th (Service) Battalion. Northumberland Fusiliers.
London Gazetted on 8th June 1917.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Northumberland Fusiliers Regimental Museum, Abbot's Tower, Alnwick Castle, Alnwick, Northumberland.
Born on 4th April 1885 at Mossley, Saddleworth, Yorkshire.
Died on 3rd August 1949 at Lockwood, Yorkshire.
Memorial on grave at at Lockwood Cemetery, Meltham, Yorkshire and named on an LMS engine plate.
Digest of Citation reads: The Battalion was held up, 350 yards in front of our lines, by a devastating fire from the front and flank on 19th April, near Arras, France, causing many severe casualties. Private Sykes, in spite of the intense fire made his way forward four times, each time bringing back a wounded soldier. Making a fifth excursion, under conditions which appeared to be certain death, remaining a out there whilst he bandaged and treated all the men who were too badly injured to be moved.
SYLVESTER, William Henry Thomas (reg..No1199) Assistant Surgeon, (later Surgeon Major) 23rd Regiment (later the Royal Welch Fusiliers)
London Gazetted on 20th November 1857.
Born on 16th April 1831 at Devizes, Wiltshire.
Died on 13th March 1920 at Paignton, Devon.
Memorial at Paignton Cemetery, Devon.
Digest of Citation reads: On 8 September 1855, Sebastopol, Crimea, near the Redan, Assistant Surgeon Sylvester went up with a corporal * to the aid of an officer who was mortally wounded and remainder the him, dressing his wounds, in a most dangerous and exposed situation. Again on 18 September this officer was at the front, under heavy fire, attending the wounded (* seat Reg. No.. 1140 SHIELDS, R.)
Additional information: He knew and worked with Florence Nightingale at Sebastopol and Scutari hospitals. Served in the Indian mutiny 1857-58. He holds the Legion d'Honneur (France)
Alf's notes on his life
SYLVESTER, William Henry Thomas (reg..No1199) Assistant Surgeon, (later Surgeon Major) 23rd Regiment (later the Royal Welch Fusiliers) London Gazetted on 20th November 1857. Born on 16th April 1831 at Devizes, Wiltshire. Died on 13th March 1920 at Paignton, Devon. Memorial at Paignton Cemetery, Devon. Digest of Citation reads: On 8 September 1855, Sebastopol, Crimea, near the Redan, Assistant Surgeon Sylvester went up with a corporal * to the aid of an officer who was mortally wounded and remainder the him, dressing his wounds, in a most dangerous and exposed situation. Again on 18 September this officer was at the front, under heavy fire, attending the wounded (* seat Reg. No.. 1140 SHIELDS, R.)
Additional information
He knew and worked with Florence Nightingale at Sebastopol and Scutari hospitals. Served in the Indian mutiny 1857-58. He holds the Legion d'Honneur (France)
Museum, Abbot's Tower, Alnwick Castle, Alnwick, Northumberland.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at at Lockwood Cemetery, Meltham, Yorkshire and named on an LMS engine plate
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