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Ernest Sykes (VC)

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Ernest Sykes
Sykes, between 1914 and 1918
Born4 April 1885(1885-04-04)
Mossley, Greater Manchester,England
Died3 August 1949(1949-08-04)(aged 64)
Lockwood,West Riding of Yorkshire
Buried
Woodfield Cemetery, Lockwood
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Years of service1915–1918
RankPrivate
UnitDuke of Wellington's Regiment
Northumberland Fusiliers
Home Guard
Battles/warsWorld War I
World War II
AwardsVictoria Cross

Ernest SykesVC(4 April 1885 – 3 August 1949) was an English recipient of theVictoria Cross,the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British andCommonwealthforces.

VC action

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Sykes was 32 years old, and aprivatein the 27th (Service) Battalion (4thTyneside Irish),Northumberland Fusiliers,British Armyduring theFirst World Warwhen the following deed took place on Easter Monday, 9 April 1917[1]nearArras,France,for which he was awarded the VC. His battalion in attack was held up by intense fire from front and flank, and suffered heavy casualties. Private Sykes, despite this heavy fire, went forward and brought back four wounded. He then made a fifth journey and remained out under conditions which appeared to be certain death, until he had bandaged all those too badly injured to be moved.

His VC citation reads:

No. 40989 Pte. Ernest Sykes, North'd Fus. For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty when his battalion in attack was held up about 350 yards in advance of our lines by intense fire from front and flank, and suffered heavy casualties. Pte. Sykes, despite this heavy fire, went forward and brought back four wounded—he made a fifth journey and remained out under conditions which appeared to be certain death, until he had bandaged all those who were too badly wounded to be moved. These gallant actions, performed under incessant machine gun and rifle fire, showed an utter contempt of danger.[2]

During the Second World War Sykes returned to serve with the 25th Battalion West Riding Home Guard.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at theFusiliers Museum of Northumberland,Alnwick, Northumberland, England.

Commemoration

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In 1920 theLondon and North Western RailwaynamedClaughton-classlocomotive No. 2035 'Private E. Sykes, V.C.' in his honour. This locomotive was rebuilt in 1933 as a 4-6-0 class 6P5F Patriot class with the LMS number 5537 (Later renumbered, by British Railways, as 45537), retaining the name Private E. Sykes, V.C. until withdrawn from service and scrapped in 1962. The brass nameplate from the locomotive is on display at the Northumberland Fusiliers' Museum at Alnwick Castle in Northumberland.

Sykes is honoured by aTameside Metropolitan Borough Councilblue plaqueerected in 1996 at the George Lawton Hall in his home town ofMossley, Greater Manchester.[3]A second plaque was erected in 2004 at his workplace ofMossley railway station.[4]

References

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  1. ^London Gazette Supplement issue 30122, 8 June 1917 page 5705
  2. ^"No. 30122".The London Gazette(Supplement). 8 June 1917. pp. 5705–5706.
  3. ^Blue Plaque
  4. ^BBC online - Ernest Sykes VC

Bibliography

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Further reading

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  • Tyneside Irish, 24th, 25th, 26th & 27th (Service) Battalions of Northumberland Fusiliers,pp. 211, 212
  • Miniature Matters, Rigour in Research, Journal (2013)
  • R. Colbourne,Ernest Sykes, VC: a short biography(2006)
  • UK Government, Integration & Community Rights Directorate, 22/05/2014
  • Interview,Manchester Evening News,13 July 1917
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