Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Authuile Military Cemetery | ||
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.136 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 2A GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | Military Cross | ||
Family :
Known as Jimmy, he was the son of Mary Louisa Sykes, of Oakfield, Halifax, and the late John Edward Sykes.Member of St Paul's Church, King Cross, Halifax. Member of the Halifax Club, the Halifax Bowling Club, the Halifax Golf Club, the Halifax Territorials. Involved in the family firm, Miles Sykes & Son.
He never married.
Education & Career :
Educated at Heath Grammar School, and at Giggleswick
Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 4th Battalion Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment) |
1/4th Battalion August 1914 : in Halifax. Part of 2nd West Riding Brigade, West Riding Division. Moved on mobilisation to coastal defences near Hull and Grimsby. Moved on 5 November 1914 to billets in Doncaster. 14 April 1915 : landed at Boulogne. 15 May 1915 : formation became 147th Brigade in 49th (West Riding) Division. |
| Action : The Battles of the Somme 1916 |
The Battle of the Somme 1st July - 18th November 1916 is inevitably characterised by the appalling casualties (60,000) on the first day, July 1st 1916. Having failed to break through the German lines in force, and also failed to maximise opportunities where success was achieved, the battle became a series of attritional assaults on well defended defence in depth. The battle continued officially until 18th November 1916 costing almost 500,000 British casualties. German casualties were about the same, and French about 200,000. The Somme could not be counted a success in terms of ground gained or the cost, but it had a strategic impact as it marked the start of the decline of the German Army. Never again would it be as effective whilst the British Army, learning from its experience eventually grew stronger to become a war winning army. The German High Command recognised that it could never again fight another Somme, a view that advanced the decision to invoke unrestricted submarine warfare in an attempt to starve Britain of food and material, and in doing so accelerated the United States declaration of war thus guaranteeing the eventual outcome. 287 Brethren were killed on the Somme in 1916.
Detail :
He died from a shrapnel wound to the stomach, during a heavy German bombardment [3rd July 1916], and was buried at Authuile Military Cemetery, France [Grave Ref E 22].
He is remembered on the family grave at St Paul's Church, King Cross, in the Halifax Town Hall Books of Remembrance, on the Memorials at Saint Paul's Church, King Cross, Heath Grammar School, Halifax Bowling Club, Halifax Freemasons, and Halifax Golf Club, Ogden
Citations & Commemorations :
He was mentioned twice in despatches for conspicuous acts of gallantry and was awarded the Military Cross [14th January 1916]. He was recommended for the Legion of Honour.Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Lodge of Probity No. 61 E.C. | Yorkshire (West Riding) |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
27th March 1911 | 8th May 1911 | 10th July 1911 |
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley