Ernest Sykes (VC)

Ernest Sykes
Born 4 April 1885
Mossley, West Riding of Yorkshire
Died 3 August 1949 (aged 64)
Lockwood, West Yorkshire
Buried at Woodfield Cemetery, Lockwood
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service 1915–1918
Rank Private
Unit Duke of Wellington's Regiment
Northumberland Fusiliers
Home Guard
Battles/wars World War I
World War II
Awards Victoria Cross

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

VC action

Sykes was 32 years old, and a private in the 27th (Service) Battalion (4th Tyneside Irish), Northumberland Fusiliers, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place on Easter Monday, 9 April 1917 [1] near Arras, 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 the Northumberland Fusiliers Museum, Alnwick, Northumberland, England.

Commemoration

Sykes is honoured by a Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council blue plaque erected in 1996 at the George Lawton Hall in his home town of Mossley, Greater Manchester.[3] A second plaque was erected in 2004 at his workplace of Mossley railway station.[4]

References

  1. ↑ London Gazette Supplement issue 30122, 8 June 1917 page 5705
  2. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30122. pp. 5705–5706. 8 June 1917. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  3. ↑ Blue Plaque
  4. ↑ BBC online - Ernest Sykes VC

External links

Further reading

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