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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: genealogistsykes on Thursday 30 December 10 21:25 GMT (UK)

Title: Samuel Stanley Sykes - War Records
Post by: genealogistsykes on Thursday 30 December 10 21:25 GMT (UK)
Samuel Stanley Sykes
b. 1881 - Leeds
d. 1950

Father: William Stanley Sykes
Mother: Catherine R.

Spouse: Sybil Westrobe Green

He served in the first world war and was highly decorated, could anyone please try and find some service records ? He was in the West Yorkshire Regiment.
Title: Re: Samuel Stanley Sykes - War Records
Post by: CaroleW on Thursday 30 December 10 21:32 GMT (UK)
There are a number of Samuel Sykes entries on the Medal Roll Index but no Samuel S Sykes.

One was with the West Yorkshire Reg number 36611 and another with the West Riding Regiment  numbers 2634 and 240356

Do you know his service number?

There is nothing on the Service Records but are you aware that over 60% were destroyed in the WW2 blitz



Title: Re: Samuel Stanley Sykes - War Records
Post by: johnny_doyle on Thursday 30 December 10 21:36 GMT (UK)
there are 2 entries for an S S Sykes in West Yorks Regt. Appears to have been a Capt then Major. Mentioned in Dispatches and MC.
Title: Re: Samuel Stanley Sykes - War Records
Post by: genealogistsykes on Thursday 30 December 10 21:41 GMT (UK)
ahh i didn't know that 60% were destoryed in the blitz. Yes that is him he was a major - any way of geting some records from the regimental office ?
Title: Re: Samuel Stanley Sykes - War Records
Post by: jds1949 on Thursday 30 December 10 22:38 GMT (UK)
If your man was a serving officer in the First World War then, assuming that he did not serve beyond 1920, his service record will be available at the National Archives at Kew. Their website has been playing up all week, so I can't get any sense out of it at the moment - if you don't get any further in the next day or two send me a PM as a reminder and I'll see what I can do.

jds1949
Title: Re: Samuel Stanley Sykes - War Records
Post by: genealogistsykes on Friday 31 December 10 11:02 GMT (UK)
Okay cheers, just had a search for Samuel Stanley Sykes (my g-grandfather) and the'r where no results found. I searched Samuel Sykes and i found 3 but the'r not the right ones as their service records were on findmypast and i already had a look at their service records and their not the right Samuel Sykes. I know that Samuel Stanley Sykes was in the West Riding Yorkshire Regiment as i have found a picture of him and his troops on their website and have ordered a copy but it's really hard to see them as it was pre. 1914. My grandad used to say that he was highly decorated and recieved a medal one down from the Victoria Cross, he had a signed plaque from churchill and shook hands with him. Samuel S. Sykes fought in the Battle of the Somme, and my grandad never used to see his dad for years on end as he was fighting in the war. After the war he started going ino business with the family company. Sykes Hemp Spinners, i have gone back to Samuel S. Sykes's grandfather Samuel Sykes and have found that the business has been going way back before his grandfather Samuel Sykes, i think ! I know that Samuel S. Sykes had two children Nigel Stanley Sykes (my grandfathers brother) and Douglas William Sykes (my grandfather) - their all dead now. It's a pain that i can't find his service records as he was an ouotstanding officer and was a Major when he was discharged. :)
Title: Re: Samuel Stanley Sykes - War Records
Post by: Mr. MIGKY on Friday 31 December 10 14:04 GMT (UK)
The 1918 absent voter list for Leeds only show one Samuel Sykes and does not show a middle name or initial.

Click here for Leeds AVL (http://www.leeds.gov.uk/page.aspx?cacheId=f288d356-c892-44e6-b88e-dfa7b9118f2c&cacheId=8c050894-f822-42f4-858b-e063b5fe3e50&cacheId=c6e692f3-853e-46ea-aa92-10d9f25a1002&cacheId=dcc63a84-2b8b-470e-9f1a-10d738a162c8&cacheId=8262c40e-fe14-4b19-ac14-d933534ef97f&cacheId=569c60c1-21e6-47c6-bc87-241335577123&cacheId=f73edd70-4004-416a-92c9-c70fad5444b6&cacheId=1b48089d-4ce1-4470-9a38-ff6289707293&cacheId=a853d95a-1459-4dbc-a561-53f9384d2b02&cacheId=984347a9-546d-45a1-a8bd-d044b8e47b5d&cacheId=46a9c7d0-28ba-451e-a021-aa1aac0c5d24&cacheId=e9a712e0-f1f5-4770-859f-a1d6a6dce0f3&cacheId=3e852fc5-a034-4dcf-9740-1146bf30d461&cacheId=fc4209f3-e9d0-4e21-a5b7-04276803dd5a&pageidentifier=fcc07d76-c701-49c3-acc3-4384d38390b3)

Migky  ;)
Title: Re: Samuel Stanley Sykes - War Records
Post by: genealogistsykes on Friday 31 December 10 14:19 GMT (UK)
Nope that's not him, how come there's no trace of his military records :(
Title: Re: Samuel Stanley Sykes - War Records
Post by: Mr. MIGKY on Friday 31 December 10 14:29 GMT (UK)
You tried looking in historical papers for the time frame you say he served? I am sure there would be something on a man who rose up the ranks?
You looked at the London  Gazette on line?  http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/

Migky  ;)
Title: Re: Samuel Stanley Sykes - War Records
Post by: genealogistsykes on Friday 31 December 10 14:53 GMT (UK)
found something:

Capt. (temp. Maj.) S. S. Sykes to be
temp. Lt.-Col. whilst comdg. a Bn. 13th
Sept. 1916
Title: Re: Samuel Stanley Sykes - War Records
Post by: corisande on Friday 31 December 10 16:37 GMT (UK)
London Gazette takes a bit of practice to plumb. There are at least 12 references, & I suspect more

eg
3rd Volunteer Battalion, The Prince of Wales's
Own (West Yorkshire Regiment);
The undermentioned second lieutenants to be
Lieutenants:—
S. S. Sykes. Dated llth August, 1906.


and his commission
3rd Volunteer Battalion, The Prince of Wales's
Own (West Yorkshire Regiment); Samuel
Stanley Sykes, Gent, to be Second Lieutenant.
Dated 30th December, 1905.
Title: Re: Samuel Stanley Sykes - War Records
Post by: mmm45 on Friday 31 December 10 18:13 GMT (UK)
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=1714515&CATLN=6&Highlight=%2CSYKES%2CS&accessmethod=0

A possible in Officers files S Sykes??
Title: Re: Samuel Stanley Sykes - War Records
Post by: genealogistsykes on Friday 31 December 10 18:19 GMT (UK)
That's him in the Gazzetes i'll find some more refs from the gazzets im not sure if that's his office records, but then again dont know much about his millitary records. My father seems to think that he served from 1914-1918  :)
Title: Re: Samuel Stanley Sykes - War Records
Post by: johnny_doyle on Friday 31 December 10 18:27 GMT (UK)
there are 2 entries for an S S Sykes in West Yorks Regt. Appears to have been a Capt then Major. Mentioned in Dispatches and MC.


there are actually 4 Medal Index Cards on Ancestry. 2 reference 8th Battn W Yorks R, 2 just West Yorkshire Regt.

one MIC puts his date of entry to France as 16/4/1915. 8th Battn W Yorks R. Address Carlton Barracks, Leeds.

the MIC with Mentioned in Dispatches points to London Gazette 4/1/1917 Vol 29890 Page 224



Title: Re: Samuel Stanley Sykes - War Records
Post by: genealogistsykes on Friday 31 December 10 18:40 GMT (UK)
Is that Samuel Stanley Sykes then ? oh wait their's four, how will we know which one is his ?
Title: Re: Samuel Stanley Sykes - War Records
Post by: mmm45 on Friday 31 December 10 18:56 GMT (UK)
8th Batt were Leeds Rifles....As already mentioned based out of Carlton Barracks along with 7th Batt (1st Leeds Rifles) these Battalions had a different cap badge to rest of West Yorks Reg.(They were also Territorials)

Ady
Title: Re: Samuel Stanley Sykes - War Records
Post by: genealogistsykes on Friday 31 December 10 19:28 GMT (UK)
ahh okay, yes my father said that he was in the territorial army before the war, just like my grandfather  :)
Title: Re: Samuel Stanley Sykes - War Records
Post by: Syker88 on Monday 03 January 11 12:29 GMT (UK)
Hey there,

He was my great grandfather too and was mentioned in dispatches, I have it on my wall at my dads house, its signed by Douglas Haig. We have some portraits of Admiral Gayton to when he was younger with his wife :) my grandfather was Nigel Sykes, not sure about the complete service records but will check them out next time I go home.

Do you have a family ring with the crest on it? I'd like to know more about it.

Happy New Year

Syker
Title: Re: Samuel Stanley Sykes - War Records
Post by: genealogistsykes on Monday 03 January 11 17:11 GMT (UK)
Ah sounds great, Have you heard of Mark Sykes before, that's my dad :) We only have a black and white photo copy of Admiral Gayton from the maritime museum in Greenwich. Yes i have the family ring with the crest on it :) I've gone back to Samuel Sykes (b. 1824) our great-great-great grandfather  :)

We also have the portraits of Rev. George Clark Green, Rev. William Green, Rev George Rowney Green, Sarah Freese, Charles Philpott Green's sword, a picture / painting of him and Rev. George Clark Green's pencil drawing of his dog :)

Happy New Year to you too

Regards,

genealogistsykes  :)
Title: Re: Samuel Stanley Sykes - War Records
Post by: Syker88 on Tuesday 04 January 11 07:38 GMT (UK)
Yes I have heard of your dad, :)

it hard to remember where though, I'm in Australia not England so I dont see much of dads side of the family. I think he might be on the family tree I have, My dad is Colin Sykes but people call him Roley. Thats awesome you have portraits to, what type of dog did he have?

Samuel Sykes in 1824 is pretty far do you know what he was doing?

Cheers

Monty
Title: Re: Samuel Stanley Sykes - War Records
Post by: Syker88 on Tuesday 04 January 11 07:39 GMT (UK)
Oh, do you know where the crest comes from at all?  :D
Title: Re: Samuel Stanley Sykes - War Records
Post by: PSykes on Wednesday 20 April 11 21:12 BST (UK)
Hello genealogistsykes,

Peter Sykes here, apparently your father's cousin (and Monty's uncle).  Maybe I could help you with a few bits of info.  I don't know how we get in direct contact on this forum but perhaps you do?????

Best

Peter
Title: Re: Samuel Stanley Sykes - War Records
Post by: PSykes on Wednesday 20 April 11 21:14 BST (UK)
Hi Monty!

Peter & Jane
Title: Re: Samuel Stanley Sykes - War Records
Post by: Stateside 123 on Friday 08 January 16 13:27 GMT (UK)
Hi, commissioned in to the 3VB West Yorkshire Regiment is quite correct, 1908 then saw the creation of the Territorial Force with 3VB becoming the 7th and 8th Battalions (Leeds Rifles) Prince of Wales's Own West Yorkshire Regiment, the reason for forming 2 Battalions was that recruiting was so good in Leeds.

Regards,
Stateside 123

London Gazette takes a bit of practice to plumb. There are at least 12 references, & I suspect more

eg
3rd Volunteer Battalion, The Prince of Wales's
Own (West Yorkshire Regiment);
The undermentioned second lieutenants to be
Lieutenants:—
S. S. Sykes. Dated llth August, 1906.


and his commission
3rd Volunteer Battalion, The Prince of Wales's
Own (West Yorkshire Regiment); Samuel
Stanley Sykes, Gent, to be Second Lieutenant.
Dated 30th December, 1905.