Samuel Stanley Sykes - War Records

[genealogistsykes]

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.

[CaroleW]

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

[johnny_doyle]

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.

[genealogistsykes]

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 ?

[jds1949]

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

[genealogistsykes]

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.

[Mr. MIGKY]

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

Migky 

[genealogistsykes]

Nope that's not him, how come there's no trace of his military records

[Mr. MIGKY]

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