Harry SYKES

22 October 1915

SILSDEN SOLDIER WOUNDED

News has been received that Private Harry Sykes, aged 23, of the 6th Border Regiment and son of Mr. Harry Sykes, of 18, Daisy Hill, Silsden, has been wounded in action at the Dardanelles and is at present in hospital at Cairo, Egypt.

In a letter to Miss Edith Saddington, of 8, Daisy Hill, Silsden, Private Sykes states:– “I write these few lines to let you know that I am still in the land of the living. I have sent you a card before this letter to let you know that I have been wounded, but there is no danger. I don’t think I shall be long before I am all right again. The wound was caused by a sniper, who fired a bullet which went in at my chin and came out at my jaw underneath – and very near an artery. It has been very fortunate for me indeed. I received your letter saying you had sent me a parcel but I did not receive it prior to being taken to Cairo. I expect it will be sent on to me if it has landed. They treat us very well in this hospital and we are very comfortable.”

Private Sykes enlisted at Carlisle on August 17th of last year, and after being stationed at Grantham and Farnham, he went out with his regiment to the Dardanelles. He took part in the landing at Sulva Bay

25 August 1916

SILSDEN – REFERENCES TO SILSDEN HEROES

Another interesting batch of letters are to hand from Silsden soldiers and sailors on active service acknowledging the receipt of more parcels. The contents of the parcels sent out included a pair of socks, a quantity of sweets, cake, Oxo tablets, cocoa tablets, tin of Swiss milk, trench body cord, tea tablets, and a card bearing the inscription ‘With the best wishes from the inhabitants of Silsden.’ Most of the socks had been knitted by the members of the Silsden Parish Church Girls’ Friendly Society, whose efforts some time ago enabled them to set aside funds for the purchase of wool. Appended are extracts from the letters which have been sent to Mrs. Charles Sugden, of Bolton Road, Silsden:–

Pte. Harry Sykes, of the 6th Battalion, Border Regiment, writes:–“I suppose you will have heard about the Silsden boys going down out here. It is a credit to the town to know that they fell fighting for their King and Country. I am glad to tell you I came across one of the Silsden boys out here the other week. His name is William Holmes, and it was quite a treat to have a chat with someone I knew. I think I am lucky to have been on active service for thirteen months and am quite all right at present. I got a slight wound on the Peninsula, but it was nothing, and I was not long before I was all right again.”

03 August 1917

SYKES – July 18th 1917, killed in action on the Western Front, Lance-Corporal Harry Sykes, Border Regiment, son of Mr. Hy. Sykes, 57, Aire View, Silsden, aged 25 years.

03 August 1917

SILSDEN LANCE-CORPORAL KILLED IN ACTION

Lance-Corporal Harry Sykes, Border Regiment, and son of Mr. Henry Sykes, 57, Aire View, Silsden, was killed in action on the night of July 18th. Information to that effect was received in the following letter from Captain S. J. Price:– “It is with deep regret I have to inform you of the death of your son, Lance-Corporal Sykes, of the Company under my command. We were holding the front line and he was in charge of a post when a shell burst amongst several of them, killing your son and another soldier. I am awfully sorry to lose him, as he was a most excellent man in every way. He was very willing and cheerful, and one whom we could trust to carry out his duty faithfully and well. Please accept my sincere sympathy in your sad loss.”

Lance-Corporal J. Hunt, a comrade of the deceased, also wrote as follows:– “It is with the deepest sympathy I write these few lines to let you know that your son Harry was killed in action on Wednesday, July 18th, at eleven o’clock at night. We did all we possibly could to help him, but he only lived a few minutes after the shell burst, and did not speak a word. It was a true soldier’s death and he passed away without pain. Being his chum I felt it my duty to write to you. I can assure you it is a great blow to all his pals, by whom he was greatly respected. He was a good lad and always did his duty and feared nothing, and he will be missed by all the men in our platoon. They all wished me to convey their deepest sympathy to you. I was with Harry two minutes before he was killed, having just left him at his post. There was another man killed, and one wounded, by the same shell that killed your son. I will write again when we get relieved from the trenches. Again please accept my sympathy in your great loss.”

Twenty-five years of age, Lance-Corporal Sykes enlisted just after the outbreak of war, and prior to being transferred to France he had seen service in the Dardanelles, where he was wounded. Private Charlie Sykes, R.F.A., brother of deceased, is at present in hospital.

23 July 1920

SYKES – In loving memory of Harry Sykes, who was killed in action July 18th, 1917.

“Rest in peace.”

From his Brother and Sister-in-law, 92 Aire View, Silsden.