Pte 16338 John Cyril Sykes

• Age: 23
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

John Cyril Sykes was born on 21st January 1893 in Wavertree, Liverpool the son of Henry Percy Sykes and his wife Emily (née Grice) who were married on the 24th June 1889 at St Luke. Liverpool, Henry was a 24 year old clerk, father John, whilst Emily was aged 24, father John, and both of 38 Huskisson St. He was baptised in Preston, Lancashire, at St. Paul’s, on 09th June 1893, his parents’ residence given as 53 Avondale Road, Liverpool, and his father’s occupation as clerk. His parents lived in Avondale Road in 1891. Their daughter, Alice, was baptised in Ulverston. 

In 1901 the family are living at 7 Salisbury Terrace, Wavertree, Liverpool.

His father, 35, is an alkali commercial clerk, his mother is 32, Alice 9, and John 7. They have a visitor, Charles H. Smith, 45, a general broker.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 29 Edith Road Seacombe, Cheshire.

His father, Henry Percy, is aged 46, born 1865 in Ulverston, his occupation listed as a clerk to chemical manufacturer, his mother Emily is aged 46, born 1865 in Hale with no occupation listed. They have been married for twenty two years. They have two children living at home; Alice Mary is aged 22, born 1889 her occupation listed as assisting at home and John Cyril aged 18, born 1893 occupation tailor’s clerk.

His father died in 1913 aged 48.

Before the outbreak of war John had been employed by L and N W Railway Company at Canada Docks, Liverpool.

He enlisted at St George's Hall on 2nd September 1914, and gave his age as 21 years and 221 days and his occupation as a clerk. He was five feet six and a quarter inches tall, weighed 132lbs, 36” chest, dark complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He gave his religion as Church of England. He joined the 18^th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 16338. He gives as next of kin his mother Emily at 11 Meadow Street, New Brighton, later changed to 19 Barrington Road, Sefton Park, Liverpool.

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 3^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. John arrived in France on 07^th November 1915.

He was transferred to the 17th Battalion on 22nd April 1916 having suffered Gunshot wounds to his left forearm and thigh on 29th January 1916 and subsequently transferred to 10 General Hospital, Rouen on the 31st January 1916.

04.2.16: Returned to UK on board hospital ship Copenhagen.

06.2.16 Admitted V.A.D. Hospital, Southend on Sea, Essex

26.2.16 Discharged from hospital

07.3.16: Transferred to 21st Reserve Battalion.

22.4.16: Embarked for France from Folkestone.

27.6.16: Wounded to Field Ambulance. Gunshot wound shell shock and admitted to 21 C.C.S. 

29.6.16: Returned to battalion.

He was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 23, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive.

17th Battalion Diary 30th July 1916

The Battalion was in support to 19 & 20 Battalions K.L.R. 2 Coys. behind 19th & 2 Coys. behind 20th. Very thick mist. The attack was pushed home to the objective in places but in the main was held up by machine gun fire from hidden machine guns.

Fighting continued all day swaying backwards and forwards until by 6pm about 300 yards in depth had been gained & consolidated all along our front.

Casualties in the 17th Battalion were 15 Officers and 281 Other Ranks

Further details are reported in more detailed by Everard Wyrall in his book The History of the King’s Regiment (Liverpool) 1914-1919 Volume II 1916-1917

The 17th King’s had advanced (two companies each behind the 19th and 20th Battalions) in small columns. They too suffered heavily from machine-gun fire and were quickly absorbed into the waves that preceded them. They also shared the gains and losses of that terrible day.

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55th Division during the early hours of the 31st July. 

The events of 30th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.

John was initially declared Missing on 30th July 1916.

Having been previously reported missing, he was reported killed in the Liverpool Echo on 30th October 1916:

“John Cyril Sykes (23), K.L.R.  Only son of the late Percy Sykes and Mrs. Sykes, 11 Meadow Street, New Brighton.”

The local press further reported

New Brighton Soldier Missing

Mrs. E. Sykes, of 11, Meadow street, New Brighton, has been officially informed that her son is missing. Private J. C. Sykes took part in the action on July 30th and has not since been heard of. He was employed by the L. and N.W. Railway Company at the Canada Docks. 

His body was buried in Maltz Horn Trench by the 17th West Yorkshire Regiment. However, this must have been subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

John earned his three medals.

Tribute was paid to him in the Liverpool Echo on 30th July 1917, under the heading, “Lost At The Battle Of Guillemont”:

“In affectionate memory of Private J. C. Sykes (Bill), who fell in action July 30, chum of the late Private J. S. Pitcher (same battalion). (Always remembered by all at 70, Lower Breck Road, Anfield.”

(70 Lower Breck Road was the address of the family of Pte. 16333 James Stevenson Pitcher, KIA at Montauban on 01st July 1916.)

John's personal effects were sent to his mother Emily in March 1917: 1 Birth certificate, Army forms, 1 wallet containing photos, cards, cheque book.

His Army pay and a War Gratuity of £8-10s went to his mother, who was awarded a pension of 10/- a week from April 1917, later increased.

Liverpool Echo 1st July 1918 

YATES-PITCHER-SYKES In loving memory of my pals, HAROLD YATES (of Walton), STEVE PITCHER (of Anfield), and BILL SYKES (of New Brighton), late of the 18th K.L.R., who were killed in the battle of the Somme, July 1, 1916. - A. Palmer, Llandudno (late 16326). [Pte Alexander Francis Palmer 16326 18/KLR and later 70310 MCG, survived the war] 

In 1920 his mother lived alone at 19 Barrington Road. Married sister Alice was living in New Brighton, and later lived in Lincolnshire.

His mother died in Lincolnshire in 1929 aged 64. 

John is commemorated on her gravestone in St. Peter’s Churchyard in Humberston.

He is also commemorated on the following memorials -

Parish of St. James, New Brighton

Victoria Central Community Hospital, Wallasey

LNWR Roll of Honour  (The company produced a printed book, listing the names of the fallen, their jobs, where they worked and their rank. The families of men listed received a copy of the book.)

The London & North Western Railway Memorial stands outside London Euston Station:

  “IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THE 3,719 MEN OF THE

 LONDON AND NORTHWESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY

WHO FOR THEIR COUNTRY, JUSTICE, AND FREEDOM

             SERVED AND DIED IN THE GREAT WAR

                                   1914 - 1918

          THIS MONUMENT WAS RAISED BY THEIR

            COMRADES AND THE COMPANY AS A 

        LASTING MEMORIAL TO THEIR DEVOTION”

We currently have no further information on John Cyril Sykes, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.