SYKES, Robert Percival
| Service Numbers: | 2812, 2812A |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 July 1915, Liverpool, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia , 29 January 1890 |
| Home Town: | Goulburn, Goulburn Mulwaree, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Locomotive Engine Driver |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 29 June 1916, aged 26 years |
| Cemetery: |
Rue-David Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Goulburn District Railway Employees Great War Honour Roll, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2812, Liverpool, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Nov 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2812, 18th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: '' | |
| 2 Nov 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2812, 18th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Sydney | |
| 14 Feb 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 3rd Infantry Battalion, Transferred to the 3rd Infantry Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir (Egypt) direct from an unspecified Training Battalion. Had been in 18th Infantry Battalion. | |
| 29 Jun 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2812A, 3rd Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2812A awm_unit: 3 Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-06-29 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Ray Grant
Robert Percival (Percy) Sykes was born in Goulburn to Robert and Catherine (Crowe). They lived in Mulwaree Street.
Perce was an excellent tennis player.
Perce was educated in Wagga, Gunning and Goulburn. Once he completed his education he became an engine man for the NSW Department of Railways.
He enlisted along with his brother Oliver Sykes.
Biography contributed by John Oakes
Robert Percival SYKES was born on 28th January 1890 in Goulburn, NSW. His parents were Robert and Catherine Sykes of Mulwaree St, Goulburn.
He started work as a permanent employee of the NSW Government Railways and Tramways on 27th February 1908 when he joined the Locomotive Branch as a cleaner based at Goulburn. Before this he had been working for the Railways on a casual basis. On 3rd February 1911 he was promoted to fireman . On 17th February 1914 he was further promoted to driver. On 15th July 1915 he was released to join the Expeditionary Forces.
Robert joined the AIF on 20th July 1915 and was allocated to the 6th Reinforcements to the 18th Infantry Battalion with the rank of Private. His Service Number was initially 2812. He nominated his father as his next of kin.
He embarked for Egypt aboard HMAT A14 ‘Euripides’ at Sydney on 2nd November 1915 and sailed to Egypt. On 14th February 1916 he was transferred to the 3rd Infantry Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir direct from an unspecified Training Battalion. His service number changed to 2812A. On 22nd March 1916 he embarked at Alexandria for France with his new unit and disembarked at Marseilles on 28th March 1916. On 29th June 1916 he was killed in action at Fleurbaix in France.
A deposition in his Red Cross Enquiry file dated 10th October 1916 referencing Sergeant Brown (2448) who was a patient in Harefield Hospital, London, gives more information:
‘Killed between 20th and 30th June by a shell which hit the dugout. I lifted him out with others all smashed about the legs. He was in my platoon, quite certain of him. He was taken away on stretcher, don’t know where buried.’
Robert’s grave is in Rue-David Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix, Bethune, Nord Pas de Calais, France. His place of association is Goulburn, NSW.
After his death his mother was granted a pension of £2 per fortnight with effect from 12th September 1916.
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.