THE PRO PATRIA PROJECT
SYKES Francis Bernard
SA340, Lieutenent Colonel, Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry, South Africa
2/793, Lieutenant Colonel, Royal Artillery att New Zealand Field Artillery, WW1

CITATION
Distinguished Service Order
Gazetted 8 November 1915, p11026
For distinguished service in the field during the operations in the Dardanelles

Bar to the Distinguished Service Order
Gazetted
For conspicuous gallantry and able leadership.  He went forward through a heavy gas barrage on two occasions to deal with an obscure situation and though severely gassed continued to direct operations.  He utilized four artillery Brigades with great ability to crush counter attacks, and on one occasion, in the absence of linesmen, he personally carried a wire forward under intense machinegun fire thus getting into telephone communications with batteries scattered with great losses the enemy whom he observed to be massing for an advance.  His courage, endurance and skill were admirable.

Mention in Despatches
Gazetted 5 November 1915, p11003
Mentioned in General Ian Hamilton's despatch 26th August 1915.  Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force.

Mention in Despatches
Gazetted 18 May 1917, p4878
For distinguished and gallant services and devotion to duty. Field Marshal D. Haig, Commander-in-Chief of the British armies in France, despatch of 9 April 1917.

Mention in Despatches
Gazetted14 December 1917, p13067
Mentioned in Field Marshal D. Haig's despatch of 7 November 1917 for distinguished and gallant service and devotion to duty during the period February 26th to midnight September 20/21st 1917.

Mention in Despatches
Gazetted 28 May 1918, p6204
For distinguished and gallant services and devotion to duty during the period September 25th 1917 to midnight February 24/25th 1918.  Sir D. Haig's despatch of the 7th April 1918.

KNOWN AWARDS
Distinguished Service Order and bar
Queen’s South Africa Medal
       Cape Colony, Orange free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902
1914-15 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Mention in Despatches (4)

NOTES
Born 18 December 1873, Lucknow, India
Died