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