Dress Miniature V.C. Groups from the Collection of the Late David Harvey

The mounted group of five miniature dress medals attributed to Private E. Sykes, V.C., Northumberland Fusliers, comprising: Victoria Cross; 1914-15 Star; British War and Victory Medals; Coronation 1937, mounted for wear (re-ribboned), in Baldwins, London case, good very fine (5) £400-500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Dress Miniature V.C. Groups from the Collection of the Late David Harvey.

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Ex Dix Noonan Webb 20 September 2002 (Lot 826).

Ernest Sykes was born in Mossley, Saddleworth, Yorkshire in April 1885 and was employed as a platelayer at Micklehurst station with the L.N.W.R. before enlisting in the West Riding Regiment at Halifax in August 1914. Severely wounded in the Gallipoli operations, he later transferred to the 27th Battalion, Nothumberland Fusiliers, and won his V.C. for the following deeds near Arras on 9 April 1917:

‘For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty when his battalion in attack was held up about 350 yards in advance of our lines by intense fire from the front and flank, and suffered heavy casualties. Private Sykes, despite this heavy fire, went forward and brought back four wounded - he made a fifth journey and remained out under conditions which appeared to be certain death, until he had bandaged all those too badly wounded to be moved. These gallant actions, performed under incessant machine-gun and rifle fire, showed utter contempt of danger’ (London Gazette 8 June 1917 refers).

Sykes died at Lockwood, Huddersfield in August 1949, aged 64 years.