Queen’s Sudan Medal 1896-1898 awarded to Private J. Sykes, 1st Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment who saw service during the reconquest of the Sudan. Leading a somewhat chequered career he would tried three times by court martial for disobeying a lawful command, conduct prejudice to good order and finally for striking a superior officer. He would be finally discharged as being incorrigible and worthless.
Queen’s Sudan Medal 1896-1898; (4610 PTE. J. SYKES. 1/N.STAFF. R.)
Condition: Very Fine
James Sykes was born in Trimley, Staffordshire and giving his trade as labourer joined up at Lichfield on 4th October 1894 seeing service as a Private (No. 4610) with the North Staffordshire Regiment.
Sykes would enjoy a somewhat chequered career in the Army, being tried by District Corut Martial on 5th August 1895 for disobeying a lawful command and would be sentenced to 84 days. On 24th September 1895 he would travel to Egypt and would subsequently take part in the reconquest of Sudan during the Nile expedition.
He would travel to East India on 13th October 1897 where he would remain for just under six and a half years.
On 30th September 1898 he would be tried by Regimental Court Martial on 30th September 1898 for leaving his guard and conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline. Found guilty he would be sentenced to 42 days days imprisonment.
On 12th May 1899 he would be tried by district court-martial for striking his superior officer and found guilty of this offence being sentenced to a period of imprisonment.
Returning home on 10th March 1904, he would be discharged on 14th April 1904, forfeiting all his military service and being discharged as incorrigible and worthless. His service paper notes that he was entitled to a Khedive’s Sudan Medal with clasp Hafir but that this had been forfeited.
