Harry Sykes

Private 31829. 13th Battalion. Durham Light Infantry.

Born: 5th July 1893 in Stockport.

Son of Arthur Henry and Lizzie.

Brother of Lucy May and Samuel.

Address: 113 Town End Golcar.

Employed in the cloth finishing department of Pearson & Stephens, Dale St. Mills, Longwood., and formerly for Gee & Whitely Ltd.

Enlisted: 18th April 1916 - embarked for France, first week of July 1916.

Died of wounds 5th September 1916. Aged 23.

Buried at Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt. L'Abbe, Somme. Plot 4. Row A. Grave 20.

Harry was educated in schools in Stockport before the family moved to Golcar. He was single and a member of the choir at Paddock Congregational Church. He was wounded the day before he died in the 36th casualty clearing station. His name appears on the Roll of Honour in St. John's Church. His brother served in the Royal Navy.

The 36th casualty Clearing Station was at Heilly from April 1916 and was joined in May by the 38th. The cemetery was begun in May 1916 and was used by three medical units until April 1917.

The burials were carried out under extreme pressure and many of the graves are either too close together, or they contain multiple burials. Some of the head stones have as many as three sets of details, and in those cases the regimental inscriptions have been omitted. Instead, 117 of these badges have been carved on a cloister wall on the north side of the cemetery.