Tyne Cot Cemetery, Cheshire Regiment, Killed in Action 1914

This cemetery contains 11956 burials of the 1914-1918 war, 8962 from the UK, 1011 from Canada, 1369 Australians, 520 New Zealanders, 90 from South Africa and 4 Germans. Of these 8369 are "Known Unto God".

This cemetery is now the largest Commonwealth war cemetery in the world, in terms of burials. At the suggestion of King George V, who visited the cemetery in 1922, the Cross of Sacrifice was placed on top of the original large blockhouse which helped give the cemetery its name.

The cemetery was greatly enlarged after the armistice, when burials were brought in from the battlefields surrounding Passchendaele and Langemarck, and from a few small burial grounds.

Private 9973 Ronald Marchant SYKES
	Date of Death:	25 April 1915 - Died of wounds
	Grave No:	LVII. D. 17.
	Unit:	'C' Company (Batman to Adjutant - Capt. V R Tahourdin)
	Age:	20
	Personal History:
	Ronald was born in the December quarter 1894 in Halifax, Yorkshire, the son of Walter and Maud Sykes, of Trafalgar Square, Halifax. (1901 Census: RG 13/4121) He had a younger sister, Doris Maud. Ronald's father, Walter, died in the June quarter 1901 and Maud re-married in 1905/6 to John William Marchant. (1911 Census RG 14/26718) After the War the family was living at 242 Jesmond Terrace, Wyke Lane, Wyke, Bradford. There is no record of Ronald marrying or having children.
	Military History:
	Ronald enlisted into the 1st Battalion, probably for a period of six years, at Birkenhead, Cheshire Currently his Army records are unavailable, destroyed by World War 2 bombing. However, his Service Number suggests he enlisted in late 1913 / early 1914. He had recently finished his initial training before joining the Battalion in Londonderry. His Medal Index Card shows that as a regular soldier he moved with the Battalion at the outbreak of War and entered France with the rest of the Battalion on 16th August 1914. He fought on the right of the line at Audregnies under Captain Dugmore and also survived the actions at La Bassée and Nonne Bosschen (First Ypres). As Ronald died of wounds it is not possible to be specific as to where and when he received them. It is likely, however, that it was during the Second Battle of Ypres, and in particular during the attempts to take Hill 60.