From the Regimental history of the 6th South Staffords:
“During the night the Brigadier called and enquired if a patrol had been sent out from Trench 37,and asked that it should be made an officer’s patrol.Sankey was commanding the Company,Billy Lewis being on leave,and he sent out Nelson,a new officer.
Apparently Sankey got anxious,as Nelson did not immediately return and he took a look over the parapet.He was shot in the head,and was brought down to Lane’s dug-out on so helpless a condition that obviously nothing could be done,he died at 4.30 a.m.”Sydney John” as he was affectionately called by the other officers,was a sound,quiet boy with plenty of ability,which did not at once appear on the surface.He was extremely zealous and dependable;alwats anxious to be working.The tragedy of it is that he was going home in a week or two to be married and had applied for a special ten days’ leave for the purpose. We buried him in Larch wood in the atfernoon.Poor boy!!”
Sydney John Sankey is buried in Larch Wood (Railway Crossing) Cemetery.
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