HIT BY LIGHTNING QUEENS SOUTH AFRICA WAR MEDAL 7 CLASPS SYKES 76TH BATTERY RFA

Offered is a 7 clasp Queens South Africa Medal to Driver Thomas Sykes, who served with the 16th Battery, Royal Field Artillery and who was invalided home as a result of being struck by lightning Queens South Africa Medal 1899 – 1902, with 7 clasps RELIEF OF KIMBERLEY, PAARDEBERG, DRIEFONTEIN, JOHANNESBURG, DIAMOND HILL, WITTEBERGEN, SOUTH AFRICA 1901, impressed named 73223 DVR: T. SYKES. 76TH BTY, R.F.A. Comes with copy service papers and medal rolls. Thomas Sykes was born in 1869 at Pontefract, Yorkshire, a small man of 5’ 3” tall and a glassblower by trade, he enlisted into the Royal Artillery on the 4/5/1889 at Newcastle on Tyne. Posted as a driver he served in India with the 28th Field Battery 18/2/1890 – 14/12/1891 and the 47th Field Battery 15/12/91 – 21/3/97.  Home and to the Army Reserve. Mobilized 7/10/1899 and to South Africa 1/1/1900 – 4/3/1901 with the 76th Battery 13/2/1901. He survived being struck by lightning near Senekal, 30 December 1900 (Gunner Gummer 30925 also struck at the same incident) with a note on the medal roll ‘Invalided to England’. Home 5/3/1901 – 1/4/1902 discharged.