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William Sykes was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire and worked as an Edge Tool Hardener before enlisting with the 24th Foot on 3 Dec 1858 and was appointed a Drummer on 1 Oct 1859 and promoted to Corporal on 16 Sep 1865 and Sergeant on 24 July 1867, demoted on 4 July 1868 after a period of confinement.
Appointed Lance Corporal on 28 June 1875, serving in South Africa and posted to the General Depot on 1 Nov 1878 and discharged at Pietermaritzburg on 9 Nov 1879.