Battles/wars Second Boer War Awards Patron's Gold Medal Rank Brigadier General Battles and wars Second Boer War | Role Diplomat Allegiance United Kingdom Name Percy Sykes | |
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Commands held Consul-General Khuzestan, Died June 11, 1945, London, United Kingdom Education Rugby School, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst Books The Glory of the Shia World (Ill, Ten Thousand Miles in P, A History of Afghanistan, Through Deserts and Oase, A History of Persia Similar People Wilhelm Wassmuss, Rais Ali Delvari, Lionel Dunsterville, Kuchik Khan, Tovmas Nazarbekian | ||
Birth name Percy Molesworth Sykes Service/branch British Indian Army | ||
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Brigadier-General Sir Percy Molesworth Sykes, (28 February 1867 – 11 June 1945) was a soldier, diplomat, and scholar with a considerable literary output. He wrote historical, geographical, and biographical works, as well as describing his travels in Persia.
Contents
History
Percy Sykes was born in Brompton, Kent, England the only son of Rev. William Sykes and his wife Mary Molesworth, and educated at Rugby School and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He was the nephew of Richard Sykes the rugby player who founded towns in America, and cousin of Sir Alan Sykes, 1st Baronet who was MP for Knutsford, Cheshire.
Sykes was commissioned into the 16th Lancers, but transferred to the 2nd Dragoon Guards in 1888. He was posted to India and made several journeys through Persia and Baluchistan. He was sent on a secret mission in November 1892 when he went to Uzbekistan on the Trans-Caspian Railway. Promotion to lieutenant followed on 26 April 1895, and to captain on 8 December 1897. During the Second Boer War he served as second in command of the 9th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry until September 1901. He later served with the Intelligence Department and was wounded in the leg. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 1902 Coronation Honours list on 26 June 1902 In late 1902 he transferred to the Indian Army, and was Consul at Kerman in Persia. Over the next few years he made extensive journeys in the Middle East and was appointed consul-general for Khūzestān in 1906.
In 1915 Sykes was knighted. While stationed in Persia he was given the temporary rank of Brigadier-General, he was placed in command of the South Persia Rifles that he raised himself. His forces, consisting of some four hundred and fifty men, supported the Russians at Isfahan against Bakhtiaras and restored some order to the country. Once stationed at Isfahan, Sykes used numerous excuses to remain, including a supposed Russian request that the South Persia rifles be used as a garrison for Isfahan. By 1917 numerous British authorities were calling for his removal save Lord Curzon. Despite this, Sykes was finally recalled in 1918.
Sykes retired from the army in 1924, retaining the honorary rank of Brigadier-General. From 1932 until his death he was honorary secretary of the Royal Central Asian Society, now known as the Royal Society for Asian Affairs. The society has in its gift an award called The Sir Percy Sykes Memorial Medal.
The Royal Geographical Society awarded him the Back grant in 1899 and the Patron's Gold Medal in 1902.
Family and legacy
In 1902 he married Evelyn Seton, eldest daughter of Colonel Bruce Seton of the Royal Engineers and they had six children. His daughter Rachel married Sir Patrick Reilly the diplomat.
Percy's family later introduced the "Sykes medal", awarded to those who contributed to the understanding of Persia and Central Asia.