George Sykes

Died

:

20 December 1865

Age

:

37

Rank

:

Police Constable

Force

:

Metropolitan Police

Cause

:

Accident

Duty Status

:

On Duty

Roll of Honour Citation

Died in hospital four days after being fatally injured while helping to release a coal brig from the mud at Woolwich Docks.

About 11:30pm on Saturday 16th December 1865, PC Sykes was helping to release a coal brig named ‘The Rover’ from the mud at Woolwich Docks when the incoming tide caused the vessel to rise suddenly, causing the faulty capstan, with no cog, to which the brig was attached, to spin out-of-control, knocking George and several others to the ground.

George was knocked unconscious and immediately taken to hospital where he was found to have a fractured skull. He died four days later without regaining consciousness.

PC Sykes was a widower and was survived by his three children.