Are they the same soldier?

[genealogistsykes]

Hi guys.

I have attached picture of Samuel Stanley  Sykes as well as two picture of an unknown soldier from the West Yorkshire Regiment practising a bayonet charge. Is it just me, or do they look like Sam Sykes?

[km1971]

You can find some of his promotions on the London Gazette website.

This appears to be the oldest

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/27868/page/9322

The Volunteer Battalions were part-timers, who later became the TA. So they attended one night a week, a few weekends and a two week summer camp. If he was Regular army and commissioned from the ranks it would give his rank and number. However, I do not think this applied in the part-timers. So in itself 'gent' does not give much help.

The 'other ranks' are wearing caps introduced c1904. It is hard to tell from such a poor image but the bayonets appear to be pre WW1. The problem is that the Regular army got new uniforms and equipment first so I suggest you contact a military museum in West Yorkshire and ask them when the VBs received 1904 pattern caps.

Ken