4th Territorial Battalion

James Thomas Sisk enlisted on a 12-year engagement with the Northumberland Fusiliers (NF) on the 24th of January 1884, at Mulligar in Ireland. Pte Sisk (Regimental No 525) was 14 years 1 month old, 5 feet 7 1/2 inches tall and weighed just 76 lbs. He was appointed drummer on the 4th of July 1884.

For reasons unknown, on the 24th of November 1888, he tried to join the 1st Bn of the Devon Regiment at Aldershot while still serving with the NF. He claimed he had never served with Her Majesty’s Army and that his trade was labourer. Accused of deserting he was handed over to the Northumberland Fusiliers who convicted him of fraudulent enlistment and sentenced him to 56 days punishment on the 21st February 1889. However, 14 days were remitted for good behaviour and he returned to duty with the 1st Bn NF on the 4th of April 1889.

On the 12th of November 1890 he was posted to the 2nd Bn NF in India. He was tried and found guilty of using insubordinate language to his superior officer on the 15th of January 1892 and spent two weeks in prison. He was promoted to L/Cpl on the 11th of December 1893 and Cpl on the 12th of September1894. On the 5th of March 1895 he was posted to Singapore, returning to the UK on the 7th of January 1897.

He was promoted to Sgt on the 12th of November 1897 and was posted to South Africa on the 4th of November 1899. Promotion to Col Sgt came on the 1st of January 1902. Although not wounded during the Boer War, in August 1902 he spent 19 days in a hospital at Bloemfontein with Enteric Fever. Sgt Sisk returned to the UK in September 1902.

He was discharged from the NF on the 19th of February 1909 after 25 years service. His last post was on the permanent staff of the 4th (Territorial) Bn at Hexham. The records at discharge state that his conduct was exemplary and that he was a good, painstaking and reliable clerk.

Aged 44 years and 10 months, James Sisk re-enlisted with the 4th Bn on the 2nd of December 1914 at Hexham, and was assigned the regimental number of 315986. Almost immediately he was promoted to Col Sgt and assigned to the 2/4th (Home Service) Bn based at Hexham, but the very same day he appears to have received another promotion (WO II) and a posting to the 35th Bn. A further promotion to CSM and a posting to the 3/4th Bn came on the 25th of June 1915. His final posting was to the 21st Provisional Bde on the 16th of September 1916.

CSM Sisk was demobilized on the 18th of April 1919. His home address at discharge was quoted as Castle Terrace, Haltwhistle, Northumberland, with wife Annie Margaret and children Hannah, Grace, John, and James.

Col Sgt Sisk was awarded the:

• King’s South African Medal with clasps for: South Africa 1901, 1902, Cape Colony, Orange Free State & Transvaal 1901-02.
• Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (LS&GCM).

This profile of CSM Sisk has been compiled from information found principally in the National Archive (PRO) records listed below.

The Hexham Courant - Saturday 1st May 1915

BARRASFORD

MILITARY FUNERAL - On Saturday afternoon the remains of Private J.J.Welton of Barrasford Craggs, second son of Mr and Mrs Wm. Welton, were interred in Chollerton Churchyard with military Honours, the burial service being according to the rites of the Roman Catholic Church. The deceased, who was twenty years of age, and who died at home, was a member of the First line of the 4th Northumberlands. At the funeral the regiment was represented by a firing party of twelve, in charge of Colour-Sergt J Sisk. After the burial service the customary three volleys were fired, and the Drum-Major J.W.Robson sounded "The Last Post" over the grave. The deceased was one of slightly over forty who have joined the 4th Northumberland Fusiliers from the Barrasford and Gunnerton District.