Service of Eric Anthony Schwabe, known for the Sykes Fairbairn knife

[Keith_history_buff]

Eric Anthony Schwabe was born in Barton-upon-Irwell on 5 February 1883. He had a younger brother named Randolph, born 9 May 1885. Their paternal grandfather was a German immigrant, and their mother was German.

Randolph's state of health prevented him from joining the army, but he did his bit as an official war artists, in both world wars.

Purportedly, Eric had claimed to have enlisted in the British Army, serving as a sharpshooter on the Western Front. He was to act as representative for both Colt and Remington in Shanghai from 1923 onwards. In 1917, just like the royal family, he anglicised his surname to Sykes. 

It was during his time in Shanghai that he served as a special constable, that he was to commence his lifelong friendship with William Ewart Fairbairn of the Shanghai Municipal Police. 

Has anyone found any evidence to either confirm Sykes's service in WW1, or any evidence of his claim to be a sharpshooter?

Edited 28 December , 2018 by Keith_history_buff
typo: Fairbairn and not Fairbarn

[Jacorb]

Yes, he did serve in China find my past has  his record.

Edited 12 January , 2019 by Jacorb

[Jacorb]

More details, the record set is British Armed Forces And Overseas Banns And Marriages, so he married while serving in China, he was married in Shanghai. It was under the surname Schwabe. 

Edited 12 January , 2019 by Jacorb

[Richie B]

This may be of interest

 

Eric Anthony Schwabe/Sykes

[Keith_history_buff]

13 hours ago, Jacorb said:

More details, the record set is British Armed Forces And Overseas Banns And Marriages, so he married while serving in China, he was married in Shanghai. It was under the surname Schwabe. 

 

Thanks for letting me know this. The only overseas marriage I could find was 
 

Schwabe

Alexander Theodore   Bordeaux, France   1896-1900

[Jacorb]

Happy to help.

[Keith_history_buff]

So, what was the time period in which the Schwalbe Overseas Banns And Marriages was registered, please?