Richard Sykes

Sir Richard Adam Sykes, (8 May 1920 – 22 March 1979) was the British ambassador to the Netherlands, who was assassinated by the IRA in The Hague in 1979 during The Troubles.

Early life Richard Sykes was born on 8 May 1920 to Brigadier A. C. Sykes. He was educated at Wellington College and Christ Church, University of Oxford.

Second World War During the Second World War, Sykes served in the British Army with the Royal Signals from 1940 to 1946, attaining the rank of major.

Diplomatic career Sykes joined HM Foreign Service in 1947, and initially served at the Foreign Office (1947–48). He then served in Nanking (1948–50) and Peking (1950–52), then returned to the UK to serve at the Foreign Office (1952–56). The car door was held by Karel Straub, a 19-year-old Dutch national, who worked at the embassy; he was also shot in the attack.

Sykes' chauffeur, Jack Wilson, was uninjured and reversed the car to Westeinde Hospital (at the other end of the one-way street), where Sykes died two hours later. Straub was transported by ambulance to the same hospital, where he also died.

Suspects for the assassination were Palestinians or Iraqis, although no evidence was ever put forward. It was ultimately confirmed that the IRA had carried out the killings. The IRA claimed responsibility for the assassination in February 1980. In a statement they said of Sykes: "[he was] not just a Brit propagandist, as are all British ambassadors, but because he had been engaged in intelligence operations against our organisation."

The 'intelligence operations' mentioned in the statement related to a government report written by Sykes following the assassination of Christopher Ewart-Biggs, British ambassador to the Republic of Ireland, who was killed by the IRA in 1976. Sykes produced diplomatic security guidelines as part of his report.

Family Sykes was married to Ann, Lady Sykes (née Fisher). The couple had three children. Lady Sykes died in 2018.

Memorials There is a memorial plaque to Sykes in St Michael's Church, Wilsford, Wiltshire.