Name
William John Hicks
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
02/04/1918
38
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Serjeant
G/16618
Royal Sussex Regiment
13th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN
Plot P.VII, Row G, Grave 9A.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Michael and All Angels Church Memorial, Watford, St Mary's Parish Church Memorial, Watford, Not on the Bushey memorials(*1)
Pre War
Son of Thomas and Susan/Susanna (nee SLAUGHTER) HICKS; husband of Laura (nee HAWKES) HICKS.
His parents married 2 October 1875 at St James’, Bushey, Herts. Susanna died 1928 in Watford aged 70, and was buried 31 January in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Thomas died 1929 in Watford aged 77, and was buried 6 February, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
William was born 30 March 1880 in Bushey, and baptised 30 May 1880 at St James’, Bushey. He married 4 May 1901 at St Mary’s, Watford; they had ten children. Laura remarried 1929 in the Watford district to William JACKSON; she died 1941 in Watford aged 62, and was buried 3 June in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
On the 1881 Census, aged 1 he lived in Bushey, with his parents and three siblings. On the 1891 Census, a scholar aged 11 he still lived in Bushey, with his parents and three siblings. On the 1901 Census, a journeyman painter aged 21, he lived in Watford, with his parents and two siblings. On the 1911 Census, a house painter aged 31, he still lived in Watford, with his wife and five children.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Hertford, and was formerly Corporal 4123 Hertfordshire Regiment.
He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and died of wounds received in action.
Additional Information
There is an In Memoriam for William in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 5 April 1919. Has a entry in the National Roll of the Great War. Unfortunately, William’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing. *1 Records found have recorded his birthplace as Bushey. This may be the case, however Bushey was the main postal location given for nearby villages and hamlets, so it may be that this information is misleading. If more accurate information found this will be updated.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
