Private Cyril Hicks (Cromer) 1st Norfolks - killed in action 1916

This picture appeared in the edition of the Norfolk Chronicle dated 29th September 1916.

 

PTE. CYRIL HICKS,

 

Norfolks, killed in action Sept. 4th, aged 19. The eldest son of Mrs. L. Hicks, of Redlands, Cromer, he was a member of the local Boys Brigade and joined the Colours when 18. He had been in France two months when he met his death.

 

A few days earlier the edition of the Eastern Daily Press dated Thursday, September 21, 1916 included the following in their brief piece on “Local Men in the Casualty Lists”.

 

Private Cyril Hicks. Norfolk Regt., elder son of Mrs. L.Hicks, Redlands, West Street, Cromer, was killed in action on September 4th. He was formerly in the Cyclists and was 19 years of age.

 

The edition of the Eastern Daily Press dated Tuesday September 4, 1917 had the following In memoriam notice.

 

HICKS – In loving memory of Private Cyril Stanley Hicks, Norfolks, (late Cyclists), dearly loved eldest son of Mrs. L. Hicks, Redlands, West Street, Cromer, killed in action, September 4th, 1916.

…………………………Sadly missed by his loving Mother, Sisters, and Brother.

 

The Roll of Honour Website has the following.

 

Hicks, Cyril Stanley….…………………………………(RoH)

Possibly: Private 43225. 1st Battalion Norfolk Regiment. Killed in action in France & Flanders on 4th September 1916. Aged 19. Enlisted Norwich. Son of Soloman and Alice Louisa Hicks, of "Redlands, West St., Cromer, Norfolk. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Pier and Face 1 C and 1 D.

www.roll-of-honour.com/Norfolk/Cromer.html

 

see also: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/791649/HICKS,%20CYRIL...

 

Soldiers Died in the Great War has Cyril recorded as soldier 43225 Norfolk Regiment with no place of birth or residence listed. He enlisted Norwich. He was killed in action on the 4th September 1916 whilst serving in France & Flanders with the 1st Battalion, Norfolk Regiment.

 

Medal Index Card reference:- WO 372/9/171681

He was listed as Private 43225 Cyril Hicks, Norfolk Regiment.

Source at the National Archive: discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D2848556

The cards shows he only qualified for the British War Medal and the Victory Medal, which means he must have first entered a Theatre of War, most probably France & Flanders, after the 31st December 1915. There is no other information on the card.

 

His Service Records do not appear to have survived the incendiary attack during the Blitz on the Warehouse where all the Other Ranks Army Service Records were stored.

No match on Norlink (Picture Norfolk)

 

There is no obvious Soldiers Will or Civil Probate.

 

Birth......................................................

 

The birth of a Cyril Stanley Hicks was registered with the Civil Authorities in the District of Smallburgh in Norfolk in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1897.

 

Strangely I could find an online baptism record for his brother, Victor Cecil, born 9th July 1899, which took place at St Nicholas, North Walsham on the 24th September 1899

Source: www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5818cb3ee93790eca3d7940...

But none of the other children

 

Census detail…………….................

 

The 3 year old Cyril S., born North Walsham, was recorded on the 1901 census at Skeyton Road, North Walsham. This was the household of his parents, Solomon,

(aged 30 and a Wood Carriage Maker from Bradfield, Norfolk), and Alice, (aged 33 and from Islington, London). As well as Cyril, their other children are:-

 

Alice L………………..aged 6…………..born North Walsham

Victor…………………aged 1…………….born North Walsham

 

By the time of the 1911 census Cyril Stanley’s widowed mother, Alice Louisa, (now stated to be from Hoxton, London), was the head of the household at West Street, Cromer. She is working as an Office Cleaner and Charwoman. Living with her and Cyril are her children:-

 

Alice Levinia (16) – Dressmakers Apprentice

Darcey (aged 9 and a son, born Skeyton Road, North Walsham)

Ada Selina, (aged 5, born Skeyton Road, North Walsham)

 

On the day

 

From a forum post which probably also sets out the circumstances in which Cyril may have come to be serving with the 1st Battalion on this day.

 

William Blackburn Easton, a Norfolk boy from the village of Neatishead. He enlisted into the 2/6th (Cyclists) Bn in September 1914. This was a Territorial battalion, which spent the war on coastal defence duties.

 

In July 1916 he was one of a draft from the battalion which was sent out to the BEF, probably as reinforcements for Somme casualties. He joined the 1st Bn and was employed as a stretcher-bearer. Wounded in action, probably in the attack on Falfemont Farm near Guillemont on 4/5 September 1916.

 

A second poster added “The attack was held up and casualties were being caused by bombing and small arms fire before they eventually took the objective only to come under friendly artillery fire that caused serious casualties. According to the Regimental casualty book 56 all ranks were killed, 219 wounded and 94 missing, believed killed, a total of 369. The battalion was relieved the next day.”

www.greatwarforum.org/topic/9056-1norfolks-1916-1917/

 

Battalion War Diary

 

4th September

 

12.30 a.m. Came under orders of 15th Infy. Bed. + ordered to move up + take up the right of the line opposite FALFEMONT FARM – Point 48. – to relieve 1/Cheshires in firing line + portions of 16th Warwicks in support.

 

4.40 a.m. Relief completed.

A.Coy on left (Capt FRANCIS, Lt CAMERON, 2Lt BICE + COATH) + B Coy on right of firing line (Capt SIBREE, 2Lt ROSE, WATSON + W J H BROWN) – from about B.2.a.3/1 to B.2.c.9/6 where they joined up with the French.

B. Coy. had 1 Platoon in an intermediate trench about 100 yds behind.

C.Coy. (Capt GROVER, Lt SWIFT, 2Lt CULLINGTON) had 2 Platoons in trench in rear of A Coy. which run along track S.E. from B.2.C.1/7 + 2 Platoons in slit trench N.E. of ANGLE WOOD (about B.2.C 1/5)

D.Coy (Capt YOUELL, 2Lt Davies + E.P.W.BROWN) had 2 Platoons each in same trenches as C Coy but behind B.Coy + on the right of C.Coy.

Bn.HQ were between the slit trench + support trench N.E. of ANGLE WOOD at about B.2.C.2/4.

 

The forming up trenches were very bad, + they were at once deepened – also there was not sufficient length of trench to enable Coys to form up on their frontage as far as opposite Pt.48.

 

1/Cheshire Regt was on our left, with 1/Bedfords on their L. from WEDGE WOOD to junction with 95th Bde. 16th Warwicks in support in trench S. of ANGLE WOOD.

 

6.a.m. Capt FRANCIS wounded – but returned to duty.

 

8 a.m. Went to advanced Bde H.Q. N. of HARDECOURT + received order for the attack.

 

11 a.m. Saw O.C.Coys and issued order for the attack at 3.10 P.M.

Our objective was from Pt.48 (B.2.d.4/8) to corner of triangular trench at B.2.a.6/7. (600 yard frontage + about 350 yds distance to go).

 

1.15 p.m. Orders received that zero hour would be at 3.10 pm + that a barrage would be held on the N.E. side of FALFEMONT FARM for 20 mins to enable us to clear up the front trenches + supports to come up.

 

2.5 p.m. Orders received detailing the “barrage” – giving us an extra objective in QUARRY (T.26(?).d.1/2) which had to be taken at zero + 30 mins. – the 16th Warwicks to be prepared to establish line from S.corner of LEUZE WOOD to connect with French on light railway about B.3.central.

 

3.10 p.m. A+B. Coys assaulted. Very heavy machine gun fire opened on them immediately. Capt Francis + a few men of A Coy succeeded in reaching the S.W.corner of the FARM but were bombed out - + the remainder of the attack was held up by cross machine gun fire.

 

The situation then became very involved, as all the officers but two were either killed or wounded, + the advance over a 600 yard front was very split up as the only way to go on was by crawling from shell-hole to shell-hole – any attempt at an advance was immediately stopped by M.Gun fire. The French did not advance on our right.

 

3.10 p.m. C + D Coys moved up + occupied the trenches vacated by A + B Coys respectively.

 

3.20 p.m. C + D Coys started their assault on N.E. face of FARM + trenches E. of original objective from S.E. of FARM to Pt.48 – but was also held by M.G.fire.

 

4 p.m. Touch was then lost with the 1/Cheshires who had worked round into the N.W. face of FARM from round the W.side of the hill which was not commanded by M.Guns from our R.

 

3.20 p.m Sent 2/Lt BROWN with reserve bombing platoon + 2 Lewis guns to go up behind C.Coy + capture the QUARRY at T.26(?).d.1/2 by working round to the W. of the FARM.

 

4.0 p.m. Received message from Bde. that the 95th Bde would capture S.W.edge of LEUZE WOOD at 6.30 p.m + 16th Warwicks establish line from LEUZE WOOD to light railway at B.3.Central.

 

4 p.m. Informed Bde that it would be impossible for 16th Warwicks to carry out this operation as we had not reached our objective. Our advance was progressing slowly + on the left they were within about 50 yds of the FARM – on the right where they had further to go + where the M.Gun fire was worse they had got about half way across.

 

6.40 p.m. Received orders from Bde to make a simultaneous attack with 95th Bde – at 6.30 pm on the FARM – to be assisted by 2 Coys of 16th Warwicks + by the 1/Bedfords on the left.

O.C. 16th Warwicks deployed two Coys behind the original front line - + I asked him to give orders that they should got through our men + collect every Norfolk man they could find + take them forward in the attack. Warned all Coys, as I had not previously told them to dip in as near to the Farm as they could get + then rush it at dusk.

 

I had sent a message to cancel the re-bombardment by the Artillery at 5.35 PM as A Coy were reported to be within a few yards of the FARM.

 

6.45 p.m. Ordered all Coys to advance on objective + 16th Warwicks to reinforce them with 2 Coys + to hold my original front line with 2 Coys.

The 7th Irish Fusiliers were on their way to new trench S.of ANGLE WOOD. Their attack was also unsuccessful owing to M.Gun fire – so I ordered them to dig in + push forward as soon as it was dark.

 

The ground between our trenches + the objective was a mass of shell-holes, + very bad going at the best of times – but heavy rain set in during the night (which was also an exceptionally dark one), + added to this the men had become completely exhausted, + little further progress was made until the morning.

 

8.30 p.m. Part of A Coy on the left again reach the S.W. edge of the FARM. The 2 Coys 16th Warwicks holding original front line started to dig commtn trenches forward to the FARM.

 

5th September.

 

3 a.m. FALFEMONT FARM completely occupied by A + C Coys.

Position from S.corner of FARM to Pt.48 still uncertain – but patrols had entered portions of this line during the night. Patrols were pushed forward + also to the R. to get in touch with the French + to the L. to get in touch with 1/Cheshires.

 

 

(Mildly photoshopped to minimise impact of damage visible on the source image).

Done