George Hicks — Portrait Of Pembridge

George Hicks, Private, 1st/1st Battalion Herefordshire Regiment

Above photo: George Hicks (1)

George Hicks was born in Leominster in 1880. He was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Hicks, the former also having been born in Leominster while the latter had been born in Hay, Radnorshire. The three of them lived with a lodger at 2 Bargates, Leominster. George Hicks’s father is recorded as “general labourer”.

By 1891, with the family still residing at 2 Bargates, George Hicks now has three younger sisters and there is a different lodger living with the family. George Hicks’s father works as a general labourer just as he had done ten years before.

In 1901, George Hicks, aged 21, is still living with his father and mother but now they are residing at 4 Bargates, Leominster. Three sons have been born since the 1891 census. Both George Hicks and his father are “platelayers on railway”. “A plate layer would be responsible for all aspects of track maintenance such as replacing worn out rails or rotten sleepers, packing to ensure a level track, weeding and clearance of the drains.” (2)

In 1903, George Hicks marries Ruth Catherine Goodwin. The marriage was registered in Hereford.

Above photo: Ruth Goodwin (3)

Ruth Goodwin had been born in Pembridge in 1877 to a father who was an agricultural labourer who had also been born in Pembridge and a mother who had been born in Almeley. The 1891 census records that the Goodwins were living in West Street, Pembridge.

By 1901, Ruth Goodwin is residing at 4, High Street Leominster. She is employed as a servant working for a Justice of the Peace and “grocershop keeper” who owns the property.

In 1911, George Hicks and his wife Ruth are residing at Llandyfodwg, Glamorgan. George Hicks is a “labourer on top of colliery” working in the Ogmore Valley in the Rhondda area of South Wales. George and Ruth have two children by now. Also, a lodger, who has the same job as George Hicks, resides at the property.

Above photo: Wyndham Colliery, Ogmore in early part of 20th century (4)

George Hicks enlisted in the Herefordshire Regiment soon after the start of the war, probably between September-November 1914. Although no enlistment records are available, the date he enlisted on can be roughly ascertained by the fact that his wife received a gratuity of £23 9s 4d after his death. For terms of service, a private would receive a war gratuity of £5 for the first 12 months of service and then 10 shillings for each two months. So, if one works backwards from George Hick’s time of death, one can calculate the approximate date that George Hicks enlisted using these figures.

The Herefordshire Regiment

“The regiment was unusual in that it was represented by a single unit of the Territorial Force. It had no regular army component other than the small permanent cadre of officers and NCOs who carried out regimental command, administration and training.” (5)

“The heady days of August 1914 were in high endeavour, confidence and enthusiasm. They were cheered on by family, friends and the community.” (6)

“By Christmas 1914 nearly 3,000, mainly young men had volunteered for service with The Herefords – so many that a second Battalion was formed. There were few barracks available and soldiers were billeted in private homes. The autumn, winter and spring months were spent in reorganisation and training. The best recruits were selected to join the 1st Battalion and older and unfit soldiers replaced. Then followed intensive training at individual, unit and formation levels; strong friendships were made that would literally last a lifetime.” (7)

Above photo: Troops of the Herefordshire Regiment on a training ‘route march’ (8)

It was not until after the evacuation of Gallipoli, where the 1st Herefordshire Regiment had incurred many losses but also high acclaim in the landing at Suvla Bay, that George Hicks served overseas.

Above photo: The 1st Battalion Herefordshire Regiment (TF) landing at Suvla Bay, artist Charles Dixon (9)

“The Battalion endured its last few days at Suvla Bay under trying condtions of wet and cold; many men succumbed to illness and reported sick and were evacuated. The Battalion received a reinforcement draft of men – mainly from the 3rd Battalion in UK and when they were evacuated on 12 December there were less than 80 fit men. The Battalion was evacuated to Egypt, but officers and soldiers who had been evacuated were scattered amongst hospitals and respite centres across the country and the Battalion for some time has no real cohesive structure and was certainly not battle worthy. These men (and later reinforcement drafts) steadily trickled in to the Battalion and gradually its efficiency returned.” (10)

George Hicks would have been one of these reinforcements when the battalion, having evacuated from Gallipoli, had arrived in Egypt.

The Importance of ‘Palestine -

“The greater strategic area covers the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean coasts and the Red Sea, the area had been (and still was in 1916 in many areas) part of the crumbling Turkish Ottoman Empire. It was of great significance to Britain because of the Suez Canal and the important trade links to India and the East. Also the increasing use of oil and the resources in the area were causing great interest amongst the Western industrial countries. The area of Eastern Egypt (today Israel, Jordan and Syria) was generally referred to as Palestine. The land covered by this campaign varies in terms of landscape; the operationally important features were the narrow coastal plain from the Suez Canal area stretching northwards past Gaza and Jaffa, and the rocky heights of the two sides of the Jordan valley. Egypt was occupied by British troops before the War, whilst Germany had been developing Turkey as an ally. The Turkish army was led by German 'advisors', and Germany also tried to incite a Jihad (Muslim Holy War) against the British forces - Turkey felt confident to resist the British.

Above photo: Turkish machine gunners at Beersheba, 31 October 1917 (NAM)

Britain set out only to defend the Canal from the Turkish troops that were massed in Palestine and from late 1914 until mid-1915, the British force stood on the defensive along the Suez Canal, facing Turkish and German/Turk-led Senussi troops. Action was also necessary in West Egypt against a threat from Senussi Arabs. With the failure of the Gallipoli campaign and pressure in Mesopotamia, the British needed to maintain pressure on the Turks. With support from local Arabs (generally seeing an opportunity to free themselves of the Ottoman empire), an opportunity seemed to be born for strategic success in Palestine which would impact on the outcome of the war.

It was into this environment that the troops evacuated from Gallipoli found themselves; they were to be retained in Egypt to form part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF). However there was little infrastructure and equipment to support them; the troops were generally debilitated and would take time to be re-constituted into a capable fighting force. The Battalion was billeted in a bare camp at Wardan, soon the military support system started to ‘kick in’ and supplies and reinforcements, both local and from UK soon started arriving and the military cogs started to turn to restore military capability.

They were firstly employed in the Western Desert protecting Egypt from Sennusi tribesmen from Libya. Then in the Eastern Egypt defences on the Suez Canal and helped repel, at the Battle of Romani, the last Turkish assault against Egypt.” (11)

Above painting: Battle of Romani, 4 August 1916 (AWM)

The battle had been a turning point and Allied troops went on the offensive crossing the Sinai Peninsula.

(12)

The Battalion shared in the defeat of the 1st and 2nd Battles of Gaza.

Above photo: General view of the Gaza battlefield (NAM)

Above photo: Ottoman machine gun corps defending Tel esh Sheria, and the Gaza line in 1917 (Wikipedia)

Under the new C in C, General Allenby, they had been re-equipped, reinforced and subjected to a demanding training programme, but this had paid dividends and despite suffering over 70 fatalities and 150 wounded, at the Battle of Khuweilfeh the Battalion had been successful in holding the high ground and protecting the coastal strip allowing the troops to advance.

Above photo: The Battle of Khuweilfeh (AWM)

The advance continued through the bleak Judean Hills. and the Battalion suffered a cold and wet time before being present with General Allenby when Jerusalem was liberated from Turkish hands at Christmas 1917. The Turks were weakening but not yet beaten and the Allies continued to push them northwards.

Above Photo: General Allenby enters Jerusalem (NAM)

Then in summer 1918 a reorganisation of the Army took place to make more troops available for the Western Front; the Herefords left Egypt for Western Front.” (13)

“The Battalion, on arrival in France was to become part of 102 Brigade, 34 Division under the command of Gen Nicholson. 34 Division after suffering heavy losses during the Battles of the Lys (German Spring Offensive), was withdrawn from fighting and moved on 21 Apr to the area west of Poperinge. It was reorganised here while put to work digging a new defensive line Abeele-Watou. On 13th May the Division was reduced to a cadre, employed training American troops.

Between 19th June and 1st July the Division was reconstituted and was to enter the final phase of the war as a very different Division.” (14)

“On the 18 Jul, 10 (French) Army had attacked north of Soissons, and driven the enemy back some five miles, taking many prisoners and guns. 34 Div was to take part in the exploitation of this victory.

Above photo: 16th Infantry Regiment (US) digging in north of Chaudun, 18 July 1918 (Wikipedia)

On the 21st (July) orders were received to relieve the 38 French Div in the line opposite Hartennes-et-Taux, the next day, and before this was commenced came orders to take part in an attack early on the following day, 23 Jul.

Above photo: Hartennes-et-Taux, today (Wikipedia)

Under the most favourable circumstances this would have been difficult for any troops, but for a newly constituted division, composed, as regards infantry, of troops which had not yet been in action in France, and which had just completed a trying move by rail, bus and route march, it was a very severe test. There was no time for reconnaissance. The country was entirely new; there were no organised trench systems on either side. The enemy's positions were never accurately known till they had been captured. To all these difficulties there were added those inseparable from acting for the first time with foreign troops.” (15)

Above photo: Troops of the 16th Infantry rest near Berzy le Sec, 17 Jul 1918 the day before the attack at Soissons (Wikipedia)

Below is an account by an NCO of 1st Battalion, Herefordshire Regiment leading up to the day that George Hicks was killed in action.

“Sgt Colley “Eventually we arrived near the Ypres section, being met by the new BGC (Brigade Commander) who was wearing 2 wound stripes – which caused us to arrive at many conclusions as to what was in front of us. We commenced a musketry course and were inspected by Gen Plumer, who let us off very lightly, and did not frighten us too much, as to what was in front of us. Suddenly, one day however came the order to move; mysterious places were mentioned; even after we had entrained no one appeared to know quite where we were going.

Above photo: Sergeant Colley (16)

We travelled for more than 24 hours passing to the south of Paris, arriving at our destination at night and immediately set out on a 14 mile march. Great was our satisfaction when we eventually arrived at our final destination weary, tired but happy to discover that we were to go into good billets – but only for a day or so as a long line of motor lorries came to take us on the final stage of our journey. Gen Foch had now commenced his great counter strokes in the Soissons sector and on Jul 23 the Herefords went into action near Percy Tigny. Few who were there and live will ever forget that advance through the corn field. We experienced our first taste of gas shells and suffered heavily from this cause.” (17)

Sergeant Pugh, another sergeant in the Herefordshire Regiment, wrote -

“Sgt Pugh Inspected by General Plumer, commanding 2nd Army marched for 15 miles after several hours in a train, first British (or other) troops seen by the inhabitants. We left there on a Friday for a place near Crecy(?), the Battalion being taken by motors, all French with French drivers, and then we had a 17 kilometre march to Longport where we arrived at 7 o clock on a Sunday morning and were later relieved by the Americans. When we were there we heard the rumour several times that gas was coming, and we had to put on our masks. At this place we stayed in a wood and it was there we had to put on our masks and we were also bombarded. Our fellows bombardment putting up a barrage and one morning, a Monday, at 8 o clock we left for the attack.

Above photo: American heavy artillery at Soissons, July 1918 (Wikipedia)

We kept going on a bit at a time, and were attacking on the Tuesday and Wednesday and were still in the line on the Thursday and under heavy fire. It was the same on Friday, and it was then raining in torrents. We had been fighting in the woods, firing from trenches, but the artillery did most. This was part of the attack at Soissons.” (18)

It was on the above-mentioned Tuesday that George Hicks was killed which was on the same day and in the same location that George Lilwall and Herbert Davies, both of the 1st Herefordshire Regiment and whom are also commemorated on the Pembridge War Memorial, were also killed. George Hicks’s body was recovered at Soissons.

Not long after, the following article was published in a local Herefordshire newspaper.

George Hicks is buried at Raperie British Cemetery, Villemontoire near Soissons which is close to where he was killed in action.

Above photo: George Hicks’s Headstone (19)

“Villemontoire is connected entirely with the victorious advance of the 15th (Scottish) and 34th Divisions, under French leadership, in the period from the 23rd July to the 2nd August 1918.

Above photo: Raperie British Cemetery, Villemontoire (CWGC)

The cemetery was made, after the Armistice, by the concentration of graves from the battlefield and from several smaller burial grounds which had been made by the Burial Officers and units of the two Divisions.

There are now over 600, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, over 100 are unidentified and special memorials are erected to eleven men of the Herefordshire Regiment and one of the Royal Scots who are known or believed to be buried among them.” (CWGC)

In the “UK, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards” is the following -

The index card records the four children of George and Ruth Hicks. Also, on the right-hand side it states the following -

“Widow remarried 3/10/18 a demobbed soldier William Cork Gratuity of £23 9s 4d (i.e. £35 less than sum of seperation allowance in the period 4/10/18 to 9/2/19.”

George Hicks had left his home shores around December 1915. He never returned to England. On the day that he was killed he had not seen his wife for 19 months. Three months after he had died, Ruth Hicks had remarried.

Rory MacColl

Sources

1/ https://www.ancestry.co.uk/mediaui-viewer/tree/117968285/person/250169494684/media/362107eb-b0db-4d61-bb2d-60c62f3bcfa5

2/ https://www.lner.info/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1751.

3/ (ancestry.co.uk)

4/ https://www.diggingupthepast.org.uk/the-collieries/ogmore-valley-collieries/

5/ https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british-infantry-regiments-of-1914-1918/herefordshire-regiment/

6/ https://herefordshirelightinfantrymuseum.com/wars/wwi/

7/ https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british-infantry-regiments-of-1914-1918/herefordshire-regiment/

8/ https://herefordshirelightinfantrymuseum.com/uploads/1914-sep-regtl-history.pdf

9/ https://herefordshirelightinfantrymuseum.com/history/

10/ https://herefordshirelightinfantrymuseum.com/uploads/1915-12-dec.pdf