No.20272, Private, Charles HICKS
Aged 41
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Charles Hicks was born in Clare (Risbridge Q1-1873 4A:483), son of Frederick and Sarah HICKS (née BAREHAM).
1881 census...Aged 8, he was at The Cottages in The Street,Poslingford with his father Frederick HICKS [42] labourer, born Poslingford; his mother Sarah [44] born Hundon; brothers Harry John [17] labourer born Poslingford, Arthur [12] labourer born Clare and Albert [3] born Poslingford; sisters Mary Ann [11] and Alice [5] both born in Clare. 1891 census...Aged 18, farm labourer, he was in Poslingford with his parents (father now a tailor); brothers George [19] farm labourer born Clare and Albert (gardener's assistant); niece Florence HICKS [2] born Poslingford (parentage unknown) 1901 census...Aged 28, farm labourer, he was at The Street, Poslingford with his parents; brother Albert (farm labourer) and niece Florence. 1911 census...Aged 38, single,farm labourer, he was still in Poslingford with his parents (father now recorded as retired farm labourer). His mother had borne 8 children but one had died. The pension card has the family at Hill Cottage, Poslingford Street, Clare |
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He enlisted in Clare .
The 2nd Battalion, Suffolks was in it's assembly area on the night of 1st March near Bedford House on the St.Eloi-Ypres road. They were to try and retake our trenches recently lost to the Germans The attack started at 0445 'B', 'C' and 'D' companies on the south side of the Bluff. Immediately star shells were sent up by the Germans turning night into day. Our artillery then opened up on their 2nd line, our troops already being through the first line, having taken the enemy by surprise. 'A' company on the left was not so lucky, being caught by a counter barrage before they could leave King Street. By 0700 the lost trenches had been re captured. The ground was in a terrible state, churned up by the barrages and the battalion left the line sparsely occupied while they returned to the assembly trenches. An enemy barrage continued all day, but our artillery countered effectively. A successful operation result in the recapture of all the ground previously lost, but at the cost of 250 casualties out of the 500 employed. It was, incidentally, the first operation when they wore the newly issued steel helmets (the tin hats) CWGC records 53 killed, and only 6 having an identified grave.
Charles found here and moved to Birr in 1922 photo: Rodney Gibson click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
