No.14621, Private, Bertie HICKS
Aged 23
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Bertie Hicks was born in 1894 in Ashley (Newmarket Q3-1894 3B:478), son of Isaac and Bessie HICKS(née MAYES).
1901 census...Aged 6, he was at High Street, Ashley with his father Isaac HICKS [31] horsekeeper on farm, born Startford, Essex; his mother Bessie [27] born Thurlow, brothers George [8] born Hundon, Stanley [5] and Frederick [1] both born in Ashley. 1911 census...Aged 16 (farm labourer) he was in Ashley with his parents, brothers George (farm labourer), Stanley (baker's assistant) and Frederick (school). Also new siblings, sisters Florrie [9], Bertha [7], Hilda [4] and twins Fidus and Ena [1], and brothers Henry [6]and Willie [3]. All born in Ashley. two children had died. His father died in 1912. |
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He enlisted in Newmarket . The German Spring offensive (the Kaiserschlacht) started on 21st March 1918 and by the 23rd the 12th Suffolk was badly depleted and very nearly surrounded. During the night of the 23rd/24th the survivors managed to march through the German line to dig in on the Ervillers-Mory road. Much heavy fighting ensued and during the night of 24/25th RSM Goody collected men for various units and organised a line in front of the Ervillers-Behagnies road. Here they held the Germans for around 12 hours. before being withdrawn on the 26th. This, from Lt Col Murphy's "History of the Suffolk Regiment", the war diary simply states that they were in continuous action from 21st to 25th. From the records it appears that Bertie Hicks was last seen alive on the 25th March. None of the 19 men of the battalion missing that day has an identified grave. |
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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