Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
The eldest son of John Henry Hicks and Edith May Gunton, Thomas Hicks was born at Heworth, near Gateshead 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar)1889, one of 5 children, 4 sons and a daughter, all of whom survived. His father born 1876 was a native of Walker, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland whilst his mother, the daughter of a serving Corporal in the Royal Engineers was born 1879 on the island of Malta. They married in the district of Gateshead in 1898 and lived at Station Road, Heworth where John Henry worked as a blacksmith, his brother-in-law lived with them and was employed at the shipyard.
On the outbreak of war Thomas Hicks was 15 years old, still too young to enlist and had to wait until he was aged 18 in 1917 before joining up at Gateshead-on-Tyne. He was assigned as Private 86378 52nd Graduated Battalion Yorkshire Light Infantry. Graduation Battalions were formed in late 1917 early 1918 and concentrated on training young recruits in preparation for active service. Transferred to the 4th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment as Private 44727, then to the 6th and finally the 7th. He underwent training until he turned 19 and could serve overseas as of (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1918. Drafted and sent to France with his regiment the 7th Battalion was attached to the 51st Brigade, 17th Northern Division. The main body of men had departed in 1914, he joined them in the field during the First Battles of the Somme participation in the battles of St. Quentin, Bapaume, Amiens, Albert, Havrincourt, Epehy and Cambrai between March to mid-October 1918 followed by the Pursuit of the Selle also known as the Advance to Victory in the Picardy and Artois sector between the Somme and Loos, beginning Thursday, October 17th 1918.
Having risen rapidly through the ranks in his brief service on the Western Front Lance Corporal 44727 Thomas Hicks was killed in action October 20th 1918. His sacrifice is recorded as one of over 9,000 names inscribed on the Vis-En-Artois Memorial which is the back drop to the Vis-En-Artois British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France, commemorating the servicemen of Great Britain, Ireland and South Africa who fell in the period August 1918 to the date of the Armistice during the Advance To Victory and who have no known grave. Lance Corporal Hicks was 19 years old and single.
His father John Henry received all monies due to him and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to him at Station Road, Bill Quay, Pelaw-On-Tyne, County Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Thomas Hicks is remembered at Heworth on H92.03 and at Bill Quay on B119.01
