The Hicks Family
///vine.truly.people
The main photo shows John Thomas Hicks and his sons John Colin and Lawrence.
John Thomas Hicks was born in 1869 in Chesterfield, Derbyshire.
He married Annie Leitch in 1889. She was a Glaswegian girl, in service in Breadsall at the time. They moved to 91 Reeves Road, Derby, and all of their 6 children were born at this address.
John was not listed on the 1901 census as he was away fighting in the Boer War. He served as a gunner in 67 Battery, Royal Field Artillery. Service no 29267.
Apparently, whilst away in 1900, John wrote to tell his wife to name their new born son after Lord Roberts, the minister for war. It is assumed that he meant "Robert", but sure enough Annie registered the birth as Lord Roberts Hicks.
John Colin Hicks was born 27 September 1890. In the 1911 census, he is living at 91 Reeves Road, Derby and like his father and his brother Lawrence, he is listed as working at the Midland Railway company. John Colin was a Wheel Wrights Apprentice.
His service records show that he joined the Territorial Force on 26 October 1911 and was a private in the Royal Field Artillery. At the start of the war the Territorials were some of the first to be called up.
John arrived in France on 1st March 1915 as an Acting Bombardier, Regimental no 436, in the North Midlands Howitzer Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. He was injured and brought back for treatment at St John's and St Elizabeth's Hospital in London. Sadly, he died of his wounds on 21st September 1915. Newspaper records show that he had a full military funeral in Derby. His name is listed on the Midland Railway war memorial on Midland Road.
Lawrence Hicks was born 25 April 1894. In the 1911 census, he is living at 91 Reeves Road, Derby, and is a Tin Smiths Apprentice at the Midland Railway company. His service records show that he enlisted with the Territorial Force on 14 December 1911 and joined the 4th North Midlands Howitzer Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. His regimental number was 458. He completed his annual training but was discharged on 5 August 1914 as medically unfit.
Somehow, he re-enlisted and became a private in the 17th Battalion, Notts & Derby Regiment. His new service number was 30526. Sadly, he also died in France on 3 Sept 1916. There is no known grave but his name is listed on the Thiepval memorial. His name is also listed on the Midland Railway war memorial on Midland Road.
The family story is that their father, John Thomas Hicks, distraught at the warmongering at John's funeral joined up as well. His military pension records show that he served in the Gloucestershire Regiment and his date of discharge was 20 March 1919.
John Thomas Hicks died 4 December 1933 and his wife Annie died 27 February 1935.
They are buried together in a plot next to their son John Colin Hicks.
Lawrence’s name was later added to the headstone.
