Geburtsjahr: 1875

Geburtsort: Bolton, Lancashire, England, Vereinigtes Königreich

Beruf: Postbote

Land: England, Vereinigtes Königreich

Truppe: British Expeditionary Force

Rang: Gunner

Dienstnummer: 106272

Einberufung datum: 09/12/1915

Einberufung ort: Bolton, Lancashire, England, Vereinigtes Königreich

Einheiten:  —  Royal Garrison Artillery, 20th Siege Bty.  (Letzte bekannte Einheit)

Sterbedatum: 15/09/1917

Todesursache: Im Kampf gefallen

Alter: 42

British War Medal Medaille — 30/12/1919

Victory Medal Medaille — 30/12/1919

Gunner Ralph Hicks of the 20th Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery was killed in action on the 15th of September 1917. Ralph was born in Bolton, Lancashire and attended to Chetham's Hospital School for Poor Boys in Manchester after the death of his father when he was only 8 years old. Once he completed his education he became a postman in 1893.

Three years later Ralph married his girlfriend Martha. They had 3 sons and 2 daughters together. Late 1915 Ralph, nearly 40, enlisted into the army and joined the Postal Office Corps. In July 1916 he was put into the Royal Garrison artillery in July 1916. He was sent over to the Western Front in April 1917. Ralph’s Battery was positioned near Wancourt, in the Arras region, till the 31st of August 1917, when the Battery was moved to Ypres.

Ralph was killed in action on the 15th of September 1917, leaving behind his wife Martha and fife young children. Unfortunately, no war diary exists for the 20th Siege Battery for the day that the 41-year old was killed so we do not know the exact location of his death. Ralph has been laid to rest in Plot III, Row I, Grave 9, as Talana Farm cemetery, along the Yser Canal.

Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com/ Weitere Quellen

CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/100223/hicks,-/ Verwendete Quellen

The Long, Long Trail https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/ Verwendete Quellen

War Diary Royal Garrison Artillery, 20th Siege Bty. https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Weitere Quellen