Gnr
Ralph Hicks
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1875 |
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Place of birth: Bolton, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Mail Carrier - Postman |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Gunner |
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Service number: 106272 |
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Enlistment date: 09/12/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Bolton, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Royal Garrison Artillery, 20th Siege Bty. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 15/09/1917 |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 42 |
Cemetery
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Talana Farm Cemetery Plot: III Row: I Grave: 9 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal — 30/12/1919 |
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Victory Medal Medal — 30/12/1919 |
Points of interest 2
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place |
My story
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.
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.
Sources 4
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Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com/ Further reference |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/100223/hicks,-/ Sources used |
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The Long, Long Trail https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/ Sources used |
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War Diary Royal Garrison Artillery, 20th Siege Bty. https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Further reference |