Corporal William Humphrey Hicks
- Rank
- Corporal
- Service number
- 1728
- Unit
- 28 Battalion
- Cause of death
- Killed in Action
- Place of death
- Belgium
- Date of death
- 4 October 1917
- Age
- 20
- Plaque number
- M395
- Co-located plaques
- M395A - PTE Erwin Burrell
- Dedicated by
- Family on 17 August 2013
- More information
Biography presented during plaque dedication:
Corporal William Humphrey Hicks is the son of William and Margaret Hicks of Quarry Street, Fremantle. There were two daughters and a set of twins that died at infancy in the family.
William attended school at Fremantle Boys and, after leaving school, continued his education and became a fitter and turner. He was employed at the State Implement Works at Rocky Bay.
When he enlisted in June 1915, he was still serving with the naval cadets at Fremantle.
He enlisted in June 1915 and, after a month’s training at Blackboy Hill Military Camp, embarked on HMAT Demosthenes in July.
He arrived at Anzac Cove in October and, after heavy action, sailed from Alexandria on HMT Ansonia for Marseilles, arriving there in March 1916.
William was wounded in action in France in August and transferred to hospital at Sheffield, England.
After leaving hospital, he was posted to 7 Training Battalion and after more time in hospital at Parkhouse re-joined his unit in Belgium.
He was promoted to lance corporal in April 1917 and then to corporal in September.
Corporal William Humphrey Hicks, service number 1728 of 28 Battalion, was killed in action in Belgium on 4 October 1917. He was 20 years of age.
His plaque is placed alongside that of a known relative, Sapper Erwin Burrell of 2/2 Field Park Company.