HICKS Charles Herbert

Charles Hicks was born on the 28th April 1862. at Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, son of William Hicks (1831 – 1883) and Sarah Sophia Hicks (nee Dixon, 1833 – 1919). Siblings: Margaret Adela Hicks, 1855-1931; Maud Mary Vincent Hicks, 1860-1921; William Philip Noel Hicks, 1872-1939.

Wife: Selina Augusta Hicks (nee Marriott) 1855-1892, children: Vera Hicks 1890.

Spion Kop is a hill on a plain that stands over 1400 feet above the valley. This was occupied by the Boers at the centre of their line. It was decided to attack up the steep southwest face of the hill. Thorneycroft’s Infantry lead the way and were undetected until they crested the hill and were fired upon. In the darkness and the mist, the British thought they were at the top of the hill and started to dig into the rocky soil but managing only to get trenches 16” deep or so. In the dawn they found that their positions were overlooked by the Boer held peak The Little Knoll. The British held all day under rifle fire and artillery shelling taking many casualties because of the poor protection. After a series of Generals and Colonels in charge were all killed. Colonel Thorneycroft took command. He had little communications with his superiors, low on ammunition and water plus the constant shelling that the British artillery could do nothing about; he ordered a retreat down the hill from their positions during the night. Because of the lack of men to carry stretchers many of the wounded were left on the hill.

“The Lancashire Fusiliers along with the other troops on the summit earned the praises of General Buller. The losses of the battalion were very severe 3 officers killed, 5 wounded, about 40 men killed and 100 wounded, and some missing.”

There is no specific comment on Capt. Hicks death in the records.

Sources: AngloBoerWar.com, My Heritage, Boer War Casualties Catalog, My Heritage, Baker Web site