George Hicks

George Hicks, ninth child of northern Illawarra pioneer Captain Henry Thomas Hicks JP, a former North Illawarra Council alderman; and of Mary Ann Hicks nee McKenzie, whose ancestors were amongst the first Scottish immigrants to arrive in Australia on the William Nicol and settle in the Illawarra in 1837. George was born in (North) Bulli and grew up in Thirroul.

Like his father Captain Alderman Henry Thomas Hicks JP and older brother Alexander who had been Mayor of North Illawarra Council, George became involved in civic affairs, and was instrumental in the formation of the Thirroul Progress Association in 1894.

George served in the permanent armed forces both during the Boer Wars and in World War One. Prior to the First World War, George was married to Lucy Ann Keene, known as Lou, and he lived long enough for them to celebrate 50 years of marriage and beyond. Not bad at all for being through the Boer Wars and Gallipoli.

George had first enlisted in the armed forces in 1897. After serving in the Boer War he continued to serve in the military and was appointed and Instructional Officer in 1910.

On the start of the First World War he held the rank of Regimental Sergeant Major- on February 20 1916 he was promoted to Second Lieutenant, then to full Lieutenant on May 26 1916, Adjutant to the 5th Light Horse on February 24 1917, and by 21 October 1917 was promoted to Captain.

George left Australia on the Persia on 21/12/1914. Initially he saw action at Gallipoli and later in the Middle East injured at Romani in Sinai. An account of a presentation to him prior to his departure for Enoggera was reported in the Sydney Morning Herald – MURWILLUMBAH, Monday 23 November 1914.

Staff Sergeant-Major Hicks was entertained by the citizens this morning prior to his departure for Enoggera encampment, and presented with a purse of sovereigns and silver mounted pipe. Sergeant Hicks will fill the rank of Regimental Sergeant-Major in the Light Horse Regiment, second expeditionary force.