Description
Edward Hicks was born around mid-1878 at Colchester, Essex and attested for the Royal Fusiliers on January 18th.1897 at Hounslow. He was at that time, by trade, a labourer and was accepted into the Royal Fusiliers on January 26th. 1897. He transferred to the third battalion on 1.6.1898 and back to the first battalion on 22.2 .1899.
After spending nearly two years on home service, he spent the next eleven years on overseas postings, Malta, East Indies, Burma and as part of the 1904 Young husband expedition to Tibet.
During this eleven-year period he extended his army service on 15. 4.1904 to serve twelve years with the Colours and re-engaged again with the Royal Fusiliers a Secunderabad on 25.5. 1908 to serve for a total of twenty-two years. From November 1909 until March 1916. He was back on home service serving in France from March 1916 to April 1919 returning in that month to the U.K.
In February 1916 transferred from the Royal Fusiliers to the Royal Engineers and embarked for France on July 14th. with the B.E.F. He had by now qualified as a wireless operator as part of No. 1 G.H.Q. Wireless Observation Group 43, serving with this formation until January 1919.
He was finally discharged on April 141919 having served a total of twenty-two years with both the Royal Fusiliers and the Royal Engineers.
Sold with a file of research and photos.
