Charles William Kingston HICKS

[Guest jeanoj]

I have been told that my great uncle, Charles Hicks was killed whilst in a German POW Camp by the British.

Charles was living in New Zealand when he joined (was called up?) the army. He was killed on August 21, 1918 and is buried at Cabaret Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez.

I would love to have more information on any area connected with this or with the NZEF who were fighting around this time.

Many thanks

Jean

[christine liava'a]

CWCG

Name: HICKS, CHARLES WILLIAM KINGSTON

Initials: C W K

Nationality: New Zealand

Rank: Private

Regiment: N.Z. Entrenching Bn. N.Z.E.F.

Unit Text: 2nd

Age: 29

Date of Death: 21/08/1918

Service No: 63160

Additional information: Husband of Annie Hicks, of 30, Rewa St., Sunshine, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: VII. F. 2.

Cemetery: CABARET-ROUGE BRITISH CEMETERY, SOUCHEZ

WW1 CD

Surname HICKS

Given Name Charles William Kingston

Category First Reserves

Last NZ Address Moana Crescent Sunshine

Occupation Drainer

Recruiting District Dunedin

Surname HICKS

Given Name Charles William Kingston

Category Nominal Roll Vol. 3

Regimental Number 63160

Rank Private

Next of Kin Title Mrs A

Next of Kin Surname HICKS

Next of Kin Relationship Wife

Next of Kin Address Moana Crescent Sunshine Dunedin

Roll Roll 75

Page Page 17

Occupation Drainer

[christine liava'a]

NZSG CD3

Charles William Kingston Hicks married Annie Fraser in 1915

folio no 08391.

His will is held at Dunedin office, Archives NZ

probate no 6168

filed date 4th January 1919

[Robert Dunlop]

On the 21st August 1918, the NZ Division was involved in the capture of Pusieux. The attack began in heavy fog in the early hours of the morning. Complete surprise was achieved. Pusieux was enveloped and then captured. The line progressed a further 1.5 miles. The Germans then counter-attacked twice. On the first occasion they regained a small amount of territory. On the second occasion, they were cut down with fire from machine gunners.

Robert

[Robert Dunlop]

Apologies. Should be spelt 'Puisieux'. Attached is a map of the town

Robert

[christine liava'a]

48 NZEF other ranks POWs died in France/Belgium, out of 407 captured. He could have been one of them. Do you have a copy of his personal file?

[christine liava'a]

I have just received a listing of all the NZEF who became POWs between August 1914 and November 1918 from the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

Hicks' entry is as follows;

BO ; rank ;surname ; Christian name; unit; where POW; date; remarks

63160; Pte; Hicks; Charles Wm Kingston; Ent. Btn; Germany; died of injuries 21/8/18 as POW

[Robert Dunlop]

It is possible that Private Hicks was wounded and captured in the first German counter-attack of 21st August. Likely his wounds would have been very serious to have caused death within a few hours. This makes the transfer to a POW camp unlikely in the timeframe.

Prior to this, the New Zealand Division had been responsible for plugging a gap in the British defences after the retreat of 21st March. They were involved in fighting around Rossignol Wood, west of Puisieux. If I recall, Junger mentions coming up against the Kiwis at one time. I think it is more likely he was wounded and captured around this period.

Robert

[Robert Dunlop]

Here is a map of the general area, including Puisieux. It is a German battlemap dated 11 August 1918. The New Zealand trenches are illustrated in red. Obviously this is prior to the attack on Puisieux, which is still in German hands on this map.

Robert

[Robert Dunlop]

...and the map

[christine liava'a]

Auckland Weekly News Dec 5 1918

Accidently killed while prisoner of war in Germany

HICKS C.W.K., Entrench Batt, Aug 21 - Mrs A Hicks, Dunedin (W)

He was probably captured on April 16, 1918, but I don't yet know where.

Robert, any idea where the 2nd Entrenching Batt, that was captured, was on April 16?

[Robert Dunlop]

The 2nd Entrenching Battalion was still based in the Lys area. On the 16th April, Meteren was captured by the Germans. 'In our [refering to British and Dominion forces generally, the New Zealand Division was down by the Somme at Hebuterne] withdrawal from the last place [Meteren] 2 companies of the 2nd Entrenching Battalion, now in the front line, were involved. Though 60% of the men were new drafts, they held their ground with tenacity till they found the enemy round their flanks. The left company fought its way back, Sergt WP Morrin MM inspiring his platoon which was surrounded on three sides by the enemy. The right company nearer Meteren held on too long and lost 100 prisoners, a number which by far exceeded the greatest aggregate total captured by the Germans in any one action from the Division.'

The date you gave was really helpful Christine. The index does not include the 2nd Entrenching Battalion but I found the reference by going to the appropriate time period in the book.

Robert

[Robert Dunlop]

In the British Official History of the same period, there is a mention of this episode. The 2nd Entrenching Battalion was attached to the 33rd Division of IX Corps.

'The 2/New Zealand Entrenching Battalion was in reserve close to Meteren. Towards 5 am [on a very misty morning] a gap was reported beyond the left flank, and two platoons were sent to fill it, but it was too late. At 5.20 am, the Germans, advancing without a bombardment, drove in the left flank on Meteren, annihilated the left company of the 4/Kings, and thus forced the rest of the front line on that wing to retire on the village.

Early in the morning, in the fog, the II and III Battalions [of the German 96th Regiment, 38th Division]... patrols found that the British line in front of them had been withdrawn [to form a switch line in conformance with the loss of Ballieul the day before]. At 7.50 am information arrived at regimental headquarters that the 95th Regiment, on its right, was going forward with strong patrols, having found Ballieul evacuated, and the II/96th was cooperating. The regimental commander immediately ordered his battalions to push on, pass by the east of Meteren and take it from the north. Meanwhile, the commander of the III Battalion had independently come to the decision to push on, and at 8.10 am his companies assaulted towards the extreme eastern end and eastwards of Meteren. The II Battalion came up from the right, and later the I Battalion on the left, straight at Meteren. The regiment lost on this day 61 killed and 179 wounded. It took prisoner 14 officers and 575 other ranks and 45 machine guns.

By 9.30 am, in the clearing fog, the Germans had swept away resistance and cut off one of the companies of the New Zealand Entrenching Battalion which had moved out in front of Meteren.'

Attached is a map of the area. It shows the positions at the opening of the Battle of Lys. The purple circle marks the area of Meteren where this action took place. It shows how deeply the Germans had penetrated toward their goal of Hazebrouck.

Robert

[christine liava'a]

Thanks very much, Robert