Notes
Recovered 21.08.2023 from https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1743627/thomas-james-hicks/
STAFF SERJEANT THOMAS JAMES HICKS
Service Number: 33525
Bedfordshire Regiment1st Bn.
Date of Death 23 October 1918 Age 32 years old
Commemorated at VIS-EN-ARTOIS MEMORIAL Panel 4 and 5.France
Son of James and Emily J. Hicks, of Crown Cottage, Piddletrenthide, Dorchester; husband of Jane Hicks, of 4, Lawrence Cottages, Gillingham, Dorset
http://www.piddlevalley.info/history_great_war.php#28
STAFF SERGEANT THOMAS JAMES HICKS (PIDDLETRENTHIDE) - 1ST BATTALION, BEDFORDSHIRE REGIMENT
Thomas James Hicks was the son of a Beaminster publican, James Hicks and his wife, Emily Jane, and was born at Beaminster in 1886. The family moved to Piddletrenthide at an unknown date and lived at Crown Cottage. There was an older sister, Emily, born in 1885.
Hicks was a Staff Sergeant with the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment and, on 22nd October 1918, they moved up at dusk for an attack in Beaurain Ridge. They were heavily shelled in their assembly points, suffering about 100 casualties. Despite this, they went on behind a creeping barrage and captured the Ridge.
Thomas Hicks may have been killed in the shelling or during the attack. His body was never found and he is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial to the Missing. His wife, Jane, lived in Gillingham after his death.
Thomas Hicks was the last man from Piddletrenthide to lose his life in the War.