Hicks, Frederick Benjamin

Lieutenant Frederick Benjamin Hicks - 28th Battalion

Lieutenant Frederick Benjamin Hicks was born in Fremantle WA in 1892 to Richard and Sarah Hicks. He was one of eight children, Bertha (1883), Richard (1885), Robert (1887), Thomas (1890), Sarah (1895), William (1899) and George (1903).

The family lived at 38 Russell Street Fremantle and Frederick was educated locally.

Prior to the Great War Fred was working as a tea taster working for Burns, Philp and Co Ltd.

A Tea Taster determines the quality of a particular tea. Due to climatic conditions, topography, manufacturing process, the final product may have vastly differing flavours and appearance. A trained tester can detect these differences and ascertain the tea's quality prior to sale. Fred's employer, Burns Philp and Co, was a major Australian shipping line and merchant that operated Australia and surrounding area. It was also involved in the food manufacturing business.

Their Fremantle business was located at the corner of William and Newman Street.

On the 23rd August 1915 Fred enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was accepted as fit for service with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 11 inches tall;

Weight - 163lbs;

Chest Measurement - 35-39 inches;

Complexion - Dark;

Eyes - Brown;

Hair - Dark Brown.

After his successful enlistment Fred was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to No.27 Training Depot. He was taken through the basics of infantry work during the time he was there. On the 1st November 1915 Fred was assigned to the 7th Reinforcements to the 28th Battalion. 

He trained with this group for the next two months and prior to embarkation he was given the regimental number 3141. On the 18th January 1916 Fred and his group boarded the transport ship HMAT Medic in Fremantle Harbour and set sail for Egypt.

After arriving in Egypt on the 16th February 1916 Fred and his group were sent to the 7th Training Battalion as the 28th Battalion was already at its full complement of numbers. On the 21st March 1916 Fred and his group boarded the transport ship Oriana and set sail for France, arriving at Marseilles on the 27th March 1916.

Fred and his group were then entrained north for Etaples where they were taken into the 2nd Australian Division Base Depot. Fred remained here for the next few weeks but on the 3rd May 1916 was taken on strength of the 28th Battalion.

The 28th Battalion were then in the Armentieres sector. Fred was slightly wounded on the 29th May when shrapnel struck him in the scalp. He was evacuated to hospital in Etaples and was then, after recovering, sent to the 2nd Australian Division Base Depot.

Fred returned to the 28th Battalion on the 2nd August 1916. A few days previously, on July 29th, the 28th Battalion had very heavy casualties at Pozieres so there were many gaps in the ranks upon Fred's return. Despite their low numbers, the 28th Battalion took part in the next attack at Pozieres on the 4th August when they captured the vital windmill position.

Fred was wounded in this successful attack, being hit through the neck, back and elbow. He was evacuated to the 13th Field Ambulance where his wounds were patched up and then sent on to hospital.

Fred was admitted to the 3rd Canadian General Hospital at Camiers where he received further treatment on his wounds. On the 11th August 1916 Fred was shipped to England and was admitted to the 1st Birmingham War Hospital. Fred was a patient here until the 29th September 1916.

His wounds having healed well, Fred was granted a period of furlough and on the 19th October 1916 reported into No.1 Command Depot Camp at Perham Downs. As his fitness level was currently classified as not well enough to return to active service, Fred was taken on the permanent staff of No.1 Command Depot Camp.

He remained in this role until the 14th August 1917 when, his fitness having improved, Fred was given the permission to return to active service.

On the 14th August 1917 he marched out to the Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge Deverell. Fred did remain here for the next two months but on the 14th October 1917 returned to France and was taken back on strength of the 28th Battalion on the 20th October 1917.

The 28th Battalion were then in Belgium, holding the front line near Broodseinde Ridge and Passchendaele. On the 19th November Fred was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal.

From December 1917 to March 1918 the 28th Battalion were helping to hold the line in Belgium between Messines and Ypres. On the 21st March 1918 the Germans broke through the British line further south and so the Australian Divisions in Belgium were sent south to the Somme to help stop this advance.

The 28th Battalion came into contact with the Germans near Ville-sur-Ancre on the Somme. They spent the next few months in the vicinity of Morlancourt, fighting a large battle there on June 10th 1918.

On the 15th April 1918 Fred was promoted to Corporal and his leadership abilities must have been noticed as on the 24th June he was sent to England to take part in an Officer's Training Course.

On the 5th July 1918 Fred joined No.6 Officers Cadet Battalion at Oxford University. This course took place over the next five months and Fred was still there when the Armistice was signed. 

A report from the Oxford Cadet Battalion in his service record at the National Archives of Australia stated that;

Cadet Hicks would have finished his course on 11th Feb 1919. He has worked well, has plenty of knowledge and has always given satisfaction. He turns himself out well and will, in my opinion, make a good Platoon Commander.

On the 2nd January 1919 Fred was appointed to the rank of Second Lieutenant. He was initially posted to the 5th Training Battalion but on the 21st January he returned to France and a week later was taken back on strength of the 28th Battalion.

After the Armistice when the Germans had withdrawn back to their own country, the Australians then went to what had been German occupied parts of France and Belgium. So when Fred rejoined the 28th Battalion they were then in the vicinity of the French city of Charleroi.

Fred served with them for the next few months in Belgium. On the 2nd April 1919 Fred was appointed to the rank of Lieutenant. On the 12th April Fred had a weeks leave to Brussels, returning on the 17th April.

On the 26th April 1919 Fred returned to England where he would await a transport ship home. He was sent to No.2 Command Depot Camp to bide his time.

On the 1st June 1919 Fred boarded the transport ship Somali and set sail for home, disembarking in Fremantle on the 8th July 1919.

Fred was discharged from the AIF on the 30th August 1919.

He then resumed work for Burns, Philp and Co and was living at 'Carisbrook' Nelson Street South Fremantle.

In 1920 in Fremantle Frederick married Elizabeth Mary Samuel. They had a daughter Olwyn born in 1921, Joyce in 1924 and Elizabeth in 1927.

He was a member of the RSL, the Commercial Travellers Club as well as various Lodges.

The family lived at 16 Mary Street Fremantle.

Frederick died in Fremantle on May 3rd, 1953, aged 60. His wife Elizabeth had died a few years previously in 1945 aged 49.

Frederick and Elizabeth were buried in Fremantle Cemetery plot Congregational MON DD 0021.