HICKS, Lisle
| Service Number: | 794 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 August 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | Instructional Staff (AIF) |
| Born: | Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia, 1892 |
| Home Town: | Bendigo, Greater Bendigo, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Electrician |
| Memorials: | Bendigo Great War Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 794, 7th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 794, 7th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: '' | |
| 19 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 794, 7th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Melbourne | |
| 14 Jan 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 7th Infantry Battalion | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 794, 7th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, GSW to upper extremities. | |
| 24 Jan 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 7th Infantry Battalion | |
| 1 Jun 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Corporal, Instructional Staff (AIF), Signalling | |
| 3 May 1918: | Discharged AIF WW1, Corporal, 794, Instructional Staff (AIF), RTA on Special 1914 leave |
Lisle Hicks
Lisle, whose full name was actually Alma Union Lyle Hicks was my Great Uncle, on my father's side. He was born on 19 July 1892 in Broken Hill, NSW, and named after three Broken Hill mines that were operating at that time, The Alma, The Union and The Lyle mines. At some point, he stopped using his first two Christian names and became known as Lisle (with an alternate spelling).
When WW1 commenced in 1914 he enlisted, at the age of 22 in the 2nd Battalion AIF and was amongst the first Australian diggers who stormed the beaches at Gallipolli on 25 April 1915, during which he sustained a gunshot wound to his upper body.
He survived Gallipoli and subsequently went on the fight in Northern France on the Western Front and in the Battle of the Somme, before ending his military career as an Army instructor. After the war, he returned to Australia where he married Olive Dundas, my Grandfather's sister in 1919, and went on to become a Police Officer in Victoria. He continued living there for the next 50 years, finally dying on 14 October 1969, in Heidelberg, VIC. Olive followed him in 1981.
Lisle and Olive had three children, Olive Lisle Hicks, Roy Dundas Hicks and Joseph Hugh Hicks. All three served in WW2 and were decorated, with Olive serving in the Royal Australian Air Force, Roy in the Australian Army and Joseph as a Petty Officer in the Royal Australian Navy.
Submitted 11 December 2020 by Hugh Dundas
Biography contributed by Carol Foster
Brother of Albert Edward Hicks who returned to Australia on 28 March 1919 and Thomas Hector Hicks MM who returned to Australia on 31 March 1919
Biography contributed by Larna Malone
Lisle Hicks was born in Broken Hill, NSW. He was the son of Thomas Hicks, of Green Street, Job’s Gully, Bendigo. Lisle was an Electrician and was employed as a linesman by the Electric Supply Co., Bendigo. He had previously been an apprenticed motor mechanic. He was 22 years & 1 month old and had previous military service in the 8th AIR and the 67th Infantry. He was amongst the early volunteers for the Expeditionary Force, enlisting on 18.8.14. The following day he left Bendigo for the Broadmeadows Camp. He was allotted Service no.794 and appointed to ‘G’ Company, 7th Battalion.
While at Broadmeadows Lisle was appointed to the Signalling Corps. He also distinguished himself as an athlete, taking second place in the High Jump event at a Sports Meeting held in October.
Prior to embarkation he was Farewelled by members of the Eaglehawk East Methodist Sunday School and East Methodist Brotherhood, and presented with a Writing case and Scriptural books; was Entertained by members of Refuge Tent, I.O.R., Eaglehawk, and presented with a Silver-mounted wallet; was Presented with a Gold band ring by the members of the Eaglehawk Lawn Party; and was Presented with a memento by the Borough of Eaglehawk (Pocket wallet, wristlet watch, or shaving outfit).
The 7th Battalion left Broadmeadows Camp on 18 October, 1914, and embarked for service overseas on board HMAT ‘Hororata’. Arriving in Egypt the battalion moved into camp at Mena, at the foot of the pyramids. (6/12/14)
In January, 1915, the Australian force was re-organized. In the 7th Battalion ‘G’ and ‘H’ Companies joined to form the new ‘D’ Company. This meant that all the men from Northern Victoria were together in one Company. On January 14th. Lisle Hicks was Promoted to Lance Corporal and appointed senior signaller.
The 7th Battalion was part of the force which landed at Anzac Cove on 25th April, 1915.
Hicks: “[We] started to disembark early Sunday morning. It was a little different to the practice we had at Lemnos. We had one man wounded in our boat while being tugged ashore. Things were lively for a while until you got used to the sound of the guns and things. I got into some lively places Sunday. From one place we never moved for about 3 hours. Then we swung back a little. We were all pretty tired. Not having any work to do on board and getting so much in one day. It is hilly country, and we had to drive the Turks back. . . . . Then we got the order to advance on the left, and we did so for about a mile and a half. This is where I got hit. Duncan got hit in the foot and I got it in the hand.” (i.e. Robert Travers Duncan. [Bendigo Advertiser June 15, 1915]
Lisle Hicks sustained a GSW Upper extremities. He did not return to the 7th Battalion, but spent the remainder of his military service in England.
In a later letter Hicks wrote: “It was heartbreaking to see how disappointed all the boys were who got wounded in the first mob when every man of us was as fit as training could make us. [Bendigonian October 7 1915]
In England Lisle Hicks was Appointed to Group Instructional Staff (Signalling), with promotion to Corporal (24/1/17) and Temporary Sergeant (30/1/18). He RTA on 20/10/18, Special 1914 leave.
“The First Lot. 7th Battalion. The first men of the Bendigo district to volunteer for service in the First World War.”: Larna Malone
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