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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: Heskey on Sunday 25 January 09 18:54 GMT (UK)
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As an absolute beginner at this I'm looking for help getting military information about my Great-Great Grandfather. His Name was Ernest William Hicks and he was a Private with Leicestershire Regiment 2nd Battalion, number 10718. Killed 13th March 1915 aged 23, France and Flanders. Seemed like a good start but I've now come to a complete standstill! Any advice would be hugely appreciated.
Thanks
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I Think I can find him on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website.
http://www.cwgc.org/search/certificate.aspx?casualty=586022
Not sure if the link above works!!
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suggest you look on the long Long trail site - brill for details about regiments:
http://www.1914-1918.net
found this about the 2nd Leics regiment.:
2nd Battalion
August 1914 : in Ranikhet. Part of Gharwal Brigade, Meerut Division of the Indian Army.
12 October 1914 : Division landed at Marseilles for service in France.
Moved to 28th Indian Brigade in Egypt, 7 November 1915.
Early December 1915 moved to Basra in Mesopotamia, rejoining 7th (Meerut) Division.
Landed at Suez on 22 January 1918 and took part in Palestine campaign.
Diddy
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Nick.....that's just amazing.....I'm stunned and virtually in tears!! Does that mean there's a marked grave there?
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Last year i traced the movements of my husbands grandfather who was an old contemptable and was invalided out of the suffolk reg in 1915.
found a brilliant book which laid out exactly which batt. was where and when. worth googling see if one for the Leics. i then borrowed a book from the Library:
A military history of the First world war by arthur Banks. pub. leo Cooper,1989.
isbn: 0 85052 791 0
very easy, helpful maps.
also used site connected to LLT called the great War forum - like RC you canpost questions and loads of EXPERTS reply!!!:
http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php
Leics reg also has an online museum at:
http://www.green-tiger.co.uk/
hope this all helps get you started - my search was fascinating.
Diddy ;D
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The Western Front 1914-18
The Tigers were in the thick of the fighting in the Great War almost from the very start. Both regular battalions (1st & 2nd) were in France in 1914. The 2nd battalion fought at Neuve Chapelle and Loos before leaving for Mesopotamia.
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loads on the Tigers site and this:
If you had a relative or forebear who served with the Tigers, and you would like to know more about their service history, please get in touch. If we can help you directly we will, if not, we will at least try to point you in the right direction. If you have a photo, please send a scan of it with your enquiry. A picture paints a thousand words and sometimes the information you are seeking is right there, if you know what to look for!
Send your email to: webmaster[at]green-tiger.co.uk
also long list of other sites / research places.
Diddy.
Moderator comment: email address amended to prevent spam - to use, please replace [at] with @
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the cwg is the place to go they will for a small sum send a photo and details of his inscription etc.
brilliant site.
xin
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I think the grave memorial reference is on the link below.
http://www.cwgc.org/search/SearchResults.aspx?surname=hicks&initials=e&war=1&yearfrom=1915&yearto=1915&force=Army&nationality=6&send.x=47&send.y=5
Pure coincidence, I searched for my great uncle who was killed in WWII with the Tigers in Italy about 10 minutes before I came on here!
I think my Dad did his National Service with the Tigers in Eygpt, Greece,
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it seems ancestry have his attestation papers:
http://content.ancestry.co.uk/Browse/view.aspx?dbid=1219&path=H.Hi.Hic.2522
hopefully you can find it via this link.
killed in action 13.3.1915....
not sure if this is the correct one so if you can check it out yourself would be good
xin
ps when I rec'd attestation papers for my g.pop it revealed his height - weight - complexion - colour of eyes.... and a signature .... which is wonderful
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one paper states all personal bits and pieces to be sent to
Mrs Hicks 7 Brook st. Leicester??
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Xin and Diddy.......thanks for all your help with this. Been a pretty exciting evening and in a couple of hours I've found out so much. Just the start though!
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Hi Heskey and welcome to RootsChat !
You'll be able to get a photo of his headstone here ! (worth every penny in my opinion !! )
http://www.twgpp.org/information.php?id=402935
Annie :)