Joseph Edward Hickson
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Joseph Edward Hickson was born in Nottingham in 1896 was the son of the late William Henry a joiner and clerk of the works and Eliza Hickson, née Butler of 817 Hucknall Road, Old Basford, Nottingham. His father William Henry was born in 1856 in Seacombe, Cheshire, his mother Eliza Butler was born in 1859 in Clifton they were married in 1881 their marriage was recorded in the Basford Registration District, they went on to have the following children all born in Nottingham : John William b1883, Florence 1885, Herbert b1887, Winsom Henry b1893, Joseph Edward b1896 and James Robert b1902. His father died on 23rd March 1911 aged 56 yrs . In the 1911 census the family are living at 50 Mansfield Road, Nottingham and are shown as Eliza Hickson 52 yrs a widow, she is living with her children John William 28 yrs a carpenter/joiner, Winsom Henry 18 yrs a clerk, Joseph Edward 15 yrs a scholar and James Robert 9 yrs a scholar He was the son of William Henry (died 23/3/19111 aged 56) and Eliza Hickson (later Whiting) of 123 Harcourt Road Nottingham.
Gunner Joseph Edward Hickson enlisted in Nottingham, on 15th August 1914, he gave his age as 19 yrs and 304 days, he stated he was a clerk and his religion was church of England. He elected to serve wit the Grenadier Guards and arrived at the depot at Woolwich however by the 19th August 1914 he was transferred to the Royal Horse Artillery. He embarked from Avonmouth on 16th March 1915 en route to the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. He was later posted to L battery Royal Horse Artillery at Gallipoli. However on 28th October 1915 was admitted to hospital with jaundice and on 30th October 1915 admitted to the Hospital Ship 'Gookha' at Gallipoli and on 27th November 1915 he was admitted to hospital in Cairo. Following his recovery he returned to L battery at Side Bikso Egypt. He then went to the Western Front where he served with the 15th Brigade Royal Horse Artillery, he died of wounds on 12th August 1917 and is buried in Dozinghem Military Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium (grave ref III.E.14)
Joseph's brother Jack, a sapper in the Royal Engineers, died of wounds in France on 19 December 1917 aged 34. Inscription on family headstone, Nottingham Church (Rock) Cemetery: 'Also of Joseph Edward Hickson RHA, beloved son of the above [William Henry and Eliza] , died in France of wounds received in action, August 12th 1917 aged 21 years.'
