Henry Thomas Hicks

Henry Thomas "Harry" Hicks was born in North Bulli (Austinmer), the eleventh of fourteen children of Captain Henry Thomas Hicks JP, a former alderman of North Illawarra Council and his wife Mary Ann (nee McKenzie). Harry's father Henry Senior, had been Captain of the Bulli Civilian (Reserve) Rifles for many years in the late 19th Century.  His older brother, George was a professional soldier who had served in the Boer War, before serving in the 5th Light Horse at Gallipoli and in the Middle East in World War I.

Harry was educated at the Thirroul Superior Public School. Prior to the First World War he had been a miner at Joadja for brief period, then at Excelsior Colliery Thirroul. He had also been part of the St George & Reserve Rifles of Thirroul for four years. Harry had been an Instructional Officer in the CMF for over 5 years - having qualified as a Second Lieutenant on July 31 1915. Harry had been a noted Illawarra Soccer player and President of the fledgling Thirroul Surf Life Saving Club. Over his life, Harry had also been a member of the Thirroul Pigeon Racing Club's committee and Thirroul Tennis Club. Following the war he became part of the fledgling RSL movement and was again an Instructional Officer.

Harry was living at Glen Roy cottage in Station Street Thirroul with wife Eva (nee Bottomley) and eldest child Elsie Hicks when he enlisted in February 1916.

Most of Harry's war time service was spent in France on the Western Front, where he was injured several times, sustaining a gun shot wound to the face and gassing.

He was returned to Australia on April 8 1919, arriving home on May 25, 1919. Harry was commissioned into the 1st AIF as a Second Lieutenant in early 1916 and by August 1916 he had been promoted to full Lieutenant. On June 18, 1917 Harry was promoted to Captain. Harry was discharged from the AIF on July 10, 1919.

On his return to Australia, Harry and wife Eva had a son, Henry Marshall "Harry" Hicks.