Name
Charles Wicks
1898
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
12/04/1918
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/28142
Middlesex Regiment
20th Bn.
'B' Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL
Panel 8
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Hainaut, Belgium, to the fallen.
UK & Other Memorials
Chipperfield Village Memorial, St Paul's Church Memorial, Chipperfield, John Dickinson & Co Memorial, Croxley Mills, Croxley Green, We are not aware of a Memorial at Bucks Hill
Pre War
Charles Wicks was born in Bucks Hill, Hertfordshire, his birth was registered in the Watford district in the fourth quarter of 1898, son of William John Wicks, a Ploughman on a Farm, and Mary (nee Timberlake) Wicks. One of eight children two died in infancy.
Baptised on 6 November 1898, in the Parish of Chipperfield, Herts.
In the 1901 Census the family lived at Jefferies Farm, Chipperfield, Charles was aged 2, and his father William was a ploughman.
In the 1911 Census the family are recorded as (Wix), they were living at the Farmhouse, Bucks Hill Bottom, Charles was aged 12, and at school, where William was a farm labourer.
Wartime Service
Charles Wicks enlisted at Bedford, posted to the Middlesex Regiment, with the service numbers G/28142 and G/28146.
He was in "B" Company, 20th Battalion when he was killed in Flanders during the German offensive known as the Battles of the Lys in April 1918. He is remembered on the Ploegsteert memorial south of Ypres, Belgium. He was reported missing on 9 April 1918 and confirmed killed in Action on 12 April 1918.
The 20th Battalion served in France from June 1916 in 121st Brigade, 40th Division. In 1918 the Division was involved in the first battles of the Somme and then in April in resisting the German attacks in Flanders. The Division suffered such heavy casualties that it was reduced to cadre strength and had to be completely rebuilt.
Additional Information
His mother Mary Wicks received a dependents pension of 7/- a week from 29 October 1918, her address was given as Old House Lane, Hunton Bridge, Herts. His father William Wicks received his effects of £14-15s-4d, Pay Owing and £9, War Gratuity.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Brian Thomson
