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Auction: 19003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 203

(x) Six: Chief Engine Room Artificer 1st Class G. H. R. Hicks, Royal Navy, a Great War submariner

1914-15 Star (272087, G. H. R. Hicks, Act. C.E.R.A., 2, R.N); British War and Victory Medals (272087 G. H. R. Hicks. C.E.R.A.1. R.N.); 1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (272087. G. H. R. Hicks, C.E.R.A. 1Cl. H.M.S. Dolphin.), the first three and last mounted as worn on original ribands, edge bruising, nearly very fine (6)

George Henry Reeves Hicks was born on 2 September 1884 at Pembroke, Wales. A boilermaker by trade, he joined the Royal Navy on 9 January 1909 and initially served as Engine Room Artificer 4th Class aboard the cruiser Sapphire and the depot ship Blenheim. Promoted E.R.A. 2nd Class on 2 January 1913 aboard the submarine depot ship Bonaventure, Hicks went on to serve at further submarine depot stations including Maidstone and Dolphin. From 4 August 1916-14 January 1918, he was one of 28 ratings and 3 officers to serve aboard the submarine E19 which had achieved considerable success some months previously, sinking four German freighters in the Baltic Sea and the light cruiser S.M.S. Undine on 7 November 1915. He thus avoided her scuttling on 8 April 1918, returning to Dolphin, Fearless and Royal Arthur for the remainder of the war.

Shore pensioned on 8 January 1928, Hicks was called out of retirement on 31 August 1939. He served variously at Lynx and the repair depot Sandhurst at Dover, followed by the combined training centre at Inveraray, H.M.S. Quebec from 16 August 1941, being finally released from service in 1945. Hicks died on 2 February 1946 and is remembered on the memorial at Southampton Crematorium; sold with a Ministry of Pensions King's Badge in original box of issue - likely awarded for sickness contracted whilst serving in the Royal Navy during the Second World War.


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Sold for
£110

Starting price
£80