Pte 57045 Thomas Hickling

• Age: 22
• From: Everton, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 10th October 1918
• Commemorated at: Vis-en-artois Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 3 & 4

Thomas Hickling was born in the March quarter of 1895 in Liverpool and was the son of Thomas James Hickling and his wife Mary (nee Phillips) who were married at St George's Church, Everton on 03rd May 1891, with their address stated as 23 Orient Street.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at Beech Road, Huyton with Roby. Thomas junior is aged 6, born 1895. His father Thomas is aged 33, born 1868 in Everton, Liverpool and is a Civil Service postman whilst hos mother Mary is aged 32, born 1869 in Glamorganshire, Wales. They have been marrried for ten years and have three children, Evan aged 9, born 1892, May aged 7, born 1894 and Thomas aged 6 all born in the Everton area.

The 1911 Census shows Thomas, aged 16 has left the family home and is at His Majesty's Royal Naval Training Establishment, Shotley, near Ipswich. The service record gives his date of birth as 27th January 1895, Liverpool,  his occupation as a page boy. Engaged 27th Jan 1913(?) for 12years, height 5'5", chest 33", Light brown hair, dark blue eyes. He served with Ganges, Dreadnought, Irresistible, Victory 1 and Monarch but was invalided in October 1912 to Plymouth Hospital with organic heart disease. He was pensioned off 18th Oct 1912.

Thomas enlisted in Liverpool and originally served as Private 1544, in the Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry. He probably did not declare his health problem when he enlisted with Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry.

Following a transfer he was serving in the 18th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 57045 when he was killed in action on the 10^th October 1918, aged 22, during the hundred days offensive which ended the Great War. (08th August - 11th November 1918).

His body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as his name is recorded on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial, France.

The Vis en Artois Memorial bears the names of over 9,000 men who fell in the period from 8 August 1918 to the date of the Armistice in the Advance to Victory in Picardy and Artois, between the Somme and Loos, and who have no known grave.

The memorial was designed by J.R. Truelove, with sculpture by Ernest Gillick. It was unveiled by the Rt. Hon. Thomas Shaw on 4 August 1930.

Soldiers Effects to mother Mary, Pension to father Thomas and mother.

His mother died, aged 59, in the March quarter of 1928.

His father died aged 68 in the December quarter of 1935. 

We currently have no further information on Thomas Hickling, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.