Thomas Hickman

Much regret has been caused locally by the news of the death of Bombardier T. Hickman of the 4th South Midland (Howitzer) Brigade' R.F.A., who was killed by shell fire while occupying an observation post at the. Front. His mother, Mrs.. Hickman, of lc. 8h., Union Street, Coventry, has received the following letter from Lieut.-Colonel West, describing her son's death :—

Dear Mrs. Hickman,—I have to write you a very sad letter. You will know by now that your son's name has been added to the list of heroes who have died for their country ; and if you could only see a land in which war has been waged, you would not grudge every man in England to keep such a scourge away from home. You have our deepest sympathy in your loss, but let me assure you that it is ours as well. Your son was always thought well of by both officers and men since he joined us. He was one of our best telephonists, and as such he was given the post of honour and danger of going with his officer into the firing line. He was posted in a small outhouse, where he should have been safe, while the officer climbed into a high roof to watch the enemy, but by ill-luck the shell missed the big house and struck the small one by its side, and out of sight. He died at his post, with his instrument still in his hands, and was buried by a clergyman in a graveyard full of British soldiers, at the Convent of La Bizee. He suffered nothing, being killed instantly, and we are left awhile to mourn his loss.—Yours faithfully,

F. WEST, Lieut.-Colonel. ^-4th S Mid. (Howitzer) Brigade, R.F.A.,

4th Division, B.E.F., Belgium, April 12, 1915.

Hickman was the Brigade's first casualty. Press cutting in the green scrap album kept by Agatha West, with photo of his original grave. Please scroll down for detail of inscription.