The King George VI inspects lightweight compact rations, designed to provide a balanced diet for airborne troops. While on a visit to the 1st Airborne Division in March 1944, H.M. The battalion played a prominent part in the Battle of Dunkirk, part of the Battle of France, for which Hicks was awarded a Distinguished Service Order. Second World War Īt the start of the Second World War, Hicks was still a major, but was promoted to acting lieutenant-colonel in May 1940, commander of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, which, from February 1940 was serving in the 144th Brigade of the 48th (South Midland) Infantry Division. He remained with the 2nd Battalion until January 1939, when he transferred again to the 1st Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, which was serving in Faizabad at the time. In January 1937 Hicks returned to the 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, which was now back in the United Kingdom and based at Tidworth Camp. His next appointment was as the Staff captain to the Guernsey and Alderney district between April 1933 and March 1936, when he was promoted to major. In March 1931, he returned to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, joining the 2nd Battalion at Khartoum. In November 1924 Hicks became the aide-de-camp to the district commander at Karachi until January 1926. They had two children, a son and a daughter. The following year, on 19 November 1927, he married Patty Fanshawe, the daughter of Brigadier Lionel Arthur Fanshawe. He served in British India between November 1924 and January 1926. Hicks remained in the Army after the First World War, and was promoted to captain in January 1922. His conduct was splendid.' On 8 November 1918 Hicks was again mentioned in despatches. About 50 of the enemy were killed, several of whom were shot by him with his revolver, and two prisoners taken. He commanded his party in a most skilful manner, and was largely responsible for its success. The citation stated: 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during a daylight raid. While serving with the 4th Division he was awarded a Military Cross in 1918, during the Hundred Days Offensive in the final months of the war. In May 1918, Hicks transferred to the 1st Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, which was part of the 10th Brigade of the 4th Division. Hicks was mentioned in despatches on 13 November 1916, while serving with the 7th Battalion. Hicks was granted a regular army commission on 23 June 1916.

The 1/7th Battalion was serving with the 1/5th, 1/6th and 1/8th battalions as part of the 143rd (1/1st Warwickshire) Brigade, part of the 48th (South Midland) Division, which took part in the battle of the Somme in 1916 and the third Battle of Ypres in 1917. Hicks was a member of the Territorial Force army number 15075, and was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant into the 1/7th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, on 23 October 1914. The son of Dr Philip Hicks and the writer Beatrice Whitby, he was educated at Winchester College in Hampshire. Hicks was born on 25 September 1895 in Warwick, Warwickshire. He commanded the brigade in the Mediterranean theatre during Operation Ladbroke, part of the Allied invasion of Sicily, in July 1943, as well as during the Battle of Arnhem, part of Operation Market Garden, in September 1944.Īfter the Second World War he retired from the British Army and worked for the International Refugee Organization and the National Playing Fields Association before his death in 1967. In the Second World War he was commander of the 1st Airlanding Brigade, of the 1st Airborne Division. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment in 1914, during the Great War, and fought on the Western Front. 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire RegimentĬommander of the Order of the British Empireīrigadier Philip Hugh Whitby Hicks CBE DSO MC (25 September 1895 – 8 October 1967) was an officer of the British Army during both the First and Second World Wars.

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