Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: The Reverend T. H. Hicks, Nyasaland Volunteer Reserve

British War and Victory Medals (634 Vol. T. Hicks. Nyasaland V.R.) with a copy of recipient’s book Hornbill Hill, and A Time To Remember, The Story of The Diocese of Nyasaland by M. McCulloch, good very fine, scarce (lot) £140-£180

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from an Africa Collection.

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Thomas Harold Hicks studied at Durham University, and after being ordained served as curate of St. Andrews, Stockwell Green, Southwark, 1913-15. He then served as a missionary priest for the Diocese of Nyasaland, 1915-21, during which time he joined the Nyasaland Volunteer Reserve:

‘Intense patrolling took place and re-supply convoys of porters arrived from Nyasaland bringing much needed shorts, puttees and wireless spare parts as well as food. Local Ruga Ruga Irregulars were enlisted and often placed under the command of European members of the Nyasaland Volunteer Reserve, prominent volunteers supporting the column were 543 A. Burnett and 634 T. H. Hicks who acted as supply buyers. On 14th November Volunteer Reverend Thomas Hicks of the Nyasaland Volunteer Reserve held a church service at Tunduru.” (Operations around Tunduru and the Mohesi River, Western Front Association refers)

Hicks subsequently served as priest in charge of Nkope Hill, 1921-23; assistant priest at Liuli, 1923-29; priest in charge of Manda, 1929-38; in the same capacity at Nkope Hill, 1950-56; as a canon, 1938-56; and archdeacon of Kota Kota, 1948-50.

In a tribute to him in the Bishops Report of 1955:

‘Wherever he has been he has devoted himself, body, mind and soul to the search for, and care of souls in “journeying off”, by canoe, on foot, by bicycle and yet has made time to translate the New Testament in Kimanda, and to write books of sermons, manuals of indoctrinations and hymn books, in three different vernaculars. He has won the love and confidence of the Africans to a unique degrees, and he carries with him the undying gratitude and affection of us all.’

The Reverend Hicks was appointed priest in charge of St. James Nevis, Diocese of Antigua from 1957. He was known to still be alive in 1975.

Sold with copied research.