Wicks of Worthing
Arthur Sydney Wicks was born on 8 August 1899 in Worthing, Sussex. He was the eldest son of Arthur Sidney (Mickey) Wicks and Harriet Caroline Virgoe. Arthur was christened on 11 May 1902 at Christchurch on Grafton road, Worthing, Sussex.
In 1916, Arthur met Josephine Field at the local roller-skating rink. Josephine lived with her grandmother in Arundel, Sussex until she was 15-years-old. Arthur and Josephine were engaged in 1917. Arthur was working as an Assistant Motor Engineer before enlisting in the Royal Navy on 8 August 1917, his 18th birthday. At almost 5 foot 8 inches tall with brown hair and grey eyes, Arthur earned himself the nickname ‘Sailor’ because of his time in the Navy. Arthur most likely trained at the Naval Base in Portsmouth, Hampshire where HMS Victory was the receiving ship. All navy personnel living ashore in Portsmouth Barracks were recorded as serving on HMS Victory. Arthur was recorded as serving as a stoker, second class aboard HMS Victory from 8 August 1917 until 16 December 1917. |
Arthur went on to serve on a number of ships during and after the first world war. He was based upon HMS Lyra from 17 December 1917 until 16 October 1919. HMS Lyra was a destroyer, recommissioned at Immingham in Lincolnshire, near the town of Grimsby. On 1 January 1918, HMS Lyra, on its first day at sea, steamed down the River Humber and out into the North Sea. Arthur recorded in his diary that the next day, as they passed the Straits of Dover into the English Channel, he “could see the coast of Sussex, my dear old home county.” After docking at Plymouth harbour on 3rd January and providing an escort for an armed liner into the Atlantic Ocean, HMS Lyra made its way towards Gibraltar, spent some time in Malta after escorting a hospital ship and patrolled for German submarines and mines in the Dardanelle Straits.
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The destroyer arrived at Mudros on the coast of the Greek Island of Lemnos, in the Northern Aegean Sea, on 8 February 1918. Mudros was the naval base for British Ships operating in the Dardanelles. HMS Lyra was based at Mudros for the next six weeks, had several close calls with German ships and Turkish mines and sunk a Turkish submarine and destroyed a number of mines. On 19 March 1918, HMS Lyra departed Mudros harbour for Piraeus, near Athens, Greece, for refitting. After almost two months, the ship was on its way again, this time to Corfu, Greece where she was stationed for the next month, patrolling for submarines and mines in the Mediterranean Sea. Next stop was Brindisi, an Italian port on the Adriatic Sea where HMS Lyra encountered Austrian forces in occupied Albania before returning to Gibraltar via Malta and Bizerte, in Tunisia on the northern coast of Africa.
Sadly, this is where Arthur’s diary abruptly ends - on 4 August 1918 in Gibraltar. We do know that Arthur was promoted to Stoker first class in March 1919 and that he spent time in the Russian port of Archangel after the 1917 Communist Revolution assisting refugees of the uprisings.
In 1919, whilst at home on shore leave, Arthur married Josephine Mabel Field on 10 February 1919 in East Preston district, Sussex. Arthur was discharged from the Royal Navy on 7 June 1922 shortly after the birth of his eldest son, Maurice Arthur, on 15 May 1922. Before the birth of their second son, Raymond Claude, who was born on 23 August 1925, Arthur and Josephine were living at 5 Greenfield crescent, off Leigh road, in Worthing, Sussex and Arthur was working as a porter and a driver.
Sadly, this is where Arthur’s diary abruptly ends - on 4 August 1918 in Gibraltar. We do know that Arthur was promoted to Stoker first class in March 1919 and that he spent time in the Russian port of Archangel after the 1917 Communist Revolution assisting refugees of the uprisings.
In 1919, whilst at home on shore leave, Arthur married Josephine Mabel Field on 10 February 1919 in East Preston district, Sussex. Arthur was discharged from the Royal Navy on 7 June 1922 shortly after the birth of his eldest son, Maurice Arthur, on 15 May 1922. Before the birth of their second son, Raymond Claude, who was born on 23 August 1925, Arthur and Josephine were living at 5 Greenfield crescent, off Leigh road, in Worthing, Sussex and Arthur was working as a porter and a driver.
On 19 February 1929, Ronald Sydney Wicks was born in Worthing, Sussex and on 3 February 1932, Eileen Mabel Wicks was born at 41 Downlands avenue, Sompting, Sussex. Arthur was now driving buses for Southdown Motor Services, a job he held for more than 38 years. Southdown buses were known for their distinctive green and yellow paintwork. Josephine liked that Arthur’s job entitled the family to discounted bus travel.
In 1939, Arthur, Josephine and the four children were living at 56 Bramber road, Worthing. Besides driving buses, Arthur was also a senior Air Raid Warden. Maurice was employed as a butcher’s assistant, and was also working with the Red Cross Society. Ray was at school and also in the Air Defence Cadets. Ron and Eileen were at school but both were evacuated during the war. Ron went to Nottingham and Eileen was sent to the Greasley family in Leicester.
In 1939, Arthur, Josephine and the four children were living at 56 Bramber road, Worthing. Besides driving buses, Arthur was also a senior Air Raid Warden. Maurice was employed as a butcher’s assistant, and was also working with the Red Cross Society. Ray was at school and also in the Air Defence Cadets. Ron and Eileen were at school but both were evacuated during the war. Ron went to Nottingham and Eileen was sent to the Greasley family in Leicester.
By late 1943, Arthur and Josephine had moved to 26 Bramley road, Worthing. Ray was now employed and working as a lathe turner. Maurice was now married, he married Dorothy Gertrude Nicholas on 16 October 1943 in Worthing, Sussex. The war raged on in Europe and the Pacific. Ray Wicks enlisted in the Royal Navy on 27 December 1943 serving aboard HMCS Collingwood, HMS Glendower, HMS Wellesley and lastly on HMS Sirius. Sirius remained with the Mediterranean Fleet after the end of the war until 1946. Ray was discharged soon after the Sirius returned home to Portsmouth, Hampshire in March 1947.
A year later, Ray married Dorothy Mavis Greasley in Barrow-upon-Soar, Leicestershire. Ray’s sister, Eileen, had lived with Dorothy’s Aunt and Uncle in Leicester when she was evacuated during the war. Eileen was married on 23 December 1950 in Brighton, Sussex. She met 16-year-old David Frank Ward when she was working in the railway pay office in Brighton. David, a messenger boy, was friends with Ron Wicks. David asked Ron if the new girl was his sister and would he ask Eileen if he could take her out. Ron dragged David over in front of Eileen and told him to ask her himself.
Ron Wicks didn’t marry until about June 1956. He and his first wife, Gillian Henderson, had one daughter, Julie. Ron and Gillian were divorced. Ron’s career took him all over the world living in many exotic places. He married Edwine Victoria Odink on 20 July 1963 in Monrovia, Liberia. Ron and Edwine had two daughters, Anne and Janite. In September 1966, the Wicks family got together for one last time at a large family party at the home of Arthur and Josephine Wicks in Lancing, Sussex. |
In 1967, Eileen and David Ward, together with their four children, left England bound for South Australia. Eileen didn’t see her father again. Arthur Sydney Wicks died on 16 June 1968 at 28 Croshaw close, Lancing, Sussex at the age of 68 years. He had a cerebral haemorrhage at home.
Josephine Wicks took a flat at 7 Hampden court, Chesswood road, Worthing, Sussex after Arthur’s death. She would often spend time with Ray and his family in Leicester, travelling up on the bus. Sadly, Ray Wicks died on 6 August 1974 at the age of 48 years.
Josephine continued to visit with Dorothy and the children in Leicester whenever she could and went often to Crawley, Sussex to spend time with Maurice and Dorothy and their two children. She would see Ron’s daughter’s when they were in England and home from boarding school. Josephine enjoyed her regular lunch with friends at her local senior citizens club and the little outings they organised. She lived in her little flat up until about 1985 when she moved into a care home at Rosemary Mount, 147 Chesswood road, Worthing, Sussex. |
Josephine was saddened and very worried when news came from Australia that Eileen was ill. Eileen battled cancer for over ten years and finally lost her battle on 4 September 1986 at Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia at the age of 54 years.
Josephine Wicks died on 8 September 1988 at her care home in Chesswood road, Worthing, Sussex from heart disease. She was 90 years old.
Descendants of Arthur Sydney Wicks
Arthur Sydney Wicks was born on 8 August 1899 in Worthing, Sussex, was christened on 11 May 1902 in Sussex and died on 16 June 1968 in Lancing, Sussex at age 68 years. Arthur married Josephine Mabel Field on 10 February 1919 in East Preston district, Sussex. Josephine was born on 15 March 1898 in Arundel, Sussex and died on 8 September 1988 in Worthing, Sussex at age 90 years. They had four children: Maurice Arthur, Raymond Claude, Ronald Sydney and Eileen Mabel.
- Maurice Arthur Wicks was born on 15 May 1922 in Worthing, Sussex and died on 20 December 2009 in Barton-on-Sea, Hampshire at age 87 years. Maurice married Dorothy Gertrude Nicholas on 16 October 1943 in Worthing, Sussex. Dorothy was born on 19 November 1920 in Steyning, Sussex and died on 11 February 2001 in Barton-on-Sea, Hampshire at age 80 years. They had two children: Keith Maurice and Yvonne.
- Raymond Claude Wicks was born on 23 August 1925 in Worthing, Sussex, was christened on 13 September 1925 in Worthing, Sussex and died on 6 August 1974 in Leicester, Leicestershire at age 48 years. Raymond married Dorothy Mavis Greasley in March quarter 1948 in Barrow-upon-Soar, Leicestershire. Dorothy was born on 10 August 1925 in Thurmaston, Leicestershire and died in June 2013. They had three children: Alan Raymond, Margaret Ann and Sheila Mavis.
- Ronald Sydney Wicks was born on 19 February 1929 in Worthing, Sussex. Ronald married Gillian Henderson in June quarter 1956 in Hove, Sussex. They had one daughter: Julie. Ronald next married Edwine Victoria Odink on 20 July 1963 in Monrovia, Liberia. Edwine was born on 2 August 1929 in Medan, Indonesia. They had two children: Ann Jantina and Janet Josephine.
- Eileen Mabel Wicks was born on 3 February 1932 in Sompting, Sussex, was christened on 6 March 1932 in Sompting, Sussex and died on 4 September 1986 in Adelaide, South Australia at age 54 years. Eileen married David Frank Ward on 23 December 1950 in Brighton, Sussex. David was born on 20 June 1934 in Brighton, Sussex, was christened on 29 July 1934 in Brighton, Sussex and died on 16 March 2015 in Elizabeth Vale, South Australia at age 80 years. They had six children: Ann Patricia, Anthony David, Philip John, Michael James, Colin Paul and Christine Mary.