Denis Hickey M.C.

Died on the 07/11/1918 of dysentery at the 11th Casualty Clearing Station at Lille.

Denis and the Battalion arrived at St. Nazaire on the 12/09/1914 and were part of the 88th Brigade, 29th Division when Denis contracted Bronchial Pneumonia in the trenches and died at the 11th Casualty Clearing Station at Lille 4 days before the Armistice and over 4 years after enlisting. Denis received his Commission on the 15/10/1917. He is listed as 2nd Battalion attached to 7th Battalion on his Army Register of Soldiers Effects (see photos). The 7th Battalion was disbanded on the 14th February 1918. Troops went to 2nd Battalion and to the 19th Entrenching Battalion. The Final Advance in Flanders : 28th September - 11th November 1918 : The British Second Army and Belgian Army combine and finally break out of the Ypres salient. More ground is gained in a day that in the entire Passchendaele offensive of a year before. The offensive continues through fighting in the Courtrai area and eventually well across the Scheldt. Denis' Battalion were involved in the Battle of Ypres, 28th September - 2nd October 1918 and the Battle of Courtrai, 14th - 19th October 1918 before he died. Denis was awarded the Military Cross for his bravery at the Battle of Courtrai. The London Gazette states - "He led his platoon with great gallantry and ability in the attack near Ledeghem on the 14/10/1918. Keeping his men well in hand and collecting those who had got lost in the fog he dealt with considerable opposition capturing many prisoners and machine guns. Again on the 20th October during the attack on Staceghem he did excellent work". From War Diary 14/10/1918 (7) : "Our captures were big - 14 Officers and 249 Other Ranks, 60 Machine Guns (of which "B" Company captured 48) and 11 guns of various calibres, chiefly field guns. Our casualties amounted to 2 Officers and 9 Other Ranks Killed, 5 Officers and 70 Other Ranks Wounded and 5 Other Ranks Missing". SEE PHOTOS FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY OCTOBER - ARMISTICE DAY 1918. Denis is also remembered on the St. Mary's Church Roll of Honour (see Newspaper clipping). See photos for Denis' Medal Index Card, his name on the Ireland Casualties of WW1 list, his name on the 1901 Ireland Census, family listed on the 1911 Ireland Census, Denis listed on the 1911 England Census, his name on the Scotland National Probate Index 1919, Denis' Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report x 2, St. Andre Communal Cemetery, Denis' Pension Record, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, the Leinster Regiment Cap Badge and the Barbers of the 2nd Battalion Leinster Regiment at work in their camp at Dickebusch after the Battle of 31 July 1917. Denis' grave inscription reads "CHRIST SHALL WIPE AWAY ALL TEARS AND THERE SHALL BE NO DEATH". Finally, SEE PHOTOS x 23 FOR THE 2nd BATTALION LEINSTER REGIMENT WAR DIARY OCTOBER - ARMISTICE DAY 1918, PHOTOS x 25 FOR THE 29th DIVISION BOOK SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 1918 and the 29th Division Order of Battle x 13 (the Division he was with when he died).