HICKMAN, John Howard

John Hickman was the son of Joseph and Eliza Hickman of 52 Gospel End, Sedgley, and worked as a goods porter at Wolverhampton Railway Station. He enlisted in the Leicestershire Regiment and was sent to the 2/4th Battalion. They formed part of the 59th (North Midland) Division which spent time in Dublin in 1916 suppressing the Irish Rebellion before reaching the Western Front. On 24th February 1918 they were posted to the front line near Arras to strengthen the long front for which the British army was responsible. The German Spring offensive was expected but when it started on the 21st March, it was of extreme force. The opening barrage of the early morning was followed by a steady advance of massed enemy troops. On this first day they were unstoppable and casualties in killed and captured were very heavy. They included Private John Hickman who was killed in action. He was 26 years of age and is commemorated on the Arras and Sedgley Memorials.