Philip Hugh Whitby Hicks

Philip Hugh Whitby Hicks CBE, DSO, MC (25 September 1895–8 October 1967) was an officer in the British Army during both world wars.

He was commissioned in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment in 1914, during the First World War, and fought on the Western Front. In the Second World War he was commander of the 1st Airlanding Brigade of the 1st Airborne Division. He commanded the brigade in the Mediterranean and more notably during the Battle of Arnhem.

After the war he retired from the army and worked for the International Refugee Organization and the National Playing Fields Association before his death in 1967.

Early life
Philip Hugh Whitby Hicks was born on 25 September 1895 in Warwick, Warwickshire. The son of Dr Philip Hicks and the writer Beatrice Whitby, he was educated at Winchester College in Hampshire.

First World War
Philip Hicks was a member of the Territorial Force army number 15075, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the 1/7th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, on 23 October 1914. The 1/7th Battalion was part of the 143rd Brigade 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 granted a regular army commission on 23 June 1916. Hicks was mentioned in despatches on 13 November 1916, while serving with the 7th Battalion.

In May 1918, Hicks transferred to the 1st Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, which was part of the 10th Brigade of the 4th Division. While serving with the 4th Division he was awarded a Military Cross in 1918, during the Hundred Days Offensive. The citation stated: "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during a daylight raid. He commanded his party in a most skilful manner, and was largely responsible for its success. About 50 of the enemy were killed, several of whom were shot by him with his revolver, and two prisoners taken. His conduct was splendid." On 8 November 1918 Hicks was again mentioned in despatches.

Between the wars
Hicks remained in the army after the First World War, and was promoted to captain in January 1922. He served in British India between November 1924 and January 1926. The following year, on 19 November 1927, he married Patty Fanshaw, the daughter of Brigadier Lionel Arthur Fanshawe. They had two children, a son and a daughter. In November 1924 Hicks became the aide de camp to the district commander at Karachi until January 1926. In March 1931, he returned to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, joining the 2nd Battalion at Khartoum. 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 January 1937 Hicks returned to the 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, which was now back in the United Kingdom and based at Tidworth. He remained with the 2nd Battalion until January 1939, when he transferred to the 1st Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, which was serving in Faizabad at the time.

Second World War
At 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 in the 144th Brigade of the 48th (South Midland) Division. The battalion played a prominent part in the Battle of Dunkirk, for which Hicks was awarded a Distinguished Service Order.

In 1942 1943, Hicks was given command of an airborne formation, the 1st Airlanding Brigade, and in 1943 was promoted to brigadier. During Operation Ladbroke – part of the Allied invasion of Sicily – Hicks's glider landed in the sea 1 mi offshore. Hicks and the other men on board decided to swim ashore. Once there he gathered a force together and prepared to attack a coastal artillery battery. For his actions in Sicily Hicks was awarded a second Distinguished Service Order. The citation stated: "Brigadier Hicks commanded and led the 1st Airlanding Brigade in its moonlight attack at Syracuse on the night 9–10 July 1943. His own glider landed in the sea. He and his party swam ashore and took part in the fighting against enemy coast defences. Throughout the entire operation Brigadier Hicks showed the highest qualities of leadership, courage and devotion to duty."

During the battle of Arnhem on the night of 17–18 September, the divisional commander Major-General Roy Urquhart was reported missing and Brigadier Hicks assumed command of the 1st Airborne Division during a crucial period. On 23 March 1945, he became a Commander of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

Later life
In May 1948 Hicks retired from the army and became a Regional Commissioner for the International Refugee Organization in Germany between 1948 and 1952. He followed this by being on the board of the National Playing Fields Association in London, between 1955 and 1961. Hicks died on 8 October 1967 at Hartley Wintney in Hampshire.