Hichens J B Lt 16th Kings Royal Rifle Corps
L IEUTENANT JAMES BYRN HICHENS, 16th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, was the son of the late J. K. J. Hichens of Sunninghill, a former chairman of the Stock Exchange Committee. While at Winchester he lost the sight of one eye playing football. He went to Magdalen College, Oxford, in 1891, took a First in Moderations and a Second in “Greats” and graduated in 1895. He became a member in 1900 and joined his father’s firm (Hichens, Harrison and Co.).
He always took a keen and active interest in local affairs and in 1900 helped to found the Sunninghill Church Lads’ Brigade, to which he never ceased to devote a good deal of his time, becoming Captain of the company. Though over forty-one when war was declared, he at once offered himself for the Army. He was three times rejected but persisted in his efforts, until he at length obtained his commission in a K.R.R. Battalion that was mainly recruited from the Church Lads’ Brigade.
In the autumn of 1915 he went to France. He took part in various engagements before the Battle of the Somme opened, and was injured in a German gas attack. Speedily recovering, he re- joined his Battalion. He was killed in action near High Wood on 15 July 1916. Earlier in the day he had been wounded but refused to retire and went on with his men.
‘He was one of the pluckiest of men I ever met,” wrote his Major, “and was most popular with both officers and men.”
Source : The Stock Exchange War Memorial 1914-1918