Wigan Album

It would appear he was Private 687 J. Hickey, Ron - the 6 does look very much like an 8 on the photo.
He served in the 5th Battalion, and was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal.

687 Private Hickey J 5th Bn.
From:
[url="http://www.lancs-fusiliers.co.uk/gallerynew/18991902SouthAfricaSpionKopLadysmith/18991902SouthAfricaSpionKopLadysmith.htm"]Here[/url]

Thanks for the info. Does it say where he came from?

There is only one J Hickey on the 1901 census he was a living in Hammersmith Londen can't find any connection with Wigan

Sorry mistake born Hammersmith London in 1860 living Farnham Surrey in 1901

Hi Ken thanks for the info Although you say he was living in London. No doubt being in the Lancashire Fusiliers he was born in the county?

Ron and Ken - when the census was taken (31st March 1901), there is every chance this man would still be serving overseas.

I thought I would just have a look for J Hickey in the Ancestry military records. There are several J Hickey's, it seems to be a surname from the Liverpool area. Quite a few James Hickey's but I only found one J Hickey in the Lancashire Fusiliers, in the 2nd Battalion & who was in Sth Africa, the Boer War. It seems that this J Hickey served from 1899 to 1902 when he was invalided out.
He was eligible for 'clasps' & medal, he fought at The Relief of Ladysmith.

Wether this is the J Hickey that you are looking for, I can't tell.

PS If I put a pic of a regimental badge on WW, is there anyone out there who could identify what regiment it belonged to ?

If he did serve in the 5th Battalion, it's highly likely he at least lived in Lancashire, as this was a Militia Battalion (similar to the present to the present day Territorial Army), and would have recruited from men living in the county.

findmypast shows J Hickey No. 687 serving with the Lancs Fusiliers 5 Battalion. It lists The Queen's South Africa (QSA) Medal Clasps: Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902.
But sadly no more useful info, not even a first name.
Sorry to correct someone, but the 1901 census does have loads of people called J Hickey, living all over the country.

Can someone can check the 1891 census to see if there is a J.Hickey living in Wigan at that time?

Just had a quick look.
Two James Hickey's born in Wigan on the 1891 census.

1) James Hickey bn abt 1880. Father... John. Mother... Mary
both born in Ireland. Family live at 6 Bighams(?) Yard in the parish of St Thomas. James was in the Lancashire Fusiliers, discharged sick in 14/8/17. Awarded the Victory British Star medal

2)James Hickey bn abt1878, Wigan. Family lived at 4 Silvers (? Terrace, parish of St Patricks. Occupation, Saddlers Apprentice. Father Patrick. Mother Mary. Both born in Ireland.

I don't think we were told the name was James? So, findmypast shows up a possible: John Hickey, attested Aug 1899 aged 17 years 3 months. 5th Battalion Lancs Fusliers. Address is given as 28 Hardybutts, Wigan. Hickey family are in Hardybutts on a couple of census years, but not John. Various other bits of info on attestation papers, if anyone's interested, but no conclusive ID.

True the J could stand for any christian name so without this info it is very difficult to find

My great uncle Mansel Bowen, was born in Kilgetty, South Wales but joined 2nd/8th Battalion XX The Lancashire Fusiliers while living in Wales - died Passchendaele 1917, 3rd battle Ypres - body never found. So did the "requirement" of being born in Lancashire to serve in a Lancashire regiment change during WW1?

Keith - to the best of my knowledge, no such recruitment condition ever existed.
Although they recruited within the county, provided a man was suitable and met requirements, his place of birth wasn't an issue.

Pte James Hickey was my grandfather and his number was 687
He was born in Wigan in 1879 and died there in 1965 living in Accacia Crescent, Beech Hill.
how he fought in the Boer War, lying about his age so he could stay with his pals, how he fought in WWI at Paschendaele and other battles, how he went to Russia in 1919 to fight against the Bolsheviks, and then how he tried to sign up again in 1939.

buried in the mud up to his neck

But the story which most captured my imagination was the one about how his hair turned snow white. It seems he was in No Man's Land, and got buried in the mud up to his neck. He was there for a day, unable to move, and was only rescued when a Red Cross volunteer saw his eyes flicker and had him dug out. Granddad's hair had turned white overnight. Despite his experiences He tried to serve in 1939 but was told "you have done your bit for King and Country go back home"