Hicks, Murray Drysdale Stephen

Date of birth:: June 11th, 1907 (Okotoks/Alberta, Canada)
Date of death:: June 13th, 1943 (Fleringen/Overijssel, The Netherlands)
Buried on:: Commonwealth War Graves Roman Catholic Cemetery Reutum
Row: U. Grave: 1.
Service number:: J/10024
Nationality:: Canadian

Biography

Murray was born on June 11 1907 in Okotoks Alberta, the son of Archie Z. Hicks (English) and Christian H. Hicks nee Drysdale (deceased) of Okotoks. They were married on July 11 1899. His brother was Archie Clayton Hicks and his sisters were Eileen Annie Iregrar Francken and Marjorie Aldeese McKay. His brother Durward Lorne (1902) and his sister Marion Jean (1909) Hicks were already deceased during the infancy.
He was a salesman and member of the United Church. His sports were swimming, hockey, baseball, football, tennis, table tennis, billiards, squash and badminton. His hobbies were reading, photography and mechanical.

He served as a Private from July 3 1940 till March 16 1941 with the 2nd Bn Calgary Highlanders of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of Canada. He enlisted on March 17 1941 then the RCAF in Calgary and he went thereafter on March 9 1942 overseas to the UK.

Murray was killed in action on Sunday June 13 1943 age 36 just two days after this 36th birthday due to a crash at the Stouweweg Frontrotsbeek Fleringen (Tubbergen) before or after an attack on Bochum in Germany.

The other fallen RCAF crew member was F/O Albert Smith (DFC) age 22 in grave U-5 and the other fallen RAF Volunteer Reserve crew member was F/Lt Philip J. Stone (DFC) age 25 in grave U-3.
The other fallen RAF crew members were Sgt Aubrey Hunter age 22 in grave U-4 and F/Sgt Alan J. Mills in grave U-2. The other RAF crew members survived the crash and they became then prisoners of war: P/O W. J. Glenn (DFM) and P/O W.T. Batson (DFM).

On his headstone: HE GAVE HIS LIFE THAT WE MIGHT BE FREE

He served with the 50 Sqdn Royal Air Force.

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