Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Eight: Warrant Officer Class 2 F. C. N. Wickens, Queen’s Royal Regiment, late Hampshire, Worcestershire and Middlesex Regiments

General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Palestine, Malaya (2215770 Cpl. F. C. Wickins, Worc. R.); 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals, these four privately engraved, ‘221570 C.S.M. Wickens F. C. N. Queens); Korea 1950-53, 2nd issue (2215770 W.O. Cl. 2 F. C. N. Wickens, Mx.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, unnamed; Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (2215770 W.O. Cl. 2 F. C. N. Wickens, Queens.) last with corrections to two letters, note variation in name, very fine and better (lot) £400-500

Frederick Charles Norton ‘Charlie Fred’ Wickens was born in Londonderry on 1 September 1909. His father, George Alexander Wickens, was born in Kilkenny in 1883 and when Fred was born was a Lance-Serjeant in the 1st Battalion Hampshire Regimental Band.

From 11 June 1925 to 9 September 1927 he served as a private in the Hampshire (Fortress) Company Royal Engineers and then transferred to the Hampshire Regiment on 10 September 1927 and served with them in the U.K. and Germany until 9 September 1934. On 10 September 1934 he was posted to the Home A/Reserve and then joined the 1st Battalion Worcester Regiment on 30 September 1937. On 2 September 1938 he sailed to Palestine on the H.T. Neuralia and served with the Battalion in Palestine during the period of the Arab Revolt. The role of the Battalion was ‘Maintaining public order’ in Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Hebron where they successfully maintained a curfew after the burning down of the Jewish synagogue. He returned to the U.K. on 28 April 1939 and on 27 May 1940 re-enlisted into the Royal Sussex Regiment and served with them in the U.K. until 27 November 1943.

On 28 November 1943 he was posted to the 2nd Battalion Queen’s Royal Regiment in India and took part in the Second Chindit Expedition. Under the command of General Orde Wingate, the 2nd Queen’s were part of the 61st British Brigade, commanded by Brigadier Bernard Ferguson, D.S.O. The battalion served in the jungle for 94 days, spent 67 marching and covered 575 miles. They successfully attacked Indaw and were finally flown out from the Broadway Stronghold to Imphal. C.S.M. Wickens returned from India on 14 October 1947 and was posted to the BAOR, January-December 1948. On 2 December 1948 he re-enlisted into Queens Royal Regiment and while in Germany there was a battalion parade where volunteers were called for to go to Korea. The whole battalion stepped forward, but only one officer and one warrant officer (Charlie Fred), four sergeants and 131 soldiers were selected. They joined the Middlesex Regiment in Korea and Wickens became C.S.M. of ‘C’ Company that was primarily a ‘Queen’s Regiment’ company, although wearing the Middlesex Regt. cap badge. He fought with the 1st Battalion in the advance up to the Yalu River and in the subsequent withdrawal finally taking part in the bitter battle at Kap Yong. During their time in Korea the Battalion earned seven battle honours. W.O.2 Wickens then returned to the Queens Royal Regiment and served with them in Malaya and BAOR until his discharge on 2 November 1955 with a L.S.G.C. medal and an “Exemplary” final grading. He lived at 24 Milton Avenue, Rustington Sussex with his wife, Mrs Kathleen M Wickens, and died on 16 July 1965.

With a quantity of original items, including Warrant Document of appointment, dated 6 September 1941; two Certificates of Service (1927 and 1948 enlistments); Soldier’s Record and Pay Book; Discharge Certificate (1948); Record of Service; Leave Pass; Certificate of Merit, for service in Korea with the Middlesex Regiment; War Office letter of appreciation re. his pension after 25 years service; small military photographs (4); ‘Best Recruit’ Medal, Hampshire Depot, October Squad 1927, named to Pte. F. Wickens, 44mm., bronze; other sports medals (9) bronze - for running, shot-put, discus, hammer and long-jump, most named, two in cases, the others in damaged or part missing card boxes of issue; together with sundry metal uniform insignia relating to the Queen’s, Hampshire and Worcestershire Regiments.