George Hicks and James Murphy were both men of great valor who fought in World War I. They were my grandfathers!

Sergeant George Hicks fought at Gallipoli (Suvla Bay) and was one of the few to survive the massacre at Beaumont Hamel (France) where on July 1, 1916  801 soldiers entered battle;

of these only 68 survived.

He was awarded the Military Cross as a result of his courageous acts at the Battle of Krombeke.

He was then promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.

He was further awarded a bar to the Military Cross after the  Battle of Ypres, when he rose to the rank of Captain.

James J. Murphy (2181) held the rank of Sergeant and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal “for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in an attack.

He led a small party against a blockhouse which was holding up the advance, and captured it with a machine gun,

taking seventeen prisoners.

He commanded his platoon throughout

with great courage and ability!”

I am very proud of them, their courage and heroism.

                                                                           - Brian Murphy