Corporal Clarence Arney Hick
2/5th (Prince of Wales’s) Battalion, later 1/6th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment
Date of Birth: 10 January 1892
Place of Birth: Teignmouth, Devon
Date of Death: 14 April 1979
Buried: Teignmouth Cemetery plot Qq133
Awarded the 1914 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal
Clarence Arney Hick was born on the 14 January 1892 in Teignmouth, Devon.
He was the son of Elizabeth Elmore Hick née Greenslade who was born in Stoke Canon, Devon (1864-1939) and George Graham Hick who was born in Wadebridge, Cornwall (1856-1947).
Devonshire Regimentcap badge
| Clarence and his siblings (all were born in Teignmouth) | |
| Graham Tremain Hick 1887–1973 | Gladys Muriel Hick 1889–1958 |
| Elsie Maud Hick 1890-1984 | Clarence Arney Hick 1892–1979 |
| Morcombe Fuller Hick 1896– | Kathleen Mary Hick 1900–1974 |
| Godfrey Hick 1902– | |
In 1901 his family were living in Highcliffe, 1 Cross Park, Teignmouth. Clarence's sisters Gladys and Kathleen and his brother Morecombe were present and the family had a governess living with them.
Highcliffe, New Road Teignmouth. © Copyright Robin Stott. (CC BY-SA 2.0)
In 1911, the family were still at Highcliffe.
Clarence was working in a Drapery Warehouse and his father was shown on the census as a Commercial Traveller in silks.
The family had one general servant living with them.
Clarence initially served during the First World War with the 5th (Reserve) Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment (later known as the 2/5th (Prince of Wales’s) Battalion).
The Battalion were sent to Egypt 5th September 1915, where they performed garrison duties. The 2/5th Devons disbanded in June 1916.
Clarence later served with the 1/6th Devons. They were at Basra, where they remained for the rest of the war under orders of 14th (Indian) Division.
In September 1916 the 1/6th came under orders of the Tigris Lines of Communication.
Devons in warm weather uniform
During the war Clarence's sister Elsie Maud Hick served as a Nurse in the VAD (Voluntary Aid Detachment) at Teignmouth Auxillary Hospital and his brother Morcombe served with the Devonshire Yeomany and the Royal Irish Regiment.
All of Clarence's immediate family survived the war.
In 1939 Clarence and Alice were the proprietors of the Bella Vista Hotel
(building with three dormer windows on the right of the church).
Photo Public Domain
In October 1922 Clarence married Alice Hughes.
The 1939 Register shows Clarence and his wife Alice had become the proprietors of the Bella Vista Hotel on Teignmouth Sea Front.
Margaret O Hick is also shown on the Register as attending school and living at the hotel. We have been told by a local historian that Margaret's family ran the Bella Vista.
The 1939 Register also shows his sisters Elsie and Kathleen and his father still living at Highcliffe. At this point Clarence's father had retired and Kathleen had become a Chiropodist.
Clarence's wife Alice died on 24 April 1959 aged 74.
Clarence Arney Hick died on 4 April 1979, his home was Sopershay, Heywoods Road, Teignmouth when he died. He is buried in Teignmouth Cemetery as are his parents, his sisters Elsie and Kathleen and his wife Alice.
