MAJOR D, A. HICKEY, D.S.O.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2780, 26 May 1916, Page 6

MAJOR D, A. HICKEY, D.S.O.

Tho Dunedin "Star" publishes the following details of the career. of Major Hickey, who is to command the 13th Keiiiforoeraents': —Nu officer is better oi\ more favourably known right throughout Otago tlian Major 1). A. Hickey, D.5.0.,' who relinquishes the post of General Staff officer lor tho district in order to proceed on active service. Ho first saw active, service in South Africa, enlisting in the famous 4th Continent as a mere troopsr." Before the campaign was over he had won his commission—mid on. the word of the men who fought with him 1 they iy>vcr wished for a better leader—been mention-' ed in dispatches, and gained the D.S.O. Major Hickey was present in the operations in tho Transvaal wesc of Pretoria, August, 1000, and October to November 29, 1800; operations in the Transvaal, December, lUOfl, 'to July, 1901, and August to December, 1901; operations in the Orange Biver Colony, July to August, 1901, and December, 1901, to February, 1902; operations on tho Zululand frontier of Natal in September and October, 1901. He was twico severely wounded, firstly outside of Jlafeking on the first occasion tho Fourth went into action, and again near the close of the war, when serving with tho 7th Contingent as a lieutenant at Bothasburg. His D.S.O. was, according to an extract from tho British Army Orders, awarded for conspicuous gallantry displayed wliilo a member of a party under Generni Byng, operating against the Boers at AVitto Kopjes. An eye-witness tells the story that a force of -500 to 600 men (Qucenslanders, 7th New Zealand, and 7th Hussars), under command of Ouneral Garrett antl Colonel Harry White, left Kooinek 011 a night march to Witte Kopjes at 1 p.m. ou December 25, 1900, the whole forming part of operations at that time being carried on in Eastern Transvaal by General Byng. After marching all night a thick fog came up, which obscured all landmarks and caused a halt to be called about 1 a.m. on a small plateau. All hands at once dismounted and went to sleep, holding their horses. Suddenly a party of Boers crept up inside the outposts and opened a heavy fire on the rear of . the column. Lieutenant Hickey (who was probably tho only man mounted at the time) observed another party of the enemy coming up on the right to open a cross-fire. He instantly rode slaj> at them, using his revolver and shouting "This way, New Zealand!" The Boers turned and fled. This also had the effect of making the first party mount and gallop off. On account of all the men being lying down, the casual, ties were slight, but nearly 100 horses were killed and wounded.

After returning to the Dominion Major Hickey (then, of course, still lieutenant) first filled tho position of district storekeeper. Later on, as a oaptain, he becaine assistant adjutant-general for the district. When tho Territorial scheme was introduced, and Major Grant, V.0., became General Staff Officer, Captain Hickey was appointed A.Q.M.G. Later he went to Invercargill as group commander and adjutant to the Sth (Southland) Eogiment. Early in 1914 lie returned to Dunedin as' groun commander, and when Colonel Macdonald went away in charge of tho Otago Infantry Battalion Captain Hickey took over the duties of General Staff Officer with the rank of major. This position ho lias filled for 12 months past with conspicuous abilty. He has had a tremendous amount of hard work to do. On active servico he will have the best wishes not only of tho military in Otago, but .of the community as. a whole. His work as Staff Officer has won the esteem of all with whom he has come in contact in that position; but he is firstly regarded as a fine leader and a fighter, and such lie undoubtedly is.