Captain, Lincolnshire Regiment
Born: September 17th 1884
Died: June 22nd 1915
Age at Death: 30
Died of Wounds, Ypres, Flanders, June 22nd 1915.
Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel 21
Belgium
Son of Dobree C.Wickham, Assistant Master of Brighton College (Head Master of Brighton College Junior School). Dobree Wickham's obituary is featured in The Brightonian 1925 Volume XVIII: "Under him the Junior School reached its highest pitch of success and efficiency. He was an enthusiast in all he undertook and had the gift of inspiring others with his enthusiasm." Both sons were sadly killed.
Brother to Lister D. Wickham (Ch. 1908-13).
A donation to the memorial statue has been made in honour of this soldier by Tom & Anna Briggs, Maggie J. Briggs (Fe. 2013-18) and John w. briggs (Sc. 2015-20).
Obituary Brightonian XV December, 1916
John Dobree Durell Wickham entered the Junior House, Brighton College, in September 1891, passing on to School House. He obtained his Commission through the Lincolnshire Militia, and joined the 2nd Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment at Shorncliffe in 1905. In the Autumn of that year he went to the 1st Battalion, then in India, where he remained till 1910, when he was seconded to the W. African Frontier Force for service in Southern Nigeria. On the outbreak of war he was sent to the Cameroons with the Northern Force where he fought until he contracted black water fever, and was invalided home. In May, 1915, he rejoined his regiment at Grimsby, and sailed for the West Front on June 1st to join the 1st Battalion and was sadly killed near Ypres on June 22nd. One of the senior officers writes:- "His loss is a great one, not only to us in the Regiment, but to the Army." Another: "His loss to the Regiment is irreparable. He was quite one of the best officers we had - always the same - popular to a degree with all of us, officers and men. I can say of him, as was said to another brave man, 'He was a very gallant gentleman. God rest his soul.' "