Cecil Hincks
Encyclopedia
Sir Cecil Stephen Hincks (18 February 1894 – 1 January 1963), Australia
n politician, was a member of the South Australian House of Assembly
who was Minister of Lands, Irrigation and Repatriation in Thomas Playford
's government.
, the son of miller
Henry Stephen Hincks and his wife Emily Frances Picton (née Parkins). He was educated at Port Victoria Public School and the Collegiate School of St Peter, and followed his father into the flour milling trade after completion of his schooling, while training with the cadets and citizens' force. In 1914, he was considered to try out for the Port Adelaide Football Club
, but his trial was cancelled due to the outbreak of World War I
.
, 25 miles north of Adelaide. Hincks travelled to Morphettville
, where he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force
on 28 August 1914 and was assigned to the South Australian 10th Battalion's 'G' Company as a Lance Corporal
.
Hincks served with the 10th Battalion in the Gallipoli Campaign, coming ashore at Anzac Cove
on 25 April 1915 ahead of the main landing of Australian forces
. On 28 April, Hincks was promoted to Corporal, and on 4 August to Sergeant
. In September 1915, Hincks was evacuated to Mudros after he was found to be suffering from influenza
and an intestinal disease. In October he was admitted to hospital in Cardiff
, and nearly a year later he was discharged from hospital in Salisbury
and returned to rejoin his unit at the Western Front
on 23 August 1916.
At the Battle of Lagnicourt, Hincks received gunshot wounds to his legs and chest, and was sent to Rouen
where his condition was assessed as "dangerously ill". He was evacuated to England to recover, and after a year of surgery, his injured leg was amputated
. In 1918, he married Gladys Lottie Merritt in Surbiton, Surrey. He remained in England on extended sick leave for most of 1919, but left to return to Australia on 10 December. He was discharged from the 10th Battalion a year later on 13 December 1920. His marriage to Gladys ended in divorce shortly afterwards.
recruiting officer during World War II
, working out of the Central Recruiting Depot (CRD) in Yorketown
. He was promoted to Temporary Captain and transferred to the Reserve of Officers in August 1941, and was discharged on 16 May 1946.
(1922–1946). At the South Australian state election
in August 1941, Hincks was elected to the South Australian House of Assembly
, representing the electoral district of Yorke Peninsula
for the Liberal and Country League
.
After serving on a committee to inspect and assess land for the Federal government for soldier settlement
, Hincks was assigned to the related portfolios as Minister of Lands, Irrigation and Repatriation on 17 April 1946.
Despite his poor health, Hincks was respected and admired for his hard work in the portfolios, which he held until his death in office from cancer
on 1 January 1963.
on 1 January 1960, for service as Minister of Lands and Repatriation in South Australia.
The Hincks Conservation Park on the Eyre Peninsula
was named after him, and in 2004, the adjourning Hincks Wilderness Protection Area was declared as one of the first wilderness protection areas on mainland South Australia.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician, was a member of the South Australian House of Assembly
South Australian House of Assembly
The House of Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of South Australia. The other is the Legislative Council. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Adelaide.- Overview :...
who was Minister of Lands, Irrigation and Repatriation in Thomas Playford
Thomas Playford IV
Sir Thomas Playford, GCMG was a South Australian politician. He served continuously as Premier of South Australia from 5 November 1938 to 10 March 1965, the longest term of any elected government leader in the history of Australia. His tenure as premier was marked by a period of population and...
's government.
Early life
Cecil Hincks was born on 18 February 1894, in the township of Maitland, South AustraliaMaitland, South Australia
Maitland is a town in South Australia located 168 km west of Adelaide by road, 164 km south of Port Pirie and 46 km north of Minlaton known as the "heart of Yorke Peninsula" due to being near the center of the region...
, the son of miller
Miller
A miller usually refers to a person who operates a mill, a machine to grind a cereal crop to make flour. Milling is among the oldest of human occupations. "Miller", "Milne" and other variants are common surnames, as are their equivalents in other languages around the world...
Henry Stephen Hincks and his wife Emily Frances Picton (née Parkins). He was educated at Port Victoria Public School and the Collegiate School of St Peter, and followed his father into the flour milling trade after completion of his schooling, while training with the cadets and citizens' force. In 1914, he was considered to try out for the Port Adelaide Football Club
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
, but his trial was cancelled due to the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
World War I
At the outbreak of the war, the Hincks family was living in the town of GawlerGawler, South Australia
Gawler is the first country town in the state of South Australia, and is named after the second Governor of the colony of South Australia, George Gawler. It is located north of the centre of the state capital, Adelaide, and is close to the major wine producing district of the Barossa Valley...
, 25 miles north of Adelaide. Hincks travelled to Morphettville
Morphettville, South Australia
Morphettville is a suburb of Adelaide, South Australia in the City of Marion. It is the site of the Morphettville Racecourse and the tram barn for the Glenelg Tram. Both the suburb and the racecourse were named after Sir John Morphett....
, where he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force
First Australian Imperial Force
The First Australian Imperial Force was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during World War I. It was formed from 15 August 1914, following Britain's declaration of war on Germany. Generally known at the time as the AIF, it is today referred to as the 1st AIF to distinguish from...
on 28 August 1914 and was assigned to the South Australian 10th Battalion's 'G' Company as a Lance Corporal
Lance Corporal
Lance corporal is a military rank, used by many armed forces worldwide, and also by some police forces and other uniformed organizations. It is below the rank of corporal, and is typically the lowest non-commissioned officer, usually equivalent to the NATO Rank Grade OR-3.- Etymology :The presumed...
.
Hincks served with the 10th Battalion in the Gallipoli Campaign, coming ashore at Anzac Cove
Anzac Cove
Anzac Cove is a small cove on the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey. It became famous as the site of World War I landing of the ANZAC on April 25, 1915. The cove is a mere long, bounded by the headlands of Ari Burnu to the north and Little Ari Burnu, known as Hell Spit, to the south...
on 25 April 1915 ahead of the main landing of Australian forces
Landing at Anzac Cove
The landing at Anzac Cove was part of the amphibious invasion of the Gallipoli Peninsula by Australian and New Zealand forces on 25 April 1915. The landing, north of Gaba Tepe on the Aegean coast of the Peninsula, was made by soldiers of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps and was the first...
. On 28 April, Hincks was promoted to Corporal, and on 4 August to Sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
. In September 1915, Hincks was evacuated to Mudros after he was found to be suffering from influenza
Influenza
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae , that affects birds and mammals...
and an intestinal disease. In October he was admitted to hospital in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, and nearly a year later he was discharged from hospital in Salisbury
Salisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
and returned to rejoin his unit at the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
on 23 August 1916.
At the Battle of Lagnicourt, Hincks received gunshot wounds to his legs and chest, and was sent to Rouen
Rouen
Rouen , in northern France on the River Seine, is the capital of the Haute-Normandie region and the historic capital city of Normandy. Once one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe , it was the seat of the Exchequer of Normandy in the Middle Ages...
where his condition was assessed as "dangerously ill". He was evacuated to England to recover, and after a year of surgery, his injured leg was amputated
Amputation
Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma, prolonged constriction, or surgery. As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as malignancy or gangrene. In some cases, it is carried out on individuals as a preventative surgery for...
. In 1918, he married Gladys Lottie Merritt in Surbiton, Surrey. He remained in England on extended sick leave for most of 1919, but left to return to Australia on 10 December. He was discharged from the 10th Battalion a year later on 13 December 1920. His marriage to Gladys ended in divorce shortly afterwards.
World War II
Lieutenant Hincks served as an Australian ArmyAustralian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
recruiting officer during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, working out of the Central Recruiting Depot (CRD) in Yorketown
Yorketown, South Australia
←Yorketown is a town in southern Yorke Peninsula, South Australia.Yorketown is in the District Council of Yorke Peninsula, the South Australian House of Assembly electoral district of Goyder and the Australian House of Representatives Division of Grey.-External links:*** Yorke Peninsula Visitor...
. He was promoted to Temporary Captain and transferred to the Reserve of Officers in August 1941, and was discharged on 16 May 1946.
Political career
Following his discharge from the army, Hincks worked for the Wheat Harvest Board before setting up his own grain and insurance management business and starting a farm. He was a member of several charitable organisations, and a state councillor in the Returned Sailors' Soldiers' [and Airmens] Imperial LeagueReturned and Services League of Australia
The Returned and Services League of Australia is a support organisation for men and women who have served or are serving in the Australian Defence Force ....
(1922–1946). At the South Australian state election
South Australian state election, 1941
State elections were held in Australia on 29 March 1941. All 39 seats in the South Australian House of Assembly were up for election. The incumbent Liberal and Country League government led by Premier of South Australia Thomas Playford IV defeated the opposition Australian Labor Party led by Leader...
in August 1941, Hincks was elected to the South Australian House of Assembly
South Australian House of Assembly
The House of Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of South Australia. The other is the Legislative Council. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Adelaide.- Overview :...
, representing the electoral district of Yorke Peninsula
Yorke Peninsula
The Yorke Peninsula is a peninsula located north-west and west of Adelaide in South Australia, Australia, between Spencer Gulf on the west and Gulf St Vincent on the east. It has geographic coordinates of...
for the Liberal and Country League
Liberal and Country League
The Liberal and Country League was a major political party in South Australia throughout its forty year existence. Thirty-four years were spent in government, in part due to the electoral malapportionment known as the Playmander, introduced after coming to power.Created on 9 June 1932 as the...
.
After serving on a committee to inspect and assess land for the Federal government for soldier settlement
Soldier settlement (Australia)
Soldier settlement refers to the occupation and settlement of land throughout parts of Australia by returning discharged soldiers under schemes administered by the State Governments after World Wars I and II.- World War I :...
, Hincks was assigned to the related portfolios as Minister of Lands, Irrigation and Repatriation on 17 April 1946.
Despite his poor health, Hincks was respected and admired for his hard work in the portfolios, which he held until his death in office from cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
on 1 January 1963.
Honours and memorials
Hincks was made a Knight BachelorKnight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
on 1 January 1960, for service as Minister of Lands and Repatriation in South Australia.
The Hincks Conservation Park on the Eyre Peninsula
Eyre Peninsula
Eyre Peninsula is a triangular peninsula in South Australia. It is bounded on the east by Spencer Gulf, the west by the Great Australian Bight, and the north by the Gawler Ranges. It is named after explorer Edward John Eyre who explored some of it in 1839-1841. The coastline was first explored by...
was named after him, and in 2004, the adjourning Hincks Wilderness Protection Area was declared as one of the first wilderness protection areas on mainland South Australia.