Laurence Henry Hicks

Laurence Henry Hicks OBE (1912 – 21 April 1997) was an English-born military bandmaster and composer. He migrated to Australia in 1952 after having served in World War II with both the British Army's Black Watch and the Fourth Canadian Armoured Division's military bands. From April 1952 onward, Hicks was the first Director of Music for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). On 1 January 1963, he was appointed to The Order of the British Empire – Officer (Military) with the citation, "For service as Director of Music with the RAAF". In preparation for the 1968 independence of Nauru, Hicks composed music for the national anthem "Nauru Bwiema", with lyrics by Nauruan writer Margaret Hendrie. He was Squadron Leader of the Central Band which performed on 31 January at the independence ceremony in Nauru.

Biography Laurence Hicks was born in 1912 in London to a father who was a clarinet player in the British Army. At the age of 14 years, he was a band boy for the Cameronian Scottish Rifles. After the war he rejoined the Black Watch band and performed in India, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Britain. The following month they toured Australia and New Zealand. In April 1952 he was appointed the inaugural Director of Music for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and re-established the Central Band. He recruited new members and designed the band's uniform. with the citation "For service as Director of Music with the RAAF".

In preparation for the 1968 independence of Nauru, Hicks composed music for the national anthem, "Nauru Bwiema", with lyrics by Nauran writer, Margaret Hendrie. He was Squadron Leader of the RAAF Central Band which performed on 31 January at the independence ceremony in Nauru.

In about 1938, Hicks married and by 1956 the couple had three children. Hicks died in 1997 aged 84-85, and in 1998, the Nauru Philatelic Bureau issued stamps to commemorate the 30th year of independence, including two acknowledging Hicks’ role.