Obituaries Australia

Commander Francis William  Hixson, O.B.E., died late on Monday night after a short illness. He was 89.

He was a director of the Permanent Trustee Company, the United Insurance Company, the Illawarra and South Coast Steam Navigation Company Ltd., and the Newcastle Wallsend Coal Company.

He was a son of the late Captain Francis Hixson, R.N., who was stationed in Sydney in the fifties and afterwards took charge of the Sydney shore establishment of the Navy.

Commander Hixson became a commander in the Naval Brigade, which was a volunteer naval reserve raised and commanded by his father.

He always took a keen interest in naval affairs. He was honorary secretary of the Navy League, chairman of the Royal Shipwreck Relief and Humane Society, chairman of the council of the Sydney Sailors' Home for many years, and a member of the Board of Royal Naval House, being largely instrumental in the success of this body.

He was also keenly interested in sailing and school rowing, and was a member of the Council of the Sydney Church of England Grammar School.

In 1920 he was made a member of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of his work for the Australian Comforts Fund.

Commander Hixson was a brother of Lady Fairfax and the late Mrs. Geoffrey Fairfax. He is survived by his son, Mr. F. D. Hixson.

After a service in the chapel of Sydney Church of England Grammar School, North Sydney, conducted by the school chaplain, the Rev. Nigel Backhouse, to-day, at 11 a.m., the funeral will leave for Northern Suburbs Crematorium.