Obituaries Australia

Herbert Hixson, c1900 (seated, left)

Australian War Memorial, P00417.035

The death took place yesterday morning, after some months' illness, of Mr. Herbert Onslow Nares Hixson, sub-manager of the Australian Bank of Commerce, Ltd.

The late Mr. Hixson, who was in his 54th year, was the fourth son of the late Captain Francis Hixson (who was president of the Marine Board and Officer Commanding the Naval Forces of New South Wales) and of Mrs Hixson, of Morven, Double Bay. He was esteemed by all sections of the community in which he spent his life.

Born in Sydney, he was educated at Mr. Southey's school, Oaklands, Mittagong. He entered the service of the bank 39 years ago, and his rare sympathy and discernment, combined with his shrewd tact and judgment, won him the high regard of the entire staff.

In 1880 Mr. Hixson joined the New South Wales Naval Brigade as a cadet, and ultimately secured a commission. He volunteered with others to join a naval detachment for the Soudan, but the offer of the detachment was not accepted by the authorities. He went with the New South Wales naval contingent to China on the occasion of the Boxer rebellion, being the senior lieutenant. He was in charge, at Peking, of the detachment that guarded the Llama Temple. Upon his return, in 1901, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-commander, and served until shortly after the Commonwealth Government assumed responsibility for the whole of the Australian defences, when he was retired a commander in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve.

Mr. Hixson was a quiet unobtrusive man with few interests of late years outside those of the bank with which he was associated for so long. In his younger days he was an ardent yachtsman, and he was always fond of cricket, rarely missing a match of any importance. He was unmarried. Two brothers survive him—Mr. F. W. Hixson and Mr. E. M. Hixson—and three sisters—Mrs. G. E. Fairfax, Mrs. J. O. Fairfax, and Mrs. McCay, of Calcutta, India. The funeral will take place this afternoon.

The remains are to be interred in St. Thomas' Cemetery, North Sydney.