Early Life and Career
Cecil Spencer Hickley was born on 22 January 1865 at Ashcott, Somerset, the son of Captain (later Admiral, Retired) Victor Grant Hickley, Royal Navy. He entered the training ship Britannia on 15 July, 1878.
Hickley was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 December, 1888.
He was appointed to Raleigh on the Cape of Good Hope Station on 7 September 1889. On 11 July 1890, he was appointed Flag Lieutenant to Rear-Admiral Richard Wells, the Commander-in-Chief, and served as such until 9 October. Wells recorded: "Zealous & shows judgement. Considerable physical capabilities. Recommended for advancement." He remained in Raleigh until 31 October, 1891. Captain Arthur Barrow wrote of him: "Good judgement, energetic & active.". During his time at the Cape Hickley played first-class cricket for the Western Province team.
On 16 January 1892, he was appointed to Boadicea as Flag Lieutenant to Rear-Admiral William R. Kennedy, Commander-in-Chief on the East Indies Station. He arrived home on 7 April, 1895. Kennedy recorded of him:
Very active & zealous, capital Signal officer, good judgement, specially recommended for advancement. Has performed duties of Flag Lieut with great tact & ability & entirely to my satisfaction: is at all times courteous ... which has proved of great help in all social relations in India & the Colonies.
On 12 December 1895, Hickley was appointed to the new battleship Majestic. In August 1897, it was noted that "Lord W. Kerr speaks very highly of him in note to Pte. Secretary as candidate for Royal Yacht" and, on 31 August, Hickley was appointed to HM Yacht Victoria and Albert. He was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 August 1899. While in the Royal Yacht, Hickley played first-class cricket for Somerset.
Captain
Hickley was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June 1904.
In August 1905 he assumed command of the armoured cruiser Roxburgh. He was to be in command for so short a time that he took command of his next vessel, the first class protected cruiser Amphitrite, later that same month.
On 7 December, 1906, Hickley was appointed in command of the second class protected cruiser Highflyer.
He was appointed in command of the armoured cruiser Cochrane on 5 January 1909.
He was appointed to command the battleship Vanguard on 5 June 1913.
The Great War
On 11 January 1916, Hickley was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral. He was superseded on 22 January, and on 25 May was appointed a member of the Committee on East Coast Bases. His appointment as Rear-Admiral Commanding Cruiser Force I on 4 December was cancelled owing to sickness, and on 6 December he was admitted to the Homeopathic Hospital, London, for treatment of toxæmia. On the 25th he was relieved on the East Coast Bases Committee. Following a number of surveys by the Medical Director-General he was found fit for shore service on 29 May 1917, and was regularly resurveyed afterwards.
Hickley was appointed Senior Naval Officer, Harwich, on 1 April 1918. He was also in charge of Shotley Training Establishment and Naval Barracks.
Post War
On 9 April 1919, Hickley was appointed Admiral of the Training Service (A.T.S.). He was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 17 February 1920, and was placed on the Retired List on 18 February. On 5 June Hickley was appointed a Companion in the Civil Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (CB) on the occasion of the King's birthday.
He was advanced to the rank of Admiral on the Retired List on 8 May 1925.
He died on 1 May 1941.