Hickley family papers on Admiral Henry Dennis Hickley and papers on his son Lieutenant John Dennis Hickley.

The collection is divided into papers on Admiral Henry Dennis Hickley and papers on his son Lieutenant John Dennis Hickley.
Admiral Henry Dennis Hickley collection consists of two short diaries and a watch bill from H.M.S. Diadem; appointment papers detailing the rise of Henry Dennis Hickley from lieutenant in 1847 to Admiral of Her Majesty's Fleet by 1892; Navy pay records and statements of service; letters and telegraphs between Hickley and the Admiralty from 1869 to 1890; and a small number of documents relating to the domestic life of the Hickleys between 1842 and 1888. The address book of his wife, Mrs. Hickley, also features in the collection.
Lieutenant John Dennis Hickley's collection contains several papers relating to J.D. Hickley's education and training; a few short letters written just before his death; his naval records from 1876 to 1886; as well as a short pamphlet entitled 'An Account of the Operations on the Benin River in August and September, 1894', written by Hickley and printed by Royal United Service Institution. However, most of the material on Lt Hickley deals with the circumstances of his death and burial, apparently a reflection of a Victorian obsession with tragic heroes.