No.16460, Private, David HEWITT
Aged 18
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David Hewitt birth registration not identifed, son of Charles and Mary HEWITT (née ) of Frizzles Green, Great Saxham
1901 census...not found 1911 census...not found On the pension card his mother was at Great Saxham. "Soldiers Died" has him born in Saxham |
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He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds
The battalion were on what is now the SW outskirts of Auchy-les-Mines, at the junction of Little Willie trench and the Hohenzollen Redoubt. On the 3rd October 1915 the war diary has:- 3rd Oct - Between 5 and 6 am the enemy, having gained a footing in LITTLE WILLIE (held by 1st Weksh),came rapidly down the trench from left to right bombing their way through 1st Welsh and 2nd Cheshires, forcing D Coy backward into the barrier. The survivors (26 men) falling back over the open on to the support trench in rear This bombardment was most violent and the grenades which were very large, were well thrown, came in a constant hail, breaking down all resistance and killing all before it. The barrier previously built by C Coy stopped any further advance. Capt Freeman, 2 Cheshire Regt took command of D Coy half hour before this attack took place as there were no officers of the Coy left. Capt Lamb being wounded and 2 Lieut killed the previous night. The battalion was relieved by the Kings Own Royal Lancashire Regt at 3pm and took up a position in reserve in the control VERMELLES Keep for the night. From 1st to 3rd it seems the battalion had 26 killed, 100 missing believed killed and 115 wounded. CWGC has 34 dead on 3rd, only 3 having a known grave.
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
