James Hewitson
Lance-Corporal, 1st/4th Battalion, King's Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment
- Register No.
- 564 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lance-Corporal (register: Lance Corporal) all Lance-Corporals →
- Unit
- 1st/4th Battalion, King's Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment (register: King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment)) all King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) VCs →
- Date of action
- 26 April 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 28th June, 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Born
- 15th October 1892 at Coniston, Lancashire
- Died
- 2nd March, 1963 at Ulverston, Lancashire
- Memorial / grave
- at Coniston Churchyard, Lancashire
Digest of citation
On 26th April, 1918 at Givenchy, France, in a daylight attack on a series of crater posts, Lance-Corporal Hewitson led his party to their objective, clearing the enemy from both trench and dug outs, killing six who would not surrender. After capturing the final objective he saw a hostile machine gun team coming into action against his men and working your way round the edge of the crater he attacked the team, killing four and capturing one. Shortly afterwards he routed the bombing party which was attacking a Lewis gun, killing six of them
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
HEWITSON, James (reg No. 564).
Lance-Corporal. 1st/4th Battalion, King's Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment.
London Gazetted on 28th June, 1918.
Born on 15th October 1892 at Coniston, Lancashire.
Died on 2nd March, 1963 at Ulverston, Lancashire.
Memorial on grave at Coniston Churchyard, Lancashire.
Digest of Citation reads: On 26th April, 1918 at Givenchy, France, in a daylight attack on a series of crater posts, Lance-Corporal Hewitson led his party to their objective, clearing the enemy from both trench and dug outs, killing six who would not surrender. After capturing the final objective he saw a hostile machine gun team coming into action against his men and working your way round the edge of the crater he attacked the team, killing four and capturing one. Shortly afterwards he routed the bombing party which was attacking a Lewis gun, killing six of them.
Additional information:. He attained the rank of corporal.
Additional information
He attained the rank of corporal
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Coniston Churchyard, Lancashire
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