William Henry Hewitt
Lance-Corporal, 2nd South African Light Infantry
- Register No.
- 566 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lance-Corporal (register: Lance Corporal) all Lance-Corporals →
- Unit
- 2nd South African Light Infantry all 2nd South African Light Infantry VCs →
- Date of action
- 20 September 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 26th November, 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Born
- 19th June, 1884 at Copdock, Suffolk
- Died
- 7th December 1966 at Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
- Memorial / grave
- not known
Digest of citation
On 20th September, 1917 east of Ypres, Belgium, Lance-Corporal Hewitt attacked the pill-box with his section and tried to rush the doorway. The garrison, however, proved very stubborn and in the attempt the Lance-Corporal received a severe wound. Nevertheless he proceeded to the loophole of the pill-box where, in his attempts to put a bomb in it, he was again wounded in the arm. Undeterred, he finally managed to get the bomb inside where it dislodged the occupants and they were successfully dealt with by the rest of the section
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
HEWITT, William Henry. (reg No. 566).
Lance-Corporal. 2nd South African Light Infantry.
London Gazetted on 26th November, 1917.
Born on 19th June, 1884 at Copdock, Suffolk.
Died on 7th December 1966 at Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
Memorial not known.
Digest of Citation reads: On 20th September, 1917 east of Ypres, Belgium, Lance-Corporal Hewitt attacked the pill-box with his section and tried to rush the doorway. The garrison, however, proved very stubborn and in the attempt the Lance-Corporal received a severe wound. Nevertheless he proceeded to the loophole of the pill-box where, in his attempts to put a bomb in it, he was again wounded in the arm. Undeterred, he finally managed to get the bomb inside where it dislodged the occupants and they were successfully dealt with by the rest of the section.
Additional information:. He attained the rank of major.
Additional information
He attained the rank of major
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: not known
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