Pte 22404 Harry Hewitson

• Age: 22
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Wednesday 12th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Guillemont Rd Cem
  Panel Ref: III.H.14

Harry Hewitson was born in the June quarter of 1894, one of 9 children born to Towers Park Hewitson and his wife, Harriet Annie (nee Fishlock). His parents were married on the 07th April 1885 at Beech Street Presbyterian Church. Harry was the fourth child, born in 1894 when the family lived in Walton Breck Road. 

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 184 Walton Breck Road. Harry is shown as being 7 years of age. His father, Towers, incorrectly recorded as Thomas, is shown to be a warehouseman born in Liverpool in 1858, whilst his mother, Harriet, was born in Liverpool in 1864. Harry has five siblings recorded, all born in Liverpool; Alfred T b. 1888, George W. b. 1889, William E. b.1891, Towers P. b.1897 and Harriet b.1900.

The 1911 Census shows the family recorded as living at 180 -182 Walton Breck Road, Harry is shown as a 17 years old apprentice (ships plumber). Both parents are resident at the property and his father now correctly recorded as Towers Park Hewitson is still employed as a warehouseman. His mother is shown to be a newsagent and tobacconist. Harry's siblings are now recorded as; Alfred Towers aged 23 and a tea salesman and van man, George Wright aged 22 a cycle mechanic, William Edward aged 20 a clerk and salesman, Towers Park junior aged 14 a newsagent and tobacconist, and Hattie Fishlock aged 11 and a scholar. The Census records that the parents have been married for 26 years and have had nine children, sadly three of whom have died.       

Harry and his brother, Towers Park Hewitson, enlisted on the 06th November 1914. They were both serving in  the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment; they even had consecutive numbers, Harry becoming Private 22404 and Towers Private 22405. Harry gave his age as 20 years and 200 days (his medical shows this as 100 days) and his occupation as a van man. He was five feet six inches tall, weighed 123lbs, fesh complexion, brown eyes and brown hair and gave his religion asChurch of England and his next of kin as Towers Park Hewitson, 1 Grey Road, Liverpool.

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

07.11.15: He embarked for France with his battalion, disembarking at Boulogne.

On 12^th July 1916, Harry was killed in action, aged just 22 years, during the fighting for Trones Wood. 

The murderous fighting that went on inside Trones Wood rendered it impossible to put specific dates on some of the casualties. 

The conditions are best described in the following passage from Everard Wyrall’s book The History of The King’s Regiment (Liverpool) Volume II. 

The remembrance of Trones Wood in July 1916 to those who passed through it is of a noisome, horrible place, of a tangled mass of trees and undergrowth which had been tossed and flung about in frightful confusion by the shells of both sides. Of the ghastly dead which lay about in all directions, and of DEATH, lurking in every hole and corner with greedy hands ready to snatch the lives of the unwary.  The place was Death trap, and although the attacks were made with great determination,   the presence of snipers who could not be detected and often fired into the backs of our men made the clearing of the wood impossible. 

Harry was buried close to where he fell and after the war, when graves were concentrated, his body was removed and reinterred in Guillemont Road Cemetery where he now rests. 

Guillemont was an important point in the German defences at the beginning of the Battle of the Somme in July 1916. It was taken by the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers on 30 July but the battalion was obliged to fall back, and it was again entered for a short time by the 55th (West Lancashire) Division on 8 August. On 18 August, the village was reached by the 2nd Division, and on 3 September (in the Battle of Guillemont) it was captured and cleared by the 20th (Light) and part of the 16th (Irish) Divisions. It was lost in March 1918 during the German advance, but retaken on 29 August by the 18th and 38th (Welsh) Divisions.

The cemetery was begun by fighting units (mainly of the Guards Division) and field ambulances after the Battle of Guillemont, and was closed in March 1917, when it contained 121 burials. It was greatly increased after the Armistice when graves (almost all of July-September 1916) were brought in from the battlefields immediately surrounding the village and certain smaller cemeteries, including:-

HARDECOURT FRENCH MILITARY CEMETERY. The village of Hardecourt-au-Bois was captured by French troops on the 8th July 1916, and again by the 58th (London) and 12th (Eastern) Divisions on 28 August 1918. Five British Artillerymen were buried by their unit in the French Military Cemetery, in the middle of the village, in September 1916; and in 1918 the 12th Division buried in the same cemetery 14 men of the 9th Royal Fusiliers and two of the 7th Royal Sussex.

Guillemont Road Cemetery now contains 2,263 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 1,523 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to eight casualties known or believed to be buried among them.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker.

Harry's headstone bears the epitaph:

DEARLY LOVED SON OF T P AND H A HEWITSON.

GOODNIGHT NOT FAREWELL 

Soldiers effects for Harry to his father consisting one identity disc and pension to his mother Harriet Annie.

The Liverpool Echo reported on 25th July 1916

ONE KILLED, TWO FIGHTING.

Private Harry Hewitson, of the " Pals," aged 22, who resided with his parents at 182, Walton Breck-road, Liverpool, has been killed. He enlisted when war broke out, and had been in France since last, November. His lieutenant, in a letter to his parents, says;—

"He was good soldier, and very well liked by his officers, and his loss will be felt by all."

Two of his brothers are serving in France, one being in the same platoon as his late brother. 

Liverpool Echo 26th July 1916

HEWITSON - Killed in action, aged 22 years, Harry ("Pals"), the dearly beloved fourth son of Mr and Mrs Towers P. Hewitson, 182 Walton Breck Road.

(I the Lord hath called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand and will keep thee.)

Whilst three days later the Liverpool Evening Express reported:

"Private Harry Hewitson, killed whilst serving in the Pals whom he joined on the outbreak of war. Two other brothers are still serving at the front, one being in the same platoon as his late brother. Their parents reside at 182,Walton Breck-road."

The two brothers referred to in the reports are William E. Hewitson 300284 KLR and Towers Park who enlisted the same day as Harry. Both survived the war. Towers Park Hewitson died in 1979 at Rhuddlan, Clwyd.

Harry is remembered on the following Memorials:

Richmond Baptist Church, Anfield

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall at Panel 55 Left.

We currently have no further information on Harry Hewitson. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Grateful thanks are extended to Barry Hewitson a member of Harry's family who kindly provided some of the biographical information contained herein.