Pte 16369 Thomas Hewitt

• Age: 24
• From: Warrington Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Private Thomas HEWITT 18^th Battalion KLR.

Thomas Hewitt was born on 14th July 1891 in Warrington, the second of seven children and eldest of four sons born to Thomas, a self-employed builder, and his wife Mary (née Woods) who were married on the 05^th July 1886 at St Elphin's Church, Warrington. Thomas was a 22 year old bricklayer of 22 School Brow, father Joseph a bricklayer, whilst Mary was aged 24 of 27 Orchard Street, father Joseph a shoemaker. They had other children Harold, Wilfred and Harry who died in infancy.

In 1901 the family lived, coincidentally, at 4 Hewitt Street, Latchford, Warrington. Thomas is 9 years old and lives with his parents and six siblings. His father is recorded as a Warrington born 37 year old bricksetter - employer, whilst his mother is 39 and was also born in Warrington. His siblings, all born in Warrington, are listed as; Ada aged 13, Polly 11, Joseph 8, John 6, Harry 4 and Alfred 2. Also present is his grandfather Joseph Hewitt 65.  

The 1911 Census find the family are still at 4 Hewitt Street, Warrington. Thomas is 19 years of age and is employed as bricksetter. His father is a 47 year old builder employing others, whilst his mother is 49 years of age and assisting in the family business. They have been married for 24 years and six of their nine children have survived. Four siblings are still living in the property; Mary Ann aged 21 is a music teacher, Joseph is 18 and a joiner, John Taylor aged 16 is a tinsmith, and Alfred aged 12 at school. The family also employ a servant, Hilda Thompson aged 15. 

Thomas was educated at Arpley Street School, Warrington and after serving a seven year apprenticeship which expired in 1912, with his father. He was employed as a builder and contractor. He was a member of St Paul’s football and cricket clubs and also of the Warrington Cycling club.

Thomas enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 02nd September 1914, joining the 18th Battalion as Private 16369. He was aged 23 years 50 days, occupation builder, and his next of kin was recorded as his father, of ‘The Maples’, 11 Longdin Street, Latchford, Warrington. He was described as being 5' 7" tall, weighed 124lbs with a 36" chest, a fresh complexion, brown hair and blue eyes. His religion is stated as Church Of England.

He qualified as a machine gunner and sailed to France with his Battalion on 07th November 1915 on board the SS Invicta and was attached to the Machine Gun Section.

18^th Battalion Diary

At 6.30am the artillery commenced an intensive bombardment of the enemy’s trenches. Zero Hour – 7.30 am – the battalion commenced to leave their trenches and the attack commenced. The attack was pressed with great spirit and determination in spite of heavy shelling and machine gun enfilade fire which caused casualties amounting to 2/3rds of the strength of the Battalion in action. The whole system of German trenches including the Glatz Redoubt was captured without any deviation from the scheduled programme. Consolidated positions and made strong points for defence against possible counter attacks.

Graham Maddocks provides more detail concerning the events of the day:

As the first three waves began to move forward towards the German reserve line, known as Alt Trench and then on to the Glatz Redoubt itself, they suddenly came under enfilading fire from the left. This was from a machine gun which the Germans had sited at a strong point in Alt Trench. The gun itself was protected by a party of snipers and bombers, who, hidden in a rough hedge, were dug into a position in Alt Trench, at its junction with a communication trench known as Alt Alley. These bombers and snipers were themselves protected by rifle fire from another communication trench, Train Alley which snaked back up the high ground and into Montauban itself. The machine gun fire was devastating and it is certain that nearly of the Battalion’s casualties that day were caused by that one gun.  

Lieutenant Colonel Edward Henry Trotter  wrote in the conclusion of his account of the days action:

I cannot speak to highly of the gallantry of the Officers and men. The men amply repaid the care and kindness of their Company Officers, who have always tried to lead and not to drive. As laid down in my first lecture to the Battalion when formed, in the words of Prince Kraft:

“Men follow their Officers not from fear, but from love of the Regiment where everything had always and at all times gone well with them”.    

Joe Devereux in his book A Singular Day on the Somme gives the Casualty Breakdown for the 18^th Battalion as Killed in Action 7 Officers and 165 men and of those who died in consequence of the wounds 3 Officers and 19 men a total of 194 out of a total loss for the four Liverpool Pals Battalions of 257.

Thomas' body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

His effects (including his identity disc, parade service book, letters and photos, watch, key on strap, motor licence, a New Testament and a French book) and his medals were later received by his father, who in 1919 swore a declaration that Thomas was survived by his parents, three brothers (Joseph 26; Jack/John Taylor 24; and Alfred 20) and two married sisters.

Thomas' three brothers also served in the Great War, Joseph who had served with the Motor Transport section of the Army Service Corps (ASC) and was awarded the Military Medal in 1917. Jack who also served with the Motor Transport Section of the ASC, and Alfred who served in the Navy. 

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