5th The London Regiment, 3 May 1915
The Citizen, Letchworth (Newspaper)
Extract from the above publication dated 21 May 1915 :-
Private T. Armitage Hewitt Killed.
ANOTHER WELL-KNOWN LETCHWORTH MAN GIVES HIS LIFE FOR HIS COUNTRY
It is our melancholy duty every week now to record the loss at the war of some Letchworth soldier. A fortnight ago it was Mr. Paxton Dent; last week there were several names among the killed; and this week the name of Mr. T. Armitage Hewitt, one of the most widely-known young men in Garden City, has to be inscribed on the Roll of Honour.
The particulars to hand are very scanty, but there is, unfortunately, little room for doubting that this bright young life has been sacrificed on the altar of duty. Private Hewitt’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hewitt, who live in Sollershott West, had regularlarly received letters from their son right up to the beginning of this month (May), when the letters suddenly ceased. Last Friday the deceased’s father had a letter which he had written to his son returned to him, endorsed with the brief but tragically significant message, “Killed in action at Ypres.”
Private Armitage Hewitt belonged to the Artists’ Rifles (Editor note – This is incorrect, he attempted to get into the 28th Battalion London Regiment, Artists Rifles but entered the 5th Battalion of the London Regiment instead.), and he left Letchworth about September.
One of his relatives, in remarking on his enlistment, said: “He said that he felt he must join the Army, because he was convinced it was the right thing to do; and when Armitage was convinced that a certain line of action was right nothing could prevent him from doing it.” This we think was characteristic of the man. He enlisted from a high sense of duty, and in the consciousness that he was doing his bit he forgot all other considerations. One of his friends who saw him off with the troop train that was to take him on the first stage of his journey to the front, says he was perfectly radiant when he went away.
He was a partner in the firm of Messrs. Hewitt, Urquhart, and Woollcott, Broadway Chambers. He took a great interest in local affairs, particularly as secretary of the Literary and Debating Society, and as secretary of the Lecture Committee of the Representative Council. There is no doubt that if he had lived he would have been one of our foremost public men. At the annual meeting of the Representative Council last October, Dr. M. Gilbert-Smith spoke of Mr. T. Armitage Hewitt who had just then joined the Army, in these terms :- “Shortly after the outbreak of the war the hon. secretary, Mr. T. Armitage Hewitt, LL.B., joined the London Rifle Brigade, and resigned the office of hon. secretary of your committee. During his term of office, Mr. Hewitt, who had from the first obtained a thorough grasp and understanding of the purposes which prompted the formation of your committee, devoted a considerable amount of his time to the work, and conducted with tact and ability a heavy correspondence with numerous persons and societies.
His zeal and exertion resulted in the promotion of many successful joint meetings between various societies, in the mitigation to a marked extent of the evils of overlapping, and in the encouragement of harmony and co-operation between sections of the community previously isolated. Mr. Hewitt’s work, proceeding entirely upon the voluntary principle, has enabled your committee, in a large measure, successfully to achieve the object of its being.”
Hornsey Journal
Extract from the above publication dated 28 May 1915 :-
Rifleman T. Armitage Hewitt, London Rifle Brigade, recently killed in action near Ypres, formerly resided at Crouch End, as briefly announced last week. He was a member of the firm of Hewitt, Urquhart and Woollacott Solicitors, 138, Londonhill Street, in which his father. Mr. Thomas Hewitt, is also a partner. He was 26 years of age, and had taken the degree of L.L.B.. He was educated at Mill Hill School, under Sir John D. McClure, and matriculated there with first-class honours. By examination he gained the Law Society’s Scholarship. Subsequently he spent some time in France to learn the language, afterwards travelling for a year, and visiting Australia and the United States. On returning to England he took charge of the Letchworth office, entering into the social life of the town, and acting in particular as the secretary of the Literary and Debating Society. Early in August last he resolved to enlist, and tried the Artists’ and the Inns of Court O.T.C.. As the waiting list was too full he enlisted as a private in the L.R.B. (London Rifle Brigade), training in London and Haywards Heath and Crowborough. He refused promotion to the non-commissioned rank because of his keen desire to go with the next draft to France.
Further Information
Further to the above information:-
In 1905, Thomas was known to be attending Mill Hill School, London where he received a scholarship to study law.
Thomas enlisted at London into the 5th London Regiment and following this he later entered the French Theatre of War on 28 March 1915.
The second Battle of Ypres commenced on the 22 April 1915 for control of the high ground to the east and south of the town of Ypres, Belgium. This battle was noted for the first mass use of poison gas by the Germans on the Western Front. This battle ended on the 25 May 1915 by which time Thomas had been killed in action.
He is honoured and remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium as he was either not recovered or remained unidentified.
War Diary of the 5th London Rifles from 2nd to 4th May 1915
2 May 1915 – Heavy Shelling all day. Small cottage 100 yards in front of left Company set on fire.
5.20 p.m. – Heavy shelling on left of your front. Gas seen issuing from German trenches. Capt. Husey took over command of Support trench.
5.40 p.m. – Bombardment still on. Gas blown off. Casualties very heavy in No.4 company. Two platoons Y company 4th Yorks were sent up between No. 4 and Z co. 4th Yorks.
9 p.m. – Captain Smith and 70 men EAST LANCS brought up 35 boxes S.A.A. and took over support trench, remaining platoons of Y company reinforced front line.
m’night – Two prisoners were captured – one 33rd and one 234th regiments, 102 Brigade, 57 Reserve Division 26th Corps.
3 May 1915
2.45 a.m. – Remainder of company EAST LANCS came up to support and two platoons relieved No.11 and 14. Platoons in front line.
3.00 a.m. – Found Germans had dug in all along our front about 200 yards away under cover of gas and shelling.
9 a.m. – Two machine guns out of action. Intermittent shelling all day. Recieved orders for withdrawal of Brigade and attached troops. L.R.B. being last to move at 12.45 a.m. on the morning of the 4th. Lieutenant Price and 2nd Lieutenant Lintott killed.
4 May 1915
12.45 a.m. – Withdrawal commenced and carried out without any casualties. Marched to ELVERDINGHE – B14c – via Pontoon Bridge No.2 and arrived at 5 a.m.
7.30 p.m. – Brigade moved – L.R.B. leading to bivouac in wood A.30 centre. Brigade congratulated by Brigadier.
Casualties. April 25 to May 4
- Killed – 2 Officers, 77 Other Ranks.
- Wounded – 12 Officers, 246 Other Ranks.
- Missing – 9 Other Ranks.
- Sick – 2 Officers, 60 Other Ranks.
Family
Thomas Armitage Hewitt was born circa 1889 at Hornsey, Middlesex. The following family information is taken from the 1891, 1901 and 1911 Census.
His family is shown as follows :-
- Father: Thomas Hewitt, born c.1854 at Salford, Lancashire – Solicitor.
- Mother: Sarah Ann Hewitt, born c.1861 at Manchester, Cheshire.
- Sister: Margary H. Hewitt, born c.1886 at Muswell Hill, Middlesex.
The family were clearly affluent as in all the Census researched, the family had 2 servants (a housemaid and cook).
Following the death of Thomas, his parents appear to have moved to Australia as their address is shown as “Rostherne,” Grove St., Toowong, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Solicitor of Supreme Court, L.L.B. (London).
Addresses
The following addresses have been ascertained for Thomas Armitage Hewitt :-
- 1891 – Hornsey, Middlesex.
- 1911 – 33 Coolhurst Road, Crouch End, Hornsey, Middlesex.
- 1915 – ‘Uplands’, Letchworth, Hertfordshire.
Medals
Thomas Hewitt was awarded the 1914-15 Star, Victory and the British War Medals for his service in the Great War. His date of entry into the theatre of war in France was the 28 March 1915.
Memorials
Thomas Armitage Hewitt is honoured and remembered on the following memorials :-
- Letchworth War Memorial, Hertfordshire.
Links to Additional Information
- Find a Grave website – Thomas Armitage Hewitt – Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial
- A Street Near You website – Thomas Armitage Hewitt
- Lives of the First World War – Thomas Armitage Hewitt
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission – Thomas Armitage Hewitt
- Imperial War Museum Memorials – Letchworth War Memorial
References
- Medal Index Card.
- Soldiers Died in the Great War.
- Register of Soldiers Effects.
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
- 1891 Census.
- 1901 Census.
- 1911 Census.
- Medal Roll – The London Regiment – British War Medal and Victory Medal.
- Medal Roll – The London Regiment – 1914-15 Star.
- War Diary 5th London Regiment.
- University of London Student Records (Ancestry)
- Andrews Newspaper Index Cards (Ancestry)
- The Citizen Newspaper, Letchworth.
- Morning Post Newspaper dated6 November 1905.
Groups
Contributors:-
- Vincent Stuart.
- William McCallum (Family photo and information.)
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