GEORGE ROBARTS HEWITT

Born: 1872, 61, Bishop’s Road, Paddington, London.

Baptised: Valentine’s Day, 1872, at Holy Trinity Church, Paddington, London. Parents: Mary & William Henry Hewitt, a Butcher, of 61, Bishop’s Road, Paddington.

Died: 5th March 1900; age: 28; KiA at Labuschange’s Mek, South Africa. George was 1 of 7 men killed during the skirmish.

Father’s residence: West Hill House, Elm Lane, Copdock, Suffolk.

Rank: Private; Service Number: 3249.

Regiment: Cape Mounted Rifles, South Africa Field Force.

Clasp Awarded: Cape Colony.

CENSUS

1881   61, Bishop’s Road, Paddington, London.

George was 9 years old and living with his father, step mother, sisters & step grandmother.

William Henry Hewitt, a Butcher, born Paddington, London.

Mary Elizabeth Hewitt (nee Marsh), 26, born Holcot, Northamptonshire.

Maude May Hewitt, 11, born Paddington.

Helen Annie Hewitt, 7, born Paddington.

Mary Marsh (nee Cockerill), 52, a Minister’s Wife, born Caldecote, Northamptonshire.

1 clerk.

1 cook.

1 housemaid.

In 1882, George moved with his family to Copdock, Suffolk.

1891   Ipswich School, Henley Road, Ipswich.

George was 19 years old, a Scholar & Boarder at the independent boys’ school.

George’s mother was Mary Hewitt (nee Shipman), born 1846, Manchester Lancashire – died 1879, Paddington, London.

George was educated at Ipswich School – entered 1884.

George is also remembered on a private brass plaque at St. Peter’s Church, Copdock, Suffolk.

George’s step sister, Evelyn Alice Hewitt, born September 1881, Woodbridge was an artist – designing and painting miniatures using pastel and oils. She attended Goldsmiths’ College, University of London, and was a member of Ipswich Art Club.

George’s step brother, William Henry Hewitt, born June 1885, West Hill House, Copdock, immigrated to South Africa in 1905. In 1910, William became a naturalised citizen of the Union of South Africa. He enlisted in the South African Forces on Christmas Eve, 1915, and was sent to France in July 1916. On the 20th September 1917, near Frezenberg, Belgium, 33 year old, William, a Lance Corporal of the 2nd South African Light Infantry became the recipient of the highest most prestigious military award – the Victoria Cross; awarded for valour and courage “in the presence of the enemy.”

Gazetted 26th November 1917 – Lance-Corporal Hewitt with his unit attacked a German pill-box at Ypres, Belgium. The enemy garrison held in the attempts to be captured, and Lance-Corporal Hewitt received a severe wound. He proceeded to the loophole of the pill-box where, in attempts to put a bomb in it, and 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.

William’s investiture ceremony took place at Buckingham Palace, on the 16th January 1918. The Victoria Cross was presented by King George V.

William was educated at Framlingham College – entered 1894 – 1900. After William’s death in December 1966, his widow, Lily, presented the Victoria Cross to Framlingham College, who subsequently loaned the medal to the Imperial War Museum, Kennington Road, London.

The Suffolk Boer war Story.