Born: 27 February 1891, Eccleshill
Died: 18 November 1918
Buried: WAncourt British Cemetery
Address: 181 Dudley Hill Road, Eccleshill; later Canada
Parents: Robert and Mary Ellen, nee Wilman
Spouse:
Siblings: Arthur, John
Occupation: Salesman
Organisations/clubs:
Military
Rank: Pte
Medals/awards:
Rolls of Honour: Eccleshill, Park and St Luke’s
Children:
Regiment: Canadian Expeditionaary Force
Tom Hewitt
Tom Hewitt was born on the 27th
of February 1891 and baptised at St
Peter Parish Church, the son of
Robert Franks Hewitt and Mary
Ellen, nee Wilman of 6 Tower
Street Eccleshill.
In 1901 the family were living at
33 Dudley Hill Road and three
children had been born to them,
Arthur Franks, Tom and John
Hodgson.
By 1911 the family, with the
exception of Arthur who was
married, had moved to 181 Dudley
Hill Road and Robert was working
as a grocer and shopkeeper. Tom
at 20 years of age was working as a
draper’s assistant.
Tom travelled to Canada
on the 7th November
1911 departing from
Liverpool on the ship
Scotian and then
returned from St John,
New Brunswick,
Canada, arriving back in
Liverpool on the 22nd of
December 1911. For
such a short trip he was
probably on business.
However at some point
he settled in Canada as he enlisted
in the Canadian Overseas
Expeditionary Force as Private
55853 in the 19th Battalion of the
Central Ontario Regiment on the
12th November 1914. He
was single and 23 years
of age and he gave his
occupation as a salesman.
The 19th Battalion was
originally formed on the
7th of November at the
Exhibition Park in
Toronto, Ontario and
travelled to England on
the USS Scandanavian on
the 23rd of May 1915.
By September 1915 the
19th landed in Boulogne for the
Western Front. During their
service the men of the 19th fought
on the Vimy Ridge, in the environs
of Transloy – endured
Passchendaele, the German
offensives “Michael” and
“Georgette”.
During this time Tom was wounded
but then returned to the front. He
was killed in action on the 18th of
August 1918 during the Battle of
Amiens. He was 27 years of age.
He is buried at Wancourt British
Cemetery which was opened in
April 1917 and used until October
1918.
.
Researched and written by Jean
Britteon, to whom many thanks
