Alfred Hewitt
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Alfred was born in 1887 in Retford and was the son of Alfred, a bricklayer, and and Martha Hewitt. Alfred and Martha had a large family, having some thirteen children only 10 of whom survived to 1911. In the 1901 census the family was living at 79 Mount Pleasant, Spital Hill, Retford. In 1909 when he was 22 years old, Alfred served a sentence at Wakefield prison (West Yorkshire prison records 1801-1914). He was also committed to prison at East Retford on 31 July 1909 for a period of two months having been convicted of assault; he was released on 21 September 1909 on remission. The prison record noted that he had seven previous convictions. By the time of the 1911 census Alfred, who was working for his father as a bricklayer's labourer, had moved from the family home at 79 Mount Pleasant and was living with his brother-in-law Pawson Lane, a maltster (malt kiln), whose home was also on Mount Pleasant, Spital Hill. Alfred enlisted in the army in September 1914.
6th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment Alfred enlisted on 1st September 1914 at Retford. He was aged 27 years and 164 days, occupation labourer. On 2nd September he was posted to the Depot of the 6th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment for training. His service record indicated that his conduct in the army was similar to that in civilian life as on four occasions between 21st November 1914 and 18th May 1915 he was awarded field punishment No 2 amounting to 42 days punishment for various offences. On 1st July 1915 Alfred embarked for the Mediterranean Expeditionary force and landed in Gallipoli on 18th July 1915. He was killed in action on 9th August 1915, less than a month after he arrived in theatre. Alfred has no known grave and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey.
Retford Times, 3 September 1915: 'Pte Alfred Hewitt' 'Several letters have been received in the town to the effect that Pte Alfred Hewitt, 6th Lincolns, son of Mrs Hewitt of Mount Pleasant, has been killed in the Dardanelles. 'Private Horace Cartwright of the same regiment, in a letter written on Aug 16th to his mother, who resides in Long Row, Spital Hill says- “We have had some severe fighting this weekend and have lost a good many men. Alf Hewitt was killed on Aug 8th and I think Harry Smith has been wounded but Leonard is alright. The fighting was just like hell. No one would believe it if they had not seen it. We never had a wash for about a week. It was awful.” Pte Cartwright has written to Mr Dunham of St Johns Street stating the same. 'Pte Fred Footitt of the 6th Lincs, writing to his mother on 12th Aug, who lives in Spital Hill:- “We have lost a lot of men and have about 150 men left out of our battalion which was 1,200 strong at the outset. We have only four or five officers left …. I have not yet seen young Len Smith or Alfred Hewitt. I think they have gone under and ‘Plimmer’ Smith has been wounded.” 'Writing on Aug 14th he said:- Alfred Hewitt has been killed, ‘Plimmer’ Smith has been wounded”. Hewitt enlisted on Sept 1st 1914 and went to the Dardanelles during the latter part of June. He was 28 years of age. His brother John is also serving with the colours. In his last letter to his home, Pte Hewitt said:- “I am getting on alright up to the present. We are now in the trenches. We have been relieved from the firing trench and are in the reserve trenches. We have been in the firing trenches 8 days. I am sorry to say 12 or more men of our regiment have been killed.' Research Peter Gillings
