War Diary 2nd to 4th Dec 1917
Gheluvelt – 1.12.1917: Our artillery shelled Gheluvelt at 6.30am and 7pm. Very little reply was made. Enemy artillery shelled A track about 7.30pm and caught our ration party killing several horses and wounding 4 other ranks, also 1 man missing believed killed.
Gheluvelt – 2.12.1917: Our artillery shelled Gheluvelt & Polderhoek and vicinity. Enemy retaliated on our back areas. A quiet night.
Gheluvelt – 3.12.1917: Our artillery very active at 5am. The 2nd New Zealand Infantry Brigade attacked Polderhoek Chateau. Zero 12 noon. Enemy retaliated on our Support and Back areas, B Coy suffered 7 casualties.
Gheluvelt – 4.12.1917: Enemy artillery still active. During the afternoon A Coy in right front position sustained 10 casualties, 5 killed and 5 wounded from hostile T.M. fire.
In the evening the Battalion relieved by the 18th K.R.R and marched to Manor Farm Halt, Zillbeke, where after being served with hot soup & entrained by light railway for Reninghelst, marching thence to Chippawa Camp.
B Coy received 1 casualty in coming out. Details rejoined Battalion.
Stratford Herald Obituary
Stratford Herald, Friday 28th December 1917
OLD STRATFORD BOY KILLED
News has been received by Mrs. Hewins of Jessie Villa, Gordon Avenue, Highcliffe Park, Winchester of the death in France on 3rd inst. of her husband Lance Corporal Harold Hewins, 35, an organ builder and old Stratfordian. His commanding officer writes of him as one of my most reliable Lance Corporals and says
"whilst occupying with his platoon section one of our forward posts he met a soldierly death in a manner most instantaneous and without pain by being struck by a piece of shell which wounded all his companions. He was buried the same evening behind the Italian headquarters.”
Hewins will be remembered by a large circle of Stratford friends. The elder son of Mr. Thomas Hewins now of Kings Heath Birmingham, formerly a member of the well known local firm of organ builders he was educated at the Commercial School under Mr. Priest and was for some time a member of the Stratford Boat Club. He was also a volunteer. He joined the colours in 1916 and enlisted, entering the Royal Engineers from which he was transferred to the 6th Wilts. After serving 6 months in Belgium he was transferred to 2nd Wilts with which Battalion he was serving when he met his death.