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South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

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The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


L/Corporal 31706 Thomas Harold HEWINS - B Company, 2nd Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment

Killed in action on Monday 3rd December 1917 aged 36

grave for th hewins

Military History
     
Theatre of War Medals Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France & Flanders British War & Victory Medals Hooge Crater Cemetery
     
Arrived in Theatre Medal Citation (if app) SWFHS Area Memorials
After 1st September 1916 in France ~ Stratford on Avon WW1 Memorial
    Stratford Holy Trinity Church 
Action, Battle or Other Reason Died Date and Place Enlisted Stratford Cemetery Memorial 
Local actions near Gheluvelt, Ypres July 1916 in Wincester  
     
Place of Death Previous Regiments or Units Other War Memorials
Gheluvelt  Royal Engineers ~
     

Circumstances of Death

Thomas is listed as being killed in action, by shellfire, on 3rd December 1917. The 2nd Battalion war diary entries for the period 1st to 4th December are transcribed below along with a newpaper report of his death.

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.
 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/Place Baptism Date/Place
Jul Qtr 1882 in Stratford on Avon 23 Aug 1882 in Stratford on Avon
   
Parents Names Abode
Thomas and Mary Ann Hewins 53 Alma Street, Taunton (mother)                        
   
Wife and Marriage Details Children
Emily Hewins nee Simons Norah Ethel b 21 Feb 1914
Jan Qtr 1913 in Aston District Maurice Harold b 10 Sep 1915
   
Schools Colleges
Commercial School, Stratford on Avon ~
   
Address History Employment History
1882 - 35 Ely Street, Stratford on Avon 1891 - Scholar
1891 - 19 Ely Street, Stratford on Avon 1901 - Organ Builder (wood)
1901 - 5, Ely Street, Stratford on Avon 1911 - Organ Builder
1911 - 53 Alma Street, Taunton  1915 - Church Organ Builder
1915 - Jessie Villa, Gordon Avenue, Wincester  

 

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