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Basil Victor Bate Hewitson
2949, Private, 1/6th South Staffordshire Regiment (Territorial Force)
Killed in action, 13 October 1915, aged 19
No known grave (Loos Memorial, France)
CWGC registered (Son of Thomas and Nellie Hewitson, of Kinmel House, Llandudno. Enlisted Aug, 1914)
Basil Hewitson, the son of a schoolmaster, Thomas Hewitson, and his wife Ellen Ann (née Bate) was born in Bilston, Staffordshire on 16 June 1896. The Census for 1901 records the family living at Regent Street, Bilston; Basil (4) had a sister Doris (7) and a brother Hector (1 – d 1906). His grandparents, John and Mary Bate, lived next door. By 1906, Ellen Hewitson and her sister Minnie Bate were the proprietors of Kinmel House, a boarding house on Mostyn Crescent, Llandudno. Living with his grandparents, Basil attended Fraser Street Council School from 1909, transferring in February 1911 to Wolverhampton Grammar School. After leaving school in December 1912, Basil became an engineer.
Soldiers Died in the Great War records that Basil Hewitson enlisted into the 1/6th Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment (Territorial Force). His stated home was Birmingham and the place of recruitment was Wolverhampton. His regimental number was 2949 which indicates that he joined up circa September 1914. At that time, the 1/6th South Staffs was based at Wolverhampton but moved to Luton in November and then Bishops Stortford. The battalion landed at Le Havre on 3 March 1915.
Basil Hewitson was killed in action on 13 October 1915 at the attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt. He has no known grave. At the time of his death, he had been recommended to receive a commission with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
Known memorials:
- Loos Memorial, France
- Bilston Town War Memorial
- Wolverhampton Grammar School Roll of Honour
- Wolverhampton Town Hall Ward Roll of Honour
- Llandudno Roll of Honour
- Llandudno War Memorial
- Memorial Chapel, Holy Trinity Church, Llandudno
- Llanrhos Parish War Memorial, All Saints’ Church, Deganwy
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