Shamrocks For a Hero - Part 1

Ernest Hewitt - Missing "No Further Information"!

On the 27th of November, 1917, Mrs Violet Hewitt penned these words addressed to Major Osbourne, Base Records:

"Dear Sir, 
 I would be very pleased if you could furnish any further information regarding my husband
No. 5839
Corp Ernest Hewitt
20 Btn
5 Brigade
AIF
Officially reported missing 9/10/17.
Thanking you in anticipation
I Remain
Yours sincerely
(Mrs) E. Hewitt"

The mail seemed to be more reliable back then, even with the demands of war. The reply from Base Records was prepared just a few days later, on the 1st of December, 1917.

"Dear Madam,
In acknowledging receipt of your letter dated 27th ultimo, I regret there is no further information available regarding your husband, No. 5839 Corporal E Hewitt, 20th Battalion, who is posted missing 9/10/17.
The Authorities Overseas are doing everything possible to trace the members of the Force so reported, and immediately anything definite is known in connection with the above-named soldier you will be advised.
Your change of address is noted.
Yours faithfully,
(signature unclear) Major
Officer i/c Base Records"

Ernest Hewitt was born in June 1890, the third son of Walter and Julia Hewitt, of Leytonstone, Essex, England. He attended a local school and later gained military experience while serving with the Essex Territorial Army.

At the age of 18, Hewitt migrated to Australia and began a new life living in the Sydney suburb of Marrickville, where he was employed as an iron worker. In 1913 he married Violet Ward, and the couple would go on to have two children together, Richard in 1914 and Maie in early 1917.

Hewitt enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in March 1916 and joined the 20th Infantry Battalion. Following a period of training, Hewitt embarked for England, leaving behind his infant son, Richard and his young wife, Violet, who was pregnant with their second child. Arriving in England in November, 1916, Hewitt undertook more intensive training for several months, gaining promotion in the process. In September 1917 he left England for the Western Front, joining his unit as it was resting behind the lines in the Ypres region of Belgium.

Hewitt's first experience of a major battle came on the 4th of October 1917. He took part in the battle of Broodseinde in which four Anzac divisions sought to capture the high ground held by German forces. The attack was ultimately successful, but at a cost of over 8000 Anzac casualties. His next experience was only a few days away!

On the 9th of October 1917 British and Anzac forces were ordered to attack along a 12 kilometre front towards the town of Passchendaele. In appalling conditions, Australian forces
managed to reach some of their objectives, but were driven back by German defences. The failed attack cost over 1200 Australian casualties, amongst them was Ernest Hewitt, originally reported as missing in action. He had been at the front for just 15 days.

(NB: The description of Ernest Hewitt's service above has been borrowed, and slightly adapted, from the script of an Australian War Memorial Last Post Ceremony conducted on 25 October 2019. Thanks and acknowledgement must be given to the Memorial's Last Post staff, particularly David Sutton, Historian, Military History Section, AWM, author of the script, who together do so much to fulfill Memorial objectives. The full original Ceremony may be viewed here.)

Like a great many other Australian wives, young Violet Hewitt, together with her infant children, waited fearfully for news of her husband. Attempting valiantly to maintain a semblance of security and normality in her Marrickville home, for her own sake as well as for her babies, the doubt and uncertainty would have weakened her strength and resolve. Her letter to Base Records, quoted above, was an attempt to do something, to take some control by chipping away at the barriers of a bureaucracy overwhelmed by the demands suddenly thrust upon them. Little did Violet know, however, that as she composed and posted that letter, the information she sought would soon arrive, albeit from a totally unknown and unexpected source.

While the attack towards Passchendaele on 9 October 1917 included large numbers of Australian troops, there were many units held in reserve or resting. One of those units was the 13th Battalion who, at the time, was resting and training on the outskirts of Ypres. Over the next few days the 13th transitioned towards the front and, on the 18th of October, it relieved the 15th Battalion in the front line at Zonnebeke. Included in their number was a Private Gerald Sexton, a member of D Company.

The 13th Battalion remained at the front line until the evening of the 21st of October. During that time they were involved in constant patrolling in small groups, usually at night, seeking out enemy movements and locating their dispositions. These patrols intersected much of the ground covered by the 20th Battalion during the action on the 9th of October. It was during one such patrol, between the evening of the 18th and the early morning of the 20th, that Private Gerald Sexton discovered the body of Ernest Hewitt. Having found correspondence and photographs that identified Hewitt and his family, Sexton felt obliged to write to Violet Hewitt and did so on the 1st of November. We have a transcript of the letter (courtesy of Violet), so perhaps we'll let Sexton describe events in his own words:

" 1-11-17

Somewhere in France

Approx. location of Hewitt's body

D Company

13th Battn

AIF

No. 6594

Mrs Hewitt

Dear Madam,

It is with regret that I write to you, telling you the sad news of your husband's death (Corpl Hewitt). I don't know whether you have been informed of his death or whether he has been posted missing.

I am very sorry to say that he was killed in the big advance somewhere about 15/10/17 at - I cannot say at present but will tell you later. My mate and myself found your husband's body on the field of battle and in his tunic pockets were the photos enclosed.

We buried him where he fell and fixed his grave and planted a little wooden cross over it the best we could as there was a heavy bombardment on at the time. I don't know whether I am doing right or not in writing you madam but I think it my duty and in closing accept my deepest sympathy in your sad bereavement.

From

Pte G. Sexton"

Mail from The Front to Sydney, Australia, did not travel quickly. Air transport did not exist, leaving sea travel the only means of transportation over long distances. Nevertheless, Violet Hewitt received Sexton's letter, relatively smartly, just after Christmas 1917, on the 27th of December. Emotions would have been very mixed as Violet read Sexton's words. Shock, grief, anger and, finally, perhaps relief as she realised her uncertainty had finally ended. Nevertheless, she had work to do in order to settle the matter once and for all. Violet penned another letter to Base Records.

"41 Despointes St

Marrickville

Sydney

Jan. 7th

To The Officer in Charge,

Since receiving official news from the Military to the effect that my husband No 5839 Corp Ernest Hewitt 20th Battn 5th Brigade was reported missing 9/10/17 I wish to inform you that on 27/12/17, I received a letter from Somewhere-in-France from a young soldier of the 13th Battn, stating that he buried my husband Corp Hewitt somewhere about 15/10/17. I believe this to be true as the photos enclosed belonged to my husband. I may say I am more than grateful to this young soldier. But for his kindness in writing me I would still have been in ignorance regarding my husband, who is still posted missing. I also received another letter from one of my husband's friends stating that he was sure Ernest never came out of the first objective when the Battn was relieved. So sir I think it time the Military had some definite news as uncertainty and suspense is very worrying. I am enclosing, sir, a copy of the letter I received.

I took the letter and photos to the barracks here and the officer advised me to write you. He took a copy of same to send 'Base Records' but advised me to write you as well.

I remain sir

Yours in Anticipation

(Mrs) Violet Hewitt

41 Despointes St 

Marrickville

PS The soldier who wrote was quite a stranger to both myself and husband. V.H."

 

The matter was investigated by the authorities, although it still took some time. The Red Cross Wounded and Missing helped a little and attempts were made to further interview Private Gerald Sexton. Finally, in late April 1918, official confirmation of Hewitt's death - killed in action on the 9th of October 1917 -  was received by Violet. She could now get on with her life.

Violet remarried in 1920 when she met Stuart Small, also a Marrickville resident. Her children, Richard and Maie got on with their lives in the security of their new family situation. Both eventually married and Richard served in the 2nd AIF during the Second World War.

There is an interesting side bar to this story. The Sydney suburb of Marrickville is about 7 km from the city center. Its southern boundary is the misnamed Cooke's River and the eastern edge is constantly - these days - under assault from Sydney International Airport. During the years of the First World War, Marrickville was one of the more densely populated Sydney suburbs. Some 4000 locals enlisted and 458 failed to come home. The local council, supported by its citizens, erected a large monument to commemorate and remember the fallen. Featuring an imposing sculpture of Nike, the Winged Goddess of Victory, it was - and remains - an impressive feature reaching skyward for about 12 meters and records the names of all who died. As a result of damage, the original sculpture has been replaced with something less likely to suffer damage. That first piece was donated to the Australian War Memorial and can now be viewed in the First World War gallery. You can read the story of the monument here and here . Ernest Hewitt's name is one of those remembered on the memorial.

 

(Next in Part 2 - Who is Gerald Sexton?)

Original Marrickville sculpture now in
Australian War Memorial

 

One of the plaques on the Marrickville Memorial.
Hewitt's name is on right, 2nd from bottom.