b. 15/10/1892 Coniston, Cumbria. d. 02/03/1963 Ulverston, Cumbria.
James Hewitson (1892-1963) was born on 15th October 1892 at Thwaite Farm, Coniston, Lancashire. His father, Matthew, was born in New Hutton, near Kendal, Westmoreland. He married Margaret Hayton in 1883 in Kendal. She was a domestic cook working for the Brunskill family when they met. Matthew was a coach driver and farm labourer. He later became a farm bailiff. James had two brothers – Harold and Robert (who sadly died at the age of 3).
James Hewitson VC
James was educated at Coniston Church of England School and then worked on the land as a timber feller around Coniston. On the outbreak of the Great War, he enlisted in the 8th (Service) Battalion King’s Own Regiment on 17th November 1914 and later transferred to the 1/4th Battalion (Territorial Force). He survived four years of trench warfare and was wounded four times but on recovery was sent back to the front on each occasion.
Lance-Corporal Hewitson earned his Victoria Cross near Givenchy on 26th April 1918 and was recommended on 8th May for the award, which was published in the London Gazette of 28th June 1918. On 26th April 1918 at Givenchy, France, in a daylight attack on a series of crater posts, Lance-Corporal Hewitson led his party to their objective, clearing the enemy from both trench and dug-outs, killing six who would not surrender. After capturing the final objective he saw a hostile machine-gun team coming into action against his men and working his way round the edge of the crater he attacked the team, killing four and capturing one. Shortly afterwards he routed a bombing party which was attacking a Lewis gun, killing six of them.
Promoted to Corporal, Hewitson received his VC from King George V in France on 8th August 1918 and returned home to a civic welcome in Coniston. He married Mary Elizabeth “Liza” Dugdale on 11th June 1919 at Coniston Parish Church. She was from Wray, Lancashire and was a general servant in a hotel. They had a daughter, Dorothy (born 8th March 1920). After the war, he worked as a road repairer for ten years but suffered from neurasthenia. He was treated in a hospital near Coniston 1931-1933 and later at a nerve hospital at Tyrwhitt House, Leatherhead, Surrey, before being held at Stone House Mental Hospital in Dartford, Kent for over 16 years.
He had an operation to remove shrapnel from his shoulder. He was then able to do simple work, earning money for cutting hedges, laying out rose gardens and cleaning out pigsties. His wife lived without him for over 18 years and made ends meet in taking in washing and selling garden produce. James attended a number of VC reunions – the VC Garden Party on 26th June 1920, the VC Dinner at the House of Lords on 9th November 1929, the VC Centenary Celebrations at Hyde Park on 26th June 1956 and the first three VC & GC Association Reunions at the Cafe Royal in 1958, 1960 and 1962.
Described as a lifelong teetotaller, an expert hedger and a passionate traveller, Hewitson died in Stanley Hospital, Ulverston, Cumbria on 2nd March 1963 aged 70. He was buried following a military funeral in the churchyard of St Andrew’s, Coniston, Cumbria. He is commemorated with a memorial plaque in St Andrew’s Church, Coniston, and with a VC commemorative stone placed at St Andrew’s Church, Coniston on 26th April 2018. His Matchless 500 motorcycle that he bought in 1926 is displayed in the Ruskin Museum in Coniston.
In addition to his VC he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-20, Victory Medal 1914-19, George VI Coronation Medal 1937 and Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 1953. His medals are not publicly held.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: NOT PUBLICLY HELD.
BURIAL PLACE: ST ANDREW’S CHURCHYARD, CONISTON, CUMBRIA.
Acknowledgement:
Mark Sanders – Hewitson Medal Card.