Pte 300273 William Arthur Hitchen

• Age: 29
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 29th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

William Arthur Hitchen was born on the 7th Dec 1888 in Liverpool and was the son of Arthur and Elizabeth Jemima(nee Saunders) Hitchen, of 17 St. Elmo Rd, Egremont, Wallasey, who married 1882 at St Peter, Liverpool. He was baptised on the 3rd Feb 1889 at St Silas, Pembroke Place, his father was a painter of 13 Great Newton St, Pembroke Place. Prior to the war he was employed by Mr. T. Stevenson, butcher, Tuebrook, and before enlisting he was in the service of Messrs. Irving and Co, shipping purveyors, Canning Place, Liverpool.

On the 1891 census the family are living with father Arthur's parents at 13 Great Newton Street.

The head of the household William aged  67 a painter was born in Sheffield, and his his wife Sarah ia aged 66, father Arthur 38 a painter, mother Elizabeth 29, children Ada 7, Harriet 5, William 3, John 1 and baby 3 wks (all born Liverpool).

On the 1901 census the family have moved to 15 Ashton Street.

The father Arthur 48 is employed as a window blind writer, his wife Elizabeth J. 39, has no occupation listed. They have six children Ada aged 16 is a confectioner, Harriet 14, William 12, John 11, Mary 8 and Elizabeth 5. They also have their grandmother Sarah aged 74 living with them..

On the 1911 census the family have moved to 61 Rock Lane. 

The father Arthur 58 a gilder, and his wifer Elizabeth J. 48 have been married for 28 years and have had nine 9 children of which three had died. They have four children still living with them, Harrietaged  24 a piano forte tutor, William aged 22 is a butcher, Mary 18 a florist and  Elizabeth 15. They also have a visitor Mrs Lowery aged 60 who is a nurse.

William was engaged to May Nesbitt (aged 25) before his death.

He was formerly in the Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry and was serving in the 18^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 300273 when he was killed in action on the 29^th April 1918 aged 29 during the German Spring Offensive.

On the day of his death 29th April 1918, the Battalion was serving on the Ypres Salient and was in the front line at Elzenwalle, near Ridge Wood, awaiting a renewal of the German assault on that front.

At 02.30 am the attack began with a devastating bombardment along the whole battle front, from the forward positions back to a depth of over a mile. At 6am the enemy Infantry attacked, the main force of the assault being directed at a position near Ridge Wood, where one of the Battalion’s forward listening posts was captured and held. Then, 16999 Company Sergeant Major G Sutton of No.1 Company gallantly drove out the attackers with Mills Bombs, an action for which he was later awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. After a strong defence along the Battalion frontage, the Germans withdrew. They continued their artillery barrage throughout the rest of the morning and afternoon, however, and at about 17.00 began to mass once more for another Infantry attack. This was contained by Rifle and Lewis Gun fire, until a large British Artillery barrage at 18.00 finally broke up all enemy activity.

William's death was detailed in the Wallasey News:  

Killed In Action

"The sad news has been received of the death in action of William Arthur Hitchen on April 29. He joined the colours early in 1915 as a trooper in the Lancashire Hussars, and was transferred to the King’s Liverpool Regt. about ten months ago, and had been two years in France. Thirty years of age, he began his business career with Mr. T. Stevenson, butcher, Tuebrook, and before enlistment he was in the service of Messrs. Irving and Co., shipping purveyors, Canning Place, Liverpool. He was the eldest son of Mr and Mrs L. Hitchen, 17, St. Elmo Road, Egremont, for whom much sympathy has been expressed in the sad loss they have sustained". 

William has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

Liverpool Echo 25th May 1918

ROLL OF HONOUR

Killed In Action

HITCHEN - April 29, killed in action, aged 29 years, Private WILLIAM HITCHEN K.L.R. - Deeply mourned by his fiancee May, and all at 44 Gill Street.

A fond memory left behind.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to his mother Elizabeth Jemima

His father died in Birkenhead in March 1933 aged 80 and mother died in Wallasey in 1950 aged 87.
 

We currently have no further information on William Arthur Hitchen, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.