Name
Daniel Matthew Hewitt
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/10/1914
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Serjeant
5684
(Royal) Dragoons
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 5.
Belgium
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
St Michael and All Angels Church Memorial, Watford,
Holy Rood Catholic Church Memorial, Watford
Pre War
Son of Daniel and Elizabeth (nee PLUNKETT) HEWITT.
His parents married 1884 in Navan, Ireland. Elizabeth died 1941 in Watford aged 75, and was buried 26 May in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford.
Daniel was born 22 November 1888 in Aldershot, Hants, and attended Cowper Testimonial School, Hertford, from 21 January to 28 July 1897. He resided in Watford.
On the 1891 Census, aged 2 he lived in Hitchin, Herts, with his parents and two siblings. On the 1901 Census, aged 13 he lived in Northchurch, Herts, with his parents and four siblings. On the 1911 Census, he is proving elusive.
Wartime Service
He originally enlisted 1 January 1903 at Berkhamsted, Herts, or Bedford, in the Corps of Dragoons, for Long Service (12 years with the Colours); aged 14, 5’5″ tall, Roman Catholic, attained the age of 18 years 30 November 1906.
He was at Home from 31 December 1902 to 26 January 1904, in India from 27 January 1904 to 16 February 1905, at Home from 17 February 1905 to 6 September 1905, in India again from 7 September 1905 to 25 November 1911, in South Africa from 25 November 1911 to 18 September 1914, when we must assume he was transferred to the Western Front where he was killed in action.
He was appointed Lance-Corporal 7 April 1910, promoted to Corporal 3 December 1913, appointed Lance-Sergeant 20 September 1914, and was unpaid Sergeant at the time of his death.
He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914 Star medals, his qualifying date being 8 October 1914.
Additional Information
There are articles about Daniel in the Watford Illustrated, and the West Herts and Watford Observer both dated 14 November 1914.
Recorded as Sergeant HEWITT in the Borough Roll of Honour.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
