Sjt. William Hewlett, 2nd Royal Sussex.

1914 Trio.
8093 Sjt. W. G. Hewlett, 2nd Royal Sussex Regiment.

William George Hewlett was born in the Parish of St John's, Lewes, Sussex, on 15th September 1886, the second child of William, a worker in a saw mill, and his wife, Ellen. The family are recorded on the 1891 Census as living at 36 North Street, Lewes with their four children: Nelly, William, Ethel and Albert . By the time of the 1901 Census, the family had moved to 31 North Street, four more children had been born, and William, now 14 years old, was working as a stable lad and groom. By the age of 18, William had followed in his father's footsteps and taken a job as a labourer in the saw mill. He had also enlisted as a volunteer in the 3rd Royal Sussex Militia, which gave him a taste of army life. One month after his 18th birthday, on 2nd November 1904, William attested for the Royal Sussex Regiment, enlisting for nine years with the Colours and three years in the Reserve. His Service Papers describe him as just over 5' 6" in height, weighing 125lbs and with grey eyes, brown hair and a fresh complexion.
If one reason for joining the army was the desire to see something of the world, William was not to be disappointed. Posted to the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment on 27th September 1905, he accompanied them to Malta for a seven month tour of duty, and then to Crete for another nine months of foreign service. Following this, he joined the 1st Battalion in India, where he stayed for almost six years. Returning to England in December 1912, William was transferred to the Army Reserve. During his eight years in the army, he had been awarded two Good Conduct Badges and passed his 3rd Class Certificate of Education. He was a 1st Class Shot and had been employed as Company Cook for four years and Regimental Groundsman for six months. His conduct had been exemplary. He intended to find employment as a railway porter on the South Coast Railway, a train car conductor or a groom.
Recalled to the Colours on the outbreak of the First World War, William joined the 2nd Royal Sussex in France on 21st August 1914. One month later, William was back in England, probably having been wounded in one of the numerous engagements with the enemy as the Battalion retreated after the Battle of Mons. On 17th February 1915, he returned to France. Throughout March and April, the 2nd Battalion were engaged in routine trench warfare in the Festubert and Neuve Chapelle sectors. On the 9th May, the 2nd Royal Sussex took part in the Battle of Aubers Ridge, sustaining total casualties of 14 officers and 548 other ranks killed, wounded or missing. Soon afterwards William Hewlett was appointed temporary Corporal; obviously capable of carrying out his new role, he was made temporary Sergeant in June.
On 25th September 1915, the 2nd Royal Sussex were called upon to play their part in the Battle of Loos. The Battalion were supposed to be in support but, due to the confusion caused by smoke and gas drifting back into the British trenches, soon found themselves in the forefront of the attack at a very early stage. Advancing across No Man's Land, the men reached the German wire only to find it uncut. According to the Battalion War Diary "all our officers and men who had reached or got close to the wire were either killed or wounded." At this point, 8088 Sjt Harry Wells took command of his platoon after his officer was killed and "with the utmost coolness and bravery .... rallied them and led them forward". Wells rallied his men and led them against the wire under close and continuous machine gun fire a total of three times. This "magnificent display of courage and determination" cost Wells his life and earned him a posthumous Victoria Cross. William Hewlett was wounded in the attack.

William's wound was probably not serious enough to necessitate his return to England but he does seem to have been granted some leave because on 20th November 1915 he married Gladys Evelyn Stephens at the church of St John's in Lewes. In January 1916, he began to keep a diary and write very brief comments for each day. At the end of the month, he went on a bombing course before rejoining his unit at the front. This was a time of routine trench holding with the Battalion having alternate periods in the front line and in reserve. William's diary entries mention whether he had received any letters or not and whether they were "resting", "packing up for the trenches" or "in trenches". On Monday 20th March, he was wounded and evacuated to hospital at Noeux les Mines and then to a convalescent camp at La Bouverie. On 18th April, he rejoined his unit and on 23rd the men marched back to the trenches. His diary entries for the next few days mention aeroplane activity, heavy bombardments and mines being exploded. Three of his fellow bombers were wounded before the relief on 26th April. His diary entry for the following day reads: "No letters. Wounded in abdomen at 3pm at bomb practice & 13 others." Another spell in hospital and a period of convalescing now followed before he was able to return to the Battalion on 25th May.
At the beginning of June, William enjoyed eight days leave in Lewes but was back in France on 10th June. On Sunday 18th he wrote: "Pack up for trenches. Wounded at 12 noon bomb." Nine days later he was back in England and admitted to Lewisham Infirmary. This time his wound was serious enough to preclude any idea of returning to France and he was eventually discharged from the army on 11th August 1917. His address on discharge was 1 Onslow Place, South Kensington. In addition to the 1914 Star Trio, William Hewlett was also awarded a Silver War Badge (no: 254843). He lived to the age of 84, dying in 1971 in Lewes.