Denis George Wyldbore Hewitt

Burned and wounded, he led his company through machine fire.

Denis George Wyldbore Hewitt VC was nineteen when he led Hampshire infantry through heavy fire on the opening day of the Third Battle of Ypres. His courage after a shell set his equipment and clothing alight helped his battalion secure its final objective, but he did not survive the battle.

Born in Mayfair, London, on 18 December 1897, Hewitt grew up in a family with connections to Hampshire. He attended the Old Malthouse School and Winchester College before training at Sandhurst. Commissioned into the Hampshire Regiment in April 1916, he was attached to its 14th Battalion and reached the Western Front that September. His service included the later fighting on the Somme.

On 31 July 1917, near St Julien, his company captured its first objective. Hewitt reorganised the survivors and prepared to continue. While waiting for the artillery barrage to lift, a shell fragment struck him and ignited the signal lights in his haversack. He put out the flames and, despite wounds, burns and severe pain, led the remaining men forward through machine-gun fire. They captured and consolidated the position.

As he moved among the defences, inspecting the work and encouraging his soldiers, a sniper killed him. There was no later career. His Victoria Cross was announced in September 1917 and presented to his parents later that year. His original battlefield grave was subsequently lost. He is commemorated on the Menin Gate at Ypres, while his recovered grave cross survives at Hursley Church.

Official Victoria Cross citation The London Gazette, 14 September 1917, page 9532: 2nd Lt. Denis George Wyldbore Hewitt, late Hamps. R. For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty when in command of a Company in attack. When his first objective had been captured he re-organised the Company and moved forward towards his objective. While waiting for the barrage to lift he was hit by a piece of shell, which exploded the signal lights in his haversack, and set fire to his equipment and clothes. Having extinguished the flames, in spite of his wound and the severe pain he was suffering, he led forward the remains of the Company under very heavy machine gun fire, and captured and consolidated his objective. He was subsequently killed by a sniper while inspecting the consolidation and encouraging his men. This gallant Officer set a magnificent example of coolness and contempt of danger to the whole Battalion, and it was due to his splendid leading that the final objective of his Battalion was gained.