Description
South Africa Zulu War Medal, bar 1877-8-9, 7 Private John Hewitt, 1st Bn 24th Foot, Killed in Action at the Battle of Isandlwana on 22nd January 1879.
Officially engraved: “7 Pte J. Hewitt. 1/24th Foot.”
Confirmed on the medal roll and on casualty rolls etc.
Norman Holme’s “The Noble 24th” Book has the following details including an extract from a family publication providing some insight into him:
“Wife, Mary Ann, placed on the Married Establishment 11th October 1873 and had issue, 3 Children Born, January 1869, March 1871, August 1873.
A Descendant writes (extract from a book privately published by the Hewitt Family):
“Unfailingly, every year on 22 January, my father reminded us that on this day there had died their soldier Grandfather who we never knew and whom, without difficulty, we had come to revere as our family hero.
The difficulties presented themselves in later years, my father’s sisters knew, as he must have known, that when Grandfather Hewitt was killed he was no long Sergeant Major. He was a Private, and his career of drunkenness and misconduct included the incredible distinction of having twice held, and lost, the rank of Sergeant Major (not found in original documentary sources).
My Father used to recall that as a Boy of 8 or 9 in South Africa he was sent out daily to buy his father a bottle of Three Star Brandy, which seldom lasted until evening.
He had seen his father take a morning parade by planting his feet wide apart, resting his clasped hands on the stick behind his back, and thus converting himself into a drunken tripod skilled in not falling over.
My brother and I comforted ourselves, and sustained his cherished image, with the thought that such a record show him to have been recognised as a superb soldier.”
Effects claimed by his Widow and Brother, South Africa Medal with clasp 1877-8-9”
Historical Records of the 24th Regiment by George Paton, notes him as one of the regiments 6 Lance Corporals at the time of his death, showing the man’s habitual promotions and demotions.
Our research has revealed that he was actually born with the name “John Hewitt Bowker” but served as John Hewitt, the family would drop the Bowker name for some reason as he and his children would be then known as Hewitts instead.
John Hewitt (Bowker) was born in Manchester, Lancashire during April 1840.
The son of Richard Hewitt Bowker and Isabella (Jacobs), his father similarly held the “Hewitt Bowker” name.
As evidenced in the personal account, John had one 1 and 2 daughters, his son Frederick Thompson Hewitt (1869-1950) would live a long life, losing his father aged only 10, it lines up exactly with his sons recollections.
John first joined the army using the “John Hewitt” name when he signed up around 1858-61 in the 2nd Battalion 24th Foot holding the service number 926 around 18-20 years old.
He is shown on the 1861, stationed in Mauritius, and 1871 Army Index serving with the 2nd 24th.
He would then join the 1st 24th and this would have been when he gained the very low Service Number of 7.
During 1867 he married Marry Ann Robson (1840-1875) in Manchester on 18th November 1867.
He had one son, Frederick Thompson Hewitt (1869-1950) born 3rd Jan 1869 in Ecclesall Bierlow, Yorkshire West Riding.
A daughter, Elizabeth Ann Hewitt, 22nd May 1871, whilst stationed in Madras, India.
His third child, Daughter Sophia Hewitt, Born 23rd October 1873 whilst stationed in Gibraltar.
Of interest he was serving with the regiment overseas at the time 5 of the men of the 2nd 24th Earned the Victoria Cross for their daring boat rescue from the Andaman Islands when a shipwrecked crew were believed to have been possibly killed and eaten by Cannibals during 1867.
Serving in South Africa, he was amongst those killed in action defending the camp at Isandlwana aka Isandula, Isandhlwana.
