People on board

HEWITT, Arthur Algernon

Arthur Algernon Hewitt was born on the 9th of December 1894 in Caterham, Surrey to Frederick Hewett (sic) and Mary Ann Stroud. Arthur was the youngest of their eight children, all of whom were alive in 1911. Frederick was a Gardener, and that was possibly Arthur’s work in 1911.

Arthur enlisted in the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment in 1914 (Number 2359) and was wounded in France in October 1915. He was wounded again in June 1916, and was entitled to wear a ‘Wound Stripe’ as a result. He transferred to the Military Police in February 1917.

In June 1918 Arthur married Ethel Anastasia Cox in London and on his marriage certificate he gave his occupation as Lance Corporal, Military Mounted Police. His address was Claremorris, Co Mayo. It is not known if he was still stationed in Ireland in October 1918 and then probably returning home on leave when he travelled on RMS Leinster on the 10th. Alternatively he may possibly have been on duty; there was another Military Policeman on board that day, Lance Corporal Charles Billings. Both were attached to the Military Foot Police.

Arthur Hewitt did not survive the sinking, nor was his body recovered. His name is recorded on the Hollybrook Memorial in Southampton.