Arthur William Hitcham

A Private with the 2/2nd Battalion, Arthur died on 13th of October 1918, at the age of 28.

Arthur was born at Kessingland in 1890, a son of George and Anna Hitcham. In 1891 his family lived at Elm Cottages, London Road, Kessingland, and by 1901 at 9 Carlton Road, Pakefield, and this was still their home in 1911 and, at that time, Arthur worked as a bootmaker. Later his parents lived at 23 Carlton Road, Pakefield, Lowestoft.

Arthur enlisted at Lowestoft and joined the Suffolk Regiment, number 16021. He arrived in France, with the 8th Battalion Suffolk Regiment, on 25 July 1915. By mid-1918 he had been transferred to the London Regiment and he served with B Company of the 2/2nd (City of London) Battalion London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers). 

On 12 October 1918 the 2/2nd Battalion were ordered to occupy the Montigny-Harnes-Annay Switch from the Canal to Carvin Road (near Lens). The enemy held the distillery and chemical works on the canal bank, with machine-gun posts, and they also held the southern bank as far as the Carvin Road. During the night of 13-14 October the Battalion were ordered to send out fighting patrols and to attempt to reach the canal. B Company met with considerable opposition from the distillery, chemical works, and houses at Vert Gazon. IIt was during this action that Arthur was found to be missing and later concluded that he was killed in action. 

Note: Arthur's battalion was affiliated to the Royal Fusiliers (most London Regiment battalions had an affiliation of some sort) but he served with the London Regiment, not the Royal Fusiliers as shown in some sources. This fact is verified by wound records, Red Cross records and his medal roll and medal index card entries. 

Arthur was wounded in 1918, possibly in July/August and his name appears in the War Office Daily List 17 September 1918.