H. A. Hewitt

Harry was a Corporal in the Repton OTC and when he had returned from the abandoned tour, he immediately signed up with the 8th Sherwood Foresters, becoming a Captain in 1916 and earning a Military Cross in 1917 for action during the Easter uprising in Ireland, not the Western Front. The citations says, “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in Dublin on 26th April 1916, when attacking Clanwilliam House. Realising that they were running short of bombs recrossed the Grand Canal Street Bridge, and succeeded in obtaining a bucketful. On his return with the bombs the lower rooms and staircase which was barricaded was bombed, and ascended with some difficulty, the remaining rebels were shot”.

Harry was wounded on April 4th 1917 in a failed attack by the Sherwood Foresters on Le Verguier. The company had over 100 casualties on the day. Harry was hit by a bullet that shattered his leg, which later had to be amputated.

He resigned his commission in 1918 and the reason reported was ill health, however, later in 1918 he married Mary West, with whom her remained married for the rest of his life. He entered the family engineering business in Derby where he remained until he died in 1940, aged 48. He was another of the newcomers on the tour having never played for Corinthian nor Casuals before. But the War made sure he would now never have the opportunity.