Sergeant Edward Hewitt
Edward Hewitt was born on 5 November 1890 at Gortnamoney, Moira, County Down, the first of nine children of ploughman (later farmer) William Hewitt and his wife Mary Anne (née Costley). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Gortnamoney with his parents and seven of his siblings and working as a farm labourer.
Hewitt enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 4 and 7 September 1914 (No.1118 – later Corps of Hussars No.71240). On 1 May 1915 he embarked for France with D Squadron, which at the time was serving as divisional cavalry to the 51st Division. In May 1916 D Squadron came together with A and E Squadrons to form the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to VII, XIX, then V Corps.
The War Office Daily Casualty List of 4 October 1917 reported that Hewitt had been wounded – this probably occurred in July or August 1917 during the Battle of Passchendaele (Third Ypres).
In February-March 1918 the 1st NIH Regiment was dismounted and converted to a cyclist unit. This meant a 25 per cent reduction in the regiment's numbers, and it is likely that this was the time that Hewitt was transferred to the 19th (Queen Alexandra's own Royal) Hussars.
On 31 July 1918 he married damask weaver Georgina McCleary at the Lurgan Church of Ireland Parish Church.
On 3 February 1919 Hewitt was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.