Dennis George Wyldbore Hewitt facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dennis George Wyldbore Hewitt
Memorial plaque in All Saints' Church, Hursley
Born	18 December 1897 Mayfair, London
Died	31 July 1917 (aged 19) Pilckem Ridge, Passchendaele salient, Belgium
Buried	Remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Rank	Second Lieutenant
Unit	Hampshire Regiment
Battles/wars	World War I Western Front Battle of Passchendaele Battle of Pilckem Ridge   †
Awards	Victoria Cross

Dennis George Wyldbore Hewitt was a brave young soldier from England. He earned the Victoria Cross (VC), which is the highest award for bravery in the British military. He received this special medal for his actions during a battle called Pilckem Ridge in World War I. This battle was part of the larger Battle of Passchendaele.

A Young Hero in World War I

Dennis George Wyldbore Hewitt was born in London on December 18, 1897. He went to a school called Winchester College. When he was just 19 years old, he became a Second Lieutenant in the 14th Battalion of The Hampshire Regiment. This regiment was part of the British Army during the First World War.

Bravery at Pilckem Ridge

On July 31, 1917, Dennis Hewitt and his company were fighting in Belgium, near a place called Ypres. They were trying to capture an area known as Pilckem Ridge. After taking their first target, Second Lieutenant Hewitt quickly got his soldiers ready to move forward again.

While they were waiting for their own artillery fire to stop, something terrible happened. A shell exploded near him. A piece of the shell hit him, and it also set off the signal lights he was carrying. This caused his equipment and clothes to catch fire.

Hewitt's Courageous Actions

Even though he was badly hurt and in great pain, Dennis Hewitt managed to put out the flames. He then bravely led his remaining soldiers forward. They faced very heavy machine-gun fire from the enemy. Despite the danger, they managed to capture their next target. They also made sure the area was safe and secure.

Sadly, while he was checking on his men and encouraging them, a sniper shot and killed him. He was only 19 years old.

Dennis Hewitt's battlefield cross, put up by his regiment. His body was never found.

Dennis George Wyldbore Hewitt has no known grave. His name is remembered on the Menin Gate memorial in Belgium. This memorial honors soldiers who died in the Ypres Salient and have no known grave. His bravery and sacrifice are still remembered today.