Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Private A. J. Hewitt, 17th Lancers, late 21st Lancers, a member of ‘B’ Squadron who charged at Omdurman, 2 September 1898, and had his horse wounded

Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (3399 P’te J. Hewitt 21/L’crs) note initial ‘J’ but as per medal roll; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen (5130 Pte. A. Hewitt. 17/Lcrs.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (5130 Pte. A. J. Hewitt. 17th Lancers.); Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 1 clasp, Khartoum (3399 Pte. A. Hewitt 21st Lcrs.) light edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise very fine (4) £3,000-£4,000

Confirmed on all rolls as a ‘charger’ in Roy Dutton’s Forgotten Heroes: The Charge of the 21st Lancers at Omdurman.

The following article with a portrait of Hewitt wearing his four medals was copied from an unknown source and is also reproduced in the above publication:
‘In the cavalry, transfers are of a more frequent occurrence than in the infantry, and we often find mounted men who have served in three or four different corps. It is thus that Mr. A. Hewitt has the Soudan medals, although the 17th Lancers were not in that campaign. He enlisted for the 21st Hussars in 1892, and went to India the following year. After some time they went to Egypt and were ordered to take part in Lord Kitchener’s advance against the Khalifa.
Mr. Hewitt has been good enough to describe the Omdurman charge from his personal point of view, and we cannot do better than quote his own story. “During the charge,” he said, “I sat firm and tight in my saddle, with lance in hand, getting a pierce in when and where I could, using the weapon to the best advantage. We were in a fine line, and worked up to a good speed before the shock; fit to take anything in front, so it would have taken something rather solid to stop us. My horse, No. 2, of ‘B’ Squadron, a grey Arab, which I rode that day, got a nasty sword-cut in the fetlock, but I managed to come through safely, though many of our poor fellows were not so fortunate.
“Upon drawing rein after the charge we saw the havoc we had made of the Dervishes. Capt. Kenna, who was afterwards awarded the V.C., asked for volunteers to pick out our dead and wounded from the battle-ground. Some of our poor chaps were cut about terribly, some with arms or legs off, others with heads split open. We laid out all the dead in a row. That is the time when a man feels for his comrades, more than I can express on paper.”
After the entry into Khartoum the Lancers were ordered down country. Mr. Hewitt, en route, contracted enteric fever, and after some time in hospital was invalided home. Shortly after he was transferred to the Army Reserve, on the expiration of his colour service.
Seven months later the South African war recalled the Reservists to the colours, and Mr. Hewitt joined the 17th Lancers for service in the Transvaal. He went out on the “Victorian” and on arrival at Bloemfontein took part in the general advance under Lord Roberts to Pretoria. He was present at the actions of Diamond Hill, Wittebergen and Johannesburg. as well as several smaller affairs. On one occasion a Boer bullet splintered his lance and bruised his arm, otherwise he was fortunate enough to come through without any ill results. Upon the declaration of peace Mr. Hewitt was discharged.’

Arthur James Hewitt was born in the Parish of St Peter’s, Ramsgate, Kent, and enlisted into the 21st Hussars at Canterbury on 6 January 1892, aged 18 years 4 month, a brickmaker by trade. He served overseas in India from September 1893 to October 1896, then moved to Egypt until May 1899, during which time he took part in the Soudan campaign of 1898, including the battle of Omdurman. Invalided to the U.K., he was discharged to the Army Reserve in June 1899. Recalled in December 1899, he served with the 17th Lancers in South Africa (No. 5130), he was discharged at Ballincollig on 31 March 1902.

Sold with copied discharge papers and other research.