Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Hewitt, born 1859 in Coventry, Warwickshire (son of Edwin Hewitt, 1839-1915 and Harriet Edwards, 1835) and his wife Florence Hewitt (nee Winterbottom, married on the 17th July 1880 in St. Saviour’s Church, Leicester), born on the 30th December 1859 in Alfreton, Derbyshire and baptised on the 12th January 1860 in St. Martin’s Church, Alfreton (daughter of James Winterbottom, 1828 and Martha Winterbottom, 1833). George James, a schoolboy, was born in the 4th quarter of 1885 in Leicester, his siblings were, William, a schoolboy, born in the July quarter of 1882, Florence Emma, born in the April quarter1888 and Herbert Burnham, born on the 1st November 1890, all his siblings were born in Leicester, in April 1891 the family were residing at Charnwood Street, Leicester, this being the family home of George’s maternal grandfather James Winterbottom, a shoe maker, born 1828 in Annesley, Nottinghamshire. In March 1901 George was employed as a machine maker and was residing in the family home at 134, Sherard Road, Leicester, together with his father, an elastic trade weaver, his mother and siblings, Florence, Herbert, Winifred Annie, born in the October quarter of 1893, Elizabeth Harriet (Lizzie), born on the 1st June 1895 and Ellen Grace, born on the 25th December 1898, the latter three siblings were all born in Leicester. In April 1911 George was employed as a fitter and was residing in the family home at 11, Ash Street, Leicester, together with his mother and siblings, Winifred, a shoe trade worker, Lizzie, a shoe trade worker, Nellie, a schoolgirl and Alice Dora, a schoolgirl, born on the 18th July 1901 in Leicester. George also had another sibling, Albert Edwin, born in the April quarter of 1881 in Leicester George’s two other brothers also fell, Herbert on the 19th December 1914 and Albert on the 13th October 1915.
George’s army service enlistment documents do not survive, therefore the currently available information pertaining to his military service has been obtained from the following sources: - 1921 HMSO Publication, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914 - 1919, WW1 Service Medal and Award Rolls, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Registers.
Enlisted/Attested in Leicester into the Regular Army. 31/8/03.
Joined. At place and date not known.
Posted. To Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regt. Pte., date not known.
Transferred. To King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. Pte., date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 7786.
Posted. To 2nd Bn. King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, date not known.
First entered the theatre of war in France.10/8/14.
Killed in action. In the Field. 27/10/14.
Body not recovered. Commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial, France
Awarded the 1914 Star with Clasp & Rose, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, George nominated his father William as his next-of-kin.
The Medal award roll register’s record that the Star and Clasp, British War Medal and Victory Medal were all returned with the note, died intestate.
The War Diary records: 27 Oct-14 – RICHEBOURG D’AVOUE (BETHUNE). Heavy lyddite shell firing all day. Draft in reserve. Germans got through on left flank in small numbers. Our trenches were through some error evacuated. However, on retiring on to main road all were rallied and trenches were retaken and most of the Germans netted. Some 30 were killed while 6 to 10 were taken prisoners. ½ Draft remained in trenches. Lieutenant CARSWELL killed Lieutenant WATKINS wounded. 2nd Lieutenant SHANNON sent home sick.
On Saturday January 23rd 1915, The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” CASUALTY LISTS. Much sympathy will go out to Mrs. Hewitt, of 50, Parry Street, Leicester, who has had two sons killed and a third wounded, at the front. Private George Hewitt was killed on October 25, Private H. B. Hewitt, of the 2nd Leicester’s died of his wounds on December 19. The other son, who was wounded has recovered, and is about to return to the front. There will be a general wish that fate will be more kindly disposed towards him than it was to his brothers, and that the already great sorrow of Mrs. Hewitt may not be increased.
On Tuesday, November 30th, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – A Leicester Mother’s Triple Bereavement. – Mrs. Hewitt, of 50, Parry-street, Leicester, has been officially informed that her son, Private ARTHUR HEWITT (7112), of the 1st Northants Regiment, was killed in action in France on Oct. 13th inst. He is the third son Mrs. Hewitt has lost in the war. Pte. George Hewitt, of the Yorkshire Light Infantry, was killed on Oct. 27th, 1914, and Pte. Herbert B. Hewitt, 2nd Leicester’s, was killed on Dec. 19th inst. Mrs. Hewitt will be assured of general sympathy in her exceptionally severe bereavement. Albert Hewitt who had been wounded on two previous occasions, was, like his brother George called up as a reservist at the outbreak of war. The other went to France with the Indian Expeditionary Force.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday December 3rd, 1915

THREE SONS KILLED

Mrs Hewitt, of 50, Parry Street, Leicester, has lost three sons in the war. She has been officially informed that Private Albert Hewitt, of the 1st Northants Regiment, was killed in action in France on October 13th last. Private George Hewitt, of the Yorkshire Light Infantry, was killed on October 27th, 1914, and Private Herbert B. Hewitt, of the 2nd Leicester Regiment, was killed on December 19th last. Albert, who had been wounded on two previous occasions, was called up with his brother George, at the outbreak of war as reservists, while Herbert went to France with the Indian Expeditionary Force.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby, 11/10/2017