Military History

Embarked Brisbane per ‘Ascanius’ 29.6.1915.
Roll Rank Captain.
Roll Unit 26th Infantry Bn. AIF.
Hewitt disembarked at Suez. He entrained to Alexandria and embarked with MEF for Gallipoli 14.9.1915. Hewitt was taken to the 7th Field Ambulance station suffering with piles 21.11.1915. He returned to his unit 24.11.1915. Hewitt and the 26th B. were evacuated from Gallipoli on 12.12.1915 (AWM 26th Bn.) and returned to Alexandria  via Mudros. He disembarked at Alexandria  9.1.1916 and underwent a brief period of training. Hewitt proceeded to  join the BEF at Alexandria 15.3.1916, before embarking for France 15.3.1916. Hewitt disembarked at Marseilles 21.3.1916. The 26th Bn. undertook the first Australian trench raid on the Western Front in March 1916. Hewitt was placed in charge of a leave party 25.6.1916. The 26th Bn. fought its first major battle on the Western Front at Pozieres from 28.7.1916-7.8.1916 (AWM 26th Bn). Hewitt was in command of ‘A’ Company when he lead an attack on Pozieres Ridge. Hewitt was reported KIA with a GSW to his head at Pozieres, 29.7.1916 (Reported West Australian Newspaper 20.9.1916). He was reported to have been shot leading his men towards the German trenches (Red Cross Files AWM). His body was not recovered, however, his name is now commemorated at the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France.
Final Rank Captain 26th Infantry Bn. AIF.
Medical Condition Dec’d, KIA.
Awards and Medals 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Mentioned in Despatches 17.9.1916
‘For gallantry in leading his men on an attack on Pozieres Ridge on the night of the 28th/29th July 1916. When his troops became confused on the order to retire (presumably from the enemy) he acted decisively in rallying his men and taking them forward as far as the entanglements, where he was killed. ‘
(AWM Honours and Awards)

Notes Previously a House Master at Guildford Grammar School WA (Obituary in Cumberland Argus and Fruit Growers Advocate 30.8.1916) also Master at Toowoomba Grammar School . the latter school unveiled a bronze tablet to his memory in their physics laboratory.
Photos Captain Thomas Cotgrave Hewitt, 1915. Photographer Bartletto Studio, Perth. Photograph source J. Mayne
              HMAT 'Ascanius' 1914. Photographer E.L. Mitchell, photograph source AWM H16157
              Pozieres village destroyed by shell fire 1916. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E00511
              Australian graves at Pozieres 12 months after the battle, 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced AWM E00998
              Villers-Bretonneux Australian Memorial dedicated 1938. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM H17454
              Hewitt House (marked TCH House) at GGS pre WW. Athletics Day. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from and used with permission of GGS Archives


Information Source
AWM H16157. HMAT 'Ascanius' 1914. Photographer E.L. Mitchell, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E0051. Pozieres village destroyed by shell fire 1916. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E00998. Australian graves at Pozieres 12 months after the battle, 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM H17454. Villers- Bretonneux  Australian Memorial dedicated 1938. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation Roll: Thomas Cotgrave Hewitt
AWM Roll of Honour Thomas Cotgrave Hewitt
AWM Honours and Awards: Thomas Cotgrave Hewitt
AWM Red Cross Files: Thomas Cotgrave Hewitt
AWM 26th Infantry Bn.
Cumberland Argus Fruit Growers Advocate
GGS Archives. Hewitt House (marked TCH House) at GGS pre WW1 Athletics Day. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from and used with permission of Guildford Grammar School Archives
Mayne, J. Captain Thomas Cotgrave Hewitt, 1915. Photographer Bartletto Studio, Perth. Photograph sourced and reproduced with permission of  J. Mayne
NAA: B2455, Hewitt, T C
West Australian Newspaper
Wise, H. and Co. Western Australian Post Office Directories. SLWA

Toowoomba Grammar School NSW.
Guildford Grammar School,  21 Terrace Rd, Guildford,  WA.

Associated Images