HITCH, James Arthur


No.28370, Private, James Arthur HITCH
Aged 20


2nd Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers
formerly 7th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers
formerly No. 40250 1st Battn Suffolk Regiment
formerly No.2098, Suffolk Yeomanry
Killed in Action on Thursday, 17th October 1918



James Arthur Hitch was born in Soham on 18th October 1898, (Newmarket Q4-1898 3B:505), baptised in Soham on 27th March 1903, son of William and Susannah HITCH (née CROSS) of The Shade, Soham.

1901 census...Aged 2, he was at The Shade, Soham with his father William HITCH [38] farm labourer born Burnt Fen, Ely; his mother Susannah [35] born Middle Fen, Ely; brothers William [12] and Charles [6]; sisters Emily [10], Eliza [8], Millie [4] and Kate [8 months]. All the children were born in Soham.

1911 census...Aged 12, he was at The Shade, Soham with his parents; brothers William and Charley (both farm labourers), Fred [8] and George [2 months] both born in Soham; sisters Eliza, Millie and Kate. His mother had borne 12 children but one had died. A further brother, Percy George, was born later in 1911



Enlisted in Ely.



A summary from the war diary:-
On 17th October 1918 the 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers formed part of 149th Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division, during the final advance in Picardy and part of the Battle of the Selle. At 6.30am on the morning of 17th the 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers crossed the river Selle, one company by a bridge that had been constructed for the purpose, and three companies by fords. They were almost immediately met by heavy machine gun fire, which caused a number of casualties. Having successfully crossed the river, the 2nd Dublins, along with other battalions of the 149th Brigade, launched an attack on the German front line, with three battalions, the 2nd Dublins in the centre, with the Scottish Horse on their left and the 3rd Royal Fusiliers on their right. The attack was held up by stiff German resistance, and confusion reigned after two heavy German counter-attacks. By this stage the 2nd Dublins, along with the 1st Yorkshire Light Infantry and the 2nd Munsters, held a line between an orchard and some brickworks. The whole line was then firmly established, and by 8pm the brickworks had been captured, although heavy fighting continued throughout the night.

The 2nd Royal Dublin Fusiliers had 23 killed that day, all are buried in Highland Cemetery.



commemorated on his parents grave in Soham





photo: Rodney Gibson



James Hitch is buried in Highland Cemetery, Le Cateau, grave 3:D:10

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details

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