George Henry Hewlett was born on 2 November 1890 in Winchester to Jesse and Charlotte Hewlett. In the UK Census 1891, his family was living at 15 Hyde Church Path, Winchester.
At the time of the next UK Census in 1901, George was 10 years old, and the family was living at 26 Wales Street, Winchester.
At the age of 19 years, George left his job as a Brewer’s Drayman and joined the Royal Navy at Portsmouth on 17 January 1910. Stoker 2nd Class George Henry Hewlett, K/5407, signed on for 12 years of service.
In the UK Census 1911, he was listed as a Stoker, Royal Navy, visiting The Handy Man Restaurant, Unicorn Road, Landport, Portsmouth. His naval records show that between 1910 and 1914, George was based at a number of shore-based training establishments and had been promoted to the rating of Stoker 1st Class in 1911. George Henry Hewlett and Claudine Caroline Collins gave birth to a son, William Henry Hewlett on 19 February 1914 at Twyford south of Winchester.
On 2 August 1914, George was posted to HMS Europa
HMS Europa
About HMS Europa:
Europa was an old Diadem class 1st class cruiser launched in March 1897. The 11,000 ton vessel was capable of 20.5 knots. On the outbreak of war, she joined the 9th Cruiser Squadron in the Atlantic Ocean and was stationed off Cape Finisterre as flagship until June 1915. From here he would have visited amongst other places Madeira, the Canaries, and Gibraltar. The was stationed in the Mediterranean as flagship (depot ship) at Mudros Limnos Greece from July 1915-1919. From here George’s ship would have supported the Gallipoli campaign.
The ship was “paid-off” in 1919 and in 1920 purchased by G F Bletto on 15 September 1920 for conversion to an emigrant carrier, the vessel sank in a gale off Corsica in January 1921. The wreck was later raised and broken up in Genoa.
George returned to HMS Victory II, a shore-based training depot in Sydenham, London on 8 January 1916. Later on 26 February 1916, George was invalided out of the Royal Navy. His pension record that he was discharged with shell shock. Claudine gave birth to their daughter, Florence Evelyn Hewlett on 28 Jan 1918 in Winchester. Stoker 1st Class George Henry Hewlett died of paralysis syncope on 2 Dec 1918 aged 28 years. His widow, Claudine remarried in 1922.
George Hewlett’s headstone in St Giles Hill Graveyard (note it is a private headstone)
Thanks go to the CWGC and particularly Stuart Adlam for much of the information on this page.
Also: Reference: The book, “Debt of Hour (Winchester City’s First World Dead)” by Jen Best.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch with Dave Stewart Email dave@stgileshill.org.uk if you have any questions, corrections, or additional information that could be added to this page.