Able Seaman Ezra Major Hitchen

E M Hitchen - Barnsley Chronicle 19th May 1917.
Image with thanks to the Barnsley Archives.

Born on February 16th 1890 at Monk Bretton to George and Sarah Jane Hitchen. Prior to the outbreak of WW1 Ezra lived with his grandparents William and Louisa Dinsdale at Old Road, Smithies. According to the 1911 census he was employed as a laborer on the colliery surface.

Able Seaman Ezra Major Hitchen was killed in action on 28th April 1917 while serving with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserves, Anson Bn, R.N Div. He died aged 27. In a letter written to Ezra's mother, his army Chaplain describes how he fell during the battalion's last advance:

" [he] was killed in our in our last advance by a high explosive shell while he was working his Lewis gun. In spite of the fact that we were under heavy fire, he stuck to his gun to the last, fighting bravely."

WW1 Lewis gun.
Image from Wikipedia

In another letter, subsequently printed in the Barnsley Chronicle on May 12th 1917, Ezra's commanding officer Sub-Lieut Fraser described the brave seaman as:

              "obedient and dutiful"  he then went on say "and his death was at a time was at at time when he was following me without fear or flinching in the stern pursuit of duty."

Headstone in Wombwell cemetery commemorating
Ezra Major Hitchen.

Despite the chaplain's letter stating Ezra was to be interred with a cross to mark the grave. The CWGC.org does not give an official grave site but instead lists him as being remembered on the Arras memorial (meaning he has no known grave.). Ezra is also commemorated on the war memorial by St. Mary's Church, Wombwell and on his parents grave in Wombwell cemetery.

"His King and country called him,

The call was not in vain;

On Britain's roll of honour,

You'll find our loved one's name."

- Taken From Ezra's Obituary in the Barnsley Chronicle.