Frederick Hitch
Encyclopedia
Frederick Hitch, VC
(29 November 1856 – 6 January 1913) was an English
recipient of the Victoria Cross
for his actions at the Battle of Rorke's Drift, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
and Commonwealth
forces.
in the 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot (later The South Wales Borderers
), British Army
during the Anglo-Zulu War
when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. The citation was published in the London Gazette
on 2 May 1879:
They were assisted in passing out ammunition by Padre George Smith.
Forced to pay for a new one from his own pocket, Hitch also lost his job soon afterwards when he was accused of faking the fall to hide the fact that he had sold his medal to raise funds. This has never been proven. Hitch had eight children, and managed to land a steady job, at first as a horse-drawn carriage taxi driver and later a motor car taxi service. This provided him with a comfortable income for some years. Some unforeseen, and unknown, disaster meant that by the time of his death in 1913 he was living alone in Chiswick
, West London at 62 Cranbrook Road where he is commemorated with a blue plaque
from English Heritage
. He collapsed and died at his home whilst talking to a neighbour. He was buried in St Nicholas' churchyard in Chiswick
, with full military honours. His missing VC later reappeared at auction. Hitch's family raised £85 to retrieve it.
Another version is that he was given a position in Whitehall as a ceremonial guard and his VC was cut off his chest and he was knocked to the ground. In this version his VC was replaced by the regiment. Many years later his original was put up for auction and his sons managed to raise enough money to buy it back. Both the original and the replacement are in the regimental museum
.
Frederick Hitch was illiterate, and when he joined the army he signed the official enlistment forms with a cross [X].
He is buried in the centre of St. Nicholas' Churchyard, Old Chiswick. Block P, grave 17. The grave is difficult to miss since it is more of a monument than a grave, featuring a helmet on top. His funeral was attended by a large number of London 'cabbies' and still today there is the Fred Hitch Gallantry Award for cab drivers.
Brecon
, Powys, Wales.
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
(29 November 1856 – 6 January 1913) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
for his actions at the Battle of Rorke's Drift, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
forces.
Details
Hitch was 22 years old, and a privatePrivate (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
in the 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot (later The South Wales Borderers
The South Wales Borderers
The South Wales Borderers was an infantry regiment of the British Army. It first came into existence, as the 24th Regiment of Foot, in 1689, but was not called the South Wales Borderers until 1881. The regiment served in a great many conflicts, including the American Revolutionary War, various...
), British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
during the Anglo-Zulu War
Anglo-Zulu War
The Anglo-Zulu War was fought in 1879 between the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom.Following the imperialist scheme by which Lord Carnarvon had successfully brought about federation in Canada, it was thought that a similar plan might succeed with the various African kingdoms, tribal areas and...
when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. The citation was published in the London Gazette
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
on 2 May 1879:
They were assisted in passing out ammunition by Padre George Smith.
Further information
Hitch's wounds were so severe that they led to his discharge from service upon the conclusion of the war. He then moved from job to job, unable to perform manual work due to the damage to his arm he had received during the battle. He married in 1883, but reportedly found life difficult living on his disability pension from the government, which amounted to just £10 a year. In 1901, whilst climbing a ladder he suffered a fall. When he awoke in hospital his VC, which he always wore, had been stolen.Forced to pay for a new one from his own pocket, Hitch also lost his job soon afterwards when he was accused of faking the fall to hide the fact that he had sold his medal to raise funds. This has never been proven. Hitch had eight children, and managed to land a steady job, at first as a horse-drawn carriage taxi driver and later a motor car taxi service. This provided him with a comfortable income for some years. Some unforeseen, and unknown, disaster meant that by the time of his death in 1913 he was living alone in Chiswick
Chiswick
Chiswick is a large suburb of west London, England and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It is located on a meander of the River Thames, west of Charing Cross and is one of 35 major centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically an ancient parish in the county of Middlesex, with...
, West London at 62 Cranbrook Road where he is commemorated with a blue plaque
Blue plaque
A blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person or event, serving as a historical marker....
from English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
. He collapsed and died at his home whilst talking to a neighbour. He was buried in St Nicholas' churchyard in Chiswick
Chiswick
Chiswick is a large suburb of west London, England and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It is located on a meander of the River Thames, west of Charing Cross and is one of 35 major centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically an ancient parish in the county of Middlesex, with...
, with full military honours. His missing VC later reappeared at auction. Hitch's family raised £85 to retrieve it.
Another version is that he was given a position in Whitehall as a ceremonial guard and his VC was cut off his chest and he was knocked to the ground. In this version his VC was replaced by the regiment. Many years later his original was put up for auction and his sons managed to raise enough money to buy it back. Both the original and the replacement are in the regimental museum
South Wales Borderers Museum
The South Wales Borderers Museum is located at Brecon in Wales and is the regimental museum of the 24th Regiment of Foot. The museum's collection is made up of artefacts collected from a variety of sources from around the world and which display the regiment's 300 year history.-The collection:The...
.
Frederick Hitch was illiterate, and when he joined the army he signed the official enlistment forms with a cross [X].
He is buried in the centre of St. Nicholas' Churchyard, Old Chiswick. Block P, grave 17. The grave is difficult to miss since it is more of a monument than a grave, featuring a helmet on top. His funeral was attended by a large number of London 'cabbies' and still today there is the Fred Hitch Gallantry Award for cab drivers.
The medal
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the South Wales Borderers MuseumSouth Wales Borderers Museum
The South Wales Borderers Museum is located at Brecon in Wales and is the regimental museum of the 24th Regiment of Foot. The museum's collection is made up of artefacts collected from a variety of sources from around the world and which display the regiment's 300 year history.-The collection:The...
Brecon
Brecon
Brecon is a long-established market town and community in southern Powys, Mid Wales, with a population of 7,901. It was the county town of the historic county of Brecknockshire; although its role as such was eclipsed with the formation of Powys, it remains an important local centre...
, Powys, Wales.
External links
- Pte. Frederick Hitch (biography, photos, memorial details)
- Location of grave and VC medal (W. London)
- Find-A-Grave (bio and picture)
- Frederick Hitch (detailed biography, history, and Rorke's Drift)