Harold Everett Hitchin

Born in Nottinghamshire, he joined the 12th (Service) Battalion DLI as a Private in 1915. In 1916 he was awarded both the Military Medal and Bar. Commissioned in 1916, he was posted to the 18th Battalion DLI - the Durham Pals - and won the Distinguished Service Order in March 1917, when he and James Bradford rushed and bombed enemy positions near Gommecourt.

As a Captain, he then gained the Military Cross in May 1917 for leading an attack on a defended windmill at Garvelle, during the Battle of Arras. He was badly wounded in June 1918.

During the Second World War, he served at home as a Major first with 15 DLI until they were converted to tanks and then with 14 DLI.

After he retired, Harold Hitchin devoted his time to bee keeping. He died in Wales in 1975.