Lieutenant James Foldys Hitchon
11th East Lancashire Regiment Y Coy
Killed in Action 1st July 1916, aged 21
Lived at The Grove, St. Anne's
Formerly lived at Pendlehurst, Manchester Road
Born in Burnley
Buried in Queens Cemetery, Puisieux, France - A.16.
Burnley Express 12th July 1916
Commemorated on the St Matthews Church Memorial

JAMES FOLDYS HITCHON
A CASUALTY OF THE SOMME
(Research by Denise North)

James Foldys Hitchon, the son of George Henry and Margaret, was born on the 4th. of July 1894 at Pendlehurst a fine property overlooking Scott Park off Manchester Road, Burnley. George Henry Hitchon was a surveyor and valuer and the family employed a domestic servant as well as a nurse to help look after James and his younger siblings: Susannah Margaret born 1895, Eleanor Mary born 1898, and brother Lawrence Foldys born 1905. James attended preparatory school at Sedbergh in 1904 and around this time the family moved to Ashlar House in Fence. At school James was described as “a boy of quiet and amiable disposition, able to get on well with everyone and though not brilliant at work or play absolutely straight and trustworthy”. Good at music and with a fellow pupil H.C.Davies he performed excellently in the King and Lazilee in 1907. At the age of 11 he began to play football and cricket distinguishing himself in both sports.
Sedbergh had its own officer training corps in which James served for two years. A postcard sent to his mother in July1909 from his officer training camp at Stafford informed her that he had just had a kit inspection and although the weather had not been particularly good it had been very hot. He went on to tell her that he was writing the card in tent number nine where he slept, ate and did nearly everything. That day visitors had been allowed and a band had played. On the reverse of the card was a picture of the camp at Wolsey Bridge Stafford.
James left school early in July 1910 to train as an architect and by 1914 the family had moved from Fence to Brindle. On the 4th of September 1914 just one month after the outbreak of war James enlisted at Preston into the Loyal North Lancs Regiment. His recruitment details describe him as five feet six and a half inches tall with good vision, good physical development and able to ride a bit. He served for two months as a private having the number 2233 in the regiment’s fourth battalion, after which he applied for an infantry commission, his application being strongly supported by the battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Henry Beckwith. His commission was granted on 20th of January 1915 and he was appointed to the tenth (Reserve) Battalion of the East Lancs. Regiment with the rank of Second Lieutenant. Serving with his battalion at Teignmouth, Swanage and Wareham he received promotion to full Lieutenant on 27th. of October 1915.
In June 1916 the 11th East Lancs were short of officers as the battalion prepared to take part in the opening phases of the Somme offensive, Captain Philip Broadley and Leuitenant Harry Bury having returned to England while Lieutenant. Jack Ruttle was hospitalised with pneumonia. Replacements were urgently needed and on the 17th of June, just 12 days before the attack was due to take place, four young officers from the 10th Battalion reported for duty. James Foldys Hitchon was assigned to Y Company known as the Chorley Pals, and went into the front line for the first time two days later at Serre. For the attack on Serre on 1st July 1916 James led one of eight platoons from Y and Z Companies. James was hit shortly after crossing into No Man’s Land. Two eyewitnesses were later found while they were recovering from wounds in hospital. Private James Scot Dalgleish, possibly James’ orderly, had seen him fall into a shell hole after being shot in the abdomen. Private Felix Rawcliff said that he had been with James’ orderly in No Man’s Land and confirmed that James had been wounded under heavy enemy fire and that the two men were unable to bring him back to the British lines.
At home in Brindle the War Office informed the family only that James was missing. His Aunt Mary Hargreaves wrote to the War Office asking for more information her letter remains filed with his service papers. On 12th of July 1916 the Burnley Express reported that “Lieutenant. James Foldys Hitchon whilst serving with the 11th East Lancs. Regiment Y Company was missing believed killed”. Giving him as aged 21 formerly of Pendlehurst Manchester Rd, born Burnley 4th of July 1894 his parents are George Henry and Margaret”. In September 1917 “Wasp,” the magazine of Evans house at Sedbergh School, published this tribute to Second Lieutenant James Foldys Hitchon (fell in action July 1st. 1916) “There seems little hope now that Hitchon survived the great attack of July 1st. 1916 though his parents have not received official news of his death. He was a most popular boy in the house, coming here with other friends from Mr. Thomas.’ He played for the Second House Team in both cricket and football and would have done bigger things still if he had not left rather early. Our sympathies go to all his relations in their long drawn out anxiety as to his fate. He joined up when the war began and at the time of his death was a subaltern in the East Lancashire’s”.
His body was recovered from the battlefield many months after the battle of the Somme had ended. He is buried in Queen’s Cemetery close to the spot where he fell. He is also commemorated on the War Memorial at St. Mathew’s Church in Burnley, Sedbergh School war memorial, Brindle war memorial in St. James’ Church Brindle and on the memorial at Holy Trinity Church, Hoghton. The other three officers with him were Leuitenant. Cecil Gay, Second Lieutenant Arthur Lett and Second Lieutenant Arthur Williams all three were wounded on 1st July but survived.
The grave of James Hitchon bears the words “from Burnley Lancashire”
In 2014 a number of pupils from Sedbergh School visited the battlefields and cemeteries on the Western front. One of them read a short extract from the Sedberghian obituary for James Foldys Hitchon at his graveside. On the 4th of August 2014 a vigil service was held at Holy Trinity Church, Hoghton to commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. Seventeen candles were lit at the start of the service, one for each name on the roll of honour. During the service the candles were extinguished in chronological order of the date they died. The candle for James Hitchon was lit again on the 3rd of July 2016 and a brief history of his life was read to the congregation. All the candles will be finally lit on Remembrance Sunday 2018. On the 3rd. of July 2016 at the Sunday service in St. James’ Parish Church, Brindle, the Minister the Reverend David Ward read out details to the congregation of James Foldys Hitchon.