Regiment: Royal West Kent Regt.
Died: 03 December 1918 aged 41 in France. Accidentally killed at Auberchicourt.
Cemetery: Auberchicourt British Cemetery I C 16
Son of J. R. N. Hitchings, Shalford, Guildford. b. 1877.
Modem II—I.
Author.
Great War. Private Inns of Court O.T.C.; 2nd Lieutenant 5th Bn. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) attd. 6th Bn. The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Accidentally killed near Douai.
'Frank Hitchings was a boy whose career at School was not marked by any notable incident. He reached quite a high place in the School in work, and could always be relied on to do his best, whatever it was that he undertook. Physically he was not very strong, and by reason of this he never was able to do much in the way of games. In spite of a weak constitution, he was determined to take his part in the war as far as he could, and he did much more in active service than those who knew him at School could have thought possible. He joined an O.T.C. in January 1915, and received a commission in the 5th Battalion of the Queen's Regt in May 1915. He went to France in June 1917. He was invalided home in October 1917, and was with the 2/4th Queen's at Tunbridge Wells till last October, when he went to France again, and was attached to the 6th Royal West Kent Regt. From information received, it is clear that he was esteemed and loved by his brother officers and his men.' (Malvernian, Feb 1919).
Inscription at ST MARY THE VIRGIN CHURCH, Shalford, Guildford:
LIEUT FRANCIS NOEL WELLS HITCHINGS 4TH RESERVE BN. THE QUEENS ROYAL WEST SURREY REGT/ KILLED BY THE EXPLOSION OF A SHELL WHILE CARRYING OUT SALVAGE WORK AT AUBERCHICOURT, FRANCE DEC 3RD 1918