Private Frank Hitchman

William (sr) and Fanny Hitchman lived in the Cottage Wyndley Lane in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. They later moved to Redditch Worcestershire, England. They had a daughter and three sons – William (jr), Frank, born on May 30, 1891 and Albert, who was born on December 1, 1895. William (sr) and two sons were employed as spade and shovel handle makers in the edge tool manufacturing business.

Frank and William (jr) immigrated to Canada together in 1912. In 1913 their parents, William (sr) and Fanny, came to Paris to join two sons and brought with them Florence, then 17, and Albert.

Frank and Albert were boarding with Mrs. Arthur Barrowcliffe at 24 Main Street, Paris when they enlisted. Frank was a member of the Congregational Church and Men’s Society and played on the YMCA basketball team.

Frank, a knitter, and Albert enlisted on September 14, 1915 with 84th Battalion. Both were certified in Niagara Camp in September, three days apart.

They left Canada together on June 16, 1916, on the S.S. Empress of Britain and disembarked in England on the 29th. On July 3, they were both transferred to 73rd Royal Highlanders Battalion, Canadian Infantry and on August 12, they proceeded for service overseas, arriving at Havre next day in the same platoon.

The battalion arrived at the Somme battlefield in mid-October 1916, after the main Battle of Courcelette had concluded, and were involved in later trench operations and general duties, enduring heavy enemy artillery fire and the notoriously muddy conditions that characterized the late stages of the Somme offensive.

The 73rd Battalion's experience in the trenches at Courcelette involved the harsh, grinding reality of sustained trench warfare rather than the initial assault phase of the battle. The battalion experienced casualties during its time in the trenches around Courcelette, including Frank Hitchman, who was killed in action in the trenches of Courcelette on November 11, 1916. Albert was still in the same platoon, assisting with the same machine gun, when his brother Frank was killed at his side.

Frank was 25 years old. He is remembered at the Vimy Memorial in Pas de Calais.