William Taylor Hewitt was born in 1898, he was the son of the late Titus Henry Hewitt (1866-1910) and Julia Morris Hewitt (nee Davis). The family were of ‘Indepedent Means’ and lived at Warren House, Bodfari. William had an older brother Vivian Vaughan Davis Hewitt  (1888-1965) a famous pioneering aviator of the time and a Great War pilot. Vivian became the first person to fly from the UK mainland, Rhyl to Phoenix Park, Dublin, Ireland, in 1912. He travelled the 75 miles crossing the IrishSea.

The family had inherited their wealth from William’s grandfather, also called William Taylor Hewitt, who had died in 1902. The family owned Tower Brewery, in Grimsby.

William enlisted, in Rhyl straight from public school, into the army, as a private soldier into The Motor Machine Gun Corps. According to his enlistment papers he was 18 years 9 months old, his trade being a scholar. He was described as being 5’5″ tall, with a 33 inch chest with a range of expansion of 3.5 inches. He nominated his mother Julia Morris Hewitt as his next of kin. William was called up for his military service on 13th July 1916. There is a military memorandum dated 9th July 1916, from the Adjutant of Bisley Camp instructing William to collect a travel warrant from his local recruiting office. William was allocated the regimental number of 38632. He was classified as being ‘Class A’ fitness.

On 25th May 1917 William was discharged from the ranks and granted a temporary commision in the Machine Gun Corps as a 2nd Lieutenant. He was posted to 36th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps, in France on 14th January 1918.

William ‘Died of Wounds, In Enemy Hands’ on 16th April 1918, he was 20 years old, he had been captured by the Germans. William is buried at Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille and his head stone is incribed, ‘From Mother To Beloved Billie Love Never Faileth’.

Probate of William’s estate was heard on 24th August 1918, his effects of £612 6s was granted to his mother Julia Morris Hewitt.