Major Richard Hewett
Gunner officer involved in heavy fighting after D-day
MAJOR RICHARD HEWETT, who has died aged 95, was a gunner officer who saw action from D-day to the end of the campaign in Europe.
After six months’ officer cadet training at Catterick, in April 1943 Hewett was commissioned and posted to 181st Field Regiment RA, part of 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division. It had been converted to an artillery role and acquired the nickname of the “Shropshire Gunners”.
Hewett was in 179 Battery, which was equipped with eight 25-pounder guns. He took part in the Normandy landings in June 1944, arriving off Arromanches shortly after D-day. The tractors and guns had to be offloaded into the sea. They were almost submerged for about two minutes and if the engine stalled the driver had to jump out quickly and swim ashore.
He saw heavy fighting in the battle to gain a foothold across the River Odon. In September, having established a small bridgehead across the Albert Canal in Belgium, the gunners helped to drive off a series of determined counter-attacks. Hewett was one of his Regiment’s forward observation officers. They had a dangerous job and won high praise for the part that they had played. He was unlucky not to receive one of several MCS awarded.
After taking part in the forced crossings of the Maas and the Rhine, in April 1945 the Regiment arrived at Bergen-belsen. Disease was rife and there was a desperate shortage of water. They gave up all their water wagons for the use of the inmates and medical staff.
After the German surrender, the Regiment was in a section of Germany that the Russians were to occupy, and they had to withdraw. The local people were terrified at the prospect but nothing could be done to help them.
Richard William Hewett was born in Peshawar, India, (now in Pakistan) on October 22 1923. His ancestor, General Sir George Hewett, 1st Bt, became Commanderin-chief India in 1807. Richard’s father, William, served with the Welch Regiment in the First World War and was awarded an MC and Bar.
Aged six, Hewett left India to start his schooling in England. He hated his first preparatory school so
much that he threw himself out of the car in a successful attempt to avoid going back. He went on to Wellington, where he broke the record for the high jump, keeping it for the 20 years.
In 1942 he enlisted in the Royal Artillery, and as a member of the seventh generation of Hewetts to join the Army, he was sent to Glasgow University, where he was taught chemistry, surveying and munitions. Some nights he was on fire watch and slept in a distillery warehouse near the docks. The pay was 10 shillings a time, provided that he stayed sober.
He spent two years in the Indian Army before moving to Middle Wallop, where he learnt to fly. In 1951 he was posted to Malaya with 656 Squadron Army Air Corps. He enjoyed the challenge of reconnaissance patrols, flying Austers and searching for terrorist camps concealed beneath the jungle canopy. He was Mentioned in Despatches.
To relieve the tension, he sometimes “buzzed” people who were rowing on the lake. One day, he flew too low and became entangled in wires, which brought down all the signals. There was hell to pay.
Hewett was Assistant Military Attaché in Washington DC between 1959 and 1962. He then resigned from the Army and took a job with Reader’s Digest as a product manager. He worked his way up the business and became chairman of the UK office and, ultimately, senior vice-president of the company’s international operations. By the time he retired in 1988, profits had almost doubled.
In retirement in a village in West Sussex, he enjoyed fishing and read widely.
Richard Hewett married, in 1954, Rosemary Cridland, who survives him with their two daughters.
Richard Hewett, born October 22 1923, died March 23 2019