John Hitchen was born in Gateshead on the 22nd March 1891*, at 109 Derwent Water Road, Gateshead, died 26th March 1967, who served in WW1 with the service 877004, with the 185th Canadian Infantry Battalion Cape Breton Highlanders Canadian Expeditionary Force, the 2nd eldest son of four children to Charles Hitchen, [born June 1862, baptised on the 19th July 1862 at St Peters Chuch, Marksbury, Somerset, died 11th November 1921, he was the 2nd son of Benjamin Hitchen, born 1832, died 1902, and Mary {nee Emery}, Hitchens, born January 1841, baptised 26th February 1841, died March 1922], and his wife Ada nee Spirit, [born 25th November 1865, at Crook died 6th November 1941, Canada, daughter of John Spirit born 1829, and his wife Sarah Lowe born 1830].

* His family headstone states 1890. His army record states 1891.

Charles and Ada were married in 1886 at Gateshead. The other three children were Benjamin born 21st November 1888, at Burnhope, [who also served and died in WW1 with the service 877003], the next service number in sequence to his younger brother, as they attested together on the same day, Harry 'Henry' born the 4th March 1892 at 109 Derwent Water Road, Gateshead, also attested on the same day as his other brothers, service number 877002 and the only daughter who was the eldest Susannah born 14th January 1887 at Burnhope, died 18th September 1962 at 89 Hardwick Street Blackhall Colliery.

In 1891 they were all residing at 109 Derwentwater Road, Gateshead, after moving from Lanchester around 1889. Charles the father was residing at 15 Hepworth Street in Brandon in 1881, In 1901 they are all now at 9 Jubilee Terrace, Chester-le-Street. Benjamin had commenced working at Pelaw Colliery in 1902. John suffered a fractured left arm in 1901, and in 1904 he had recovered from Typhoid fever.

Susannah married a John Smith Atkinson, [born 9th June 1888], in January 1908 at Chester-le-Street, they had two boys Charles Henry Atkinson born July 1908 at 1 West View, Chester-le-Street, and William Elliot Atkinson born 1912 in Nova Scotia, he died 2014. They were residing at 1 West View, Chester-le-Street . Susannah and John originally travelled to Canada on the 31st July 1910 arriving at Quebec with their son Charles Henry. Then returning on the 9th May 1919 arriving at Liverpool travelling third class aboard the Canadian Pacific Line ship Corsican ship number 124191, which departed from St John, New Brunswick, Canada. Accompanying her was her husband John, and the two boys Charles and William. They were going to reside at 1 West View, Chester-le-Street.

On the 17th October 1923, Susannah and her husband John Smith Atkinson travelled third class onboard the SS Pittsburgh, with Charles Henry, now a mechanic, to return to Canada, arriving on the 24th October 1923 at Halifax. They were residing at Dominion 6, Glace Bay, Nova Scotia.

Susannah arrived at Liverpool from Montreal on the 19th July 1955 travelling on the Cunard Steamship Company Ltd Ivernia ship number 4640/01, with her husband John Atkinson, they were going to stay for 3 months at 4 Worthy Terrace, Chester-le-Street, Durham. John was an owner of a Garage.

In 1911 the family minus Benjamin, were now residing at 28 Ryde Terrace, Kyo, Annfield Plain. Also their Grandmother, Mary was also visiting this address. They were still there when the UK Census was taken on the night of Sunday, 2nd April 1911. However the family emigrated from Liverpool on the 14th April 1911 arriving on the 23rd April at Halifax, Saint John, Canada, aboard the SS Victorian, ship number 121216.

They all appear on the Canadian Census of 1911 which was taken on the 1st June 1911. Charles Ada, Henry and John, all are residing at Dominion no 6, District 11, Cape Breton. Susannah the daughter remained in the UK.

Charles and the boys were employed by the Dominion Coal Company. Charles his wife Ada and their son Henry also visited the UK on the 20th September 1913, travelling aboard the White Star Dominion Line Megantic ship number 127981, for Henry to get married to Mary Jane Richards, [the eldest daughter of James Richards and Selina Richards of 10 Quakers Houses at South Moor], on the 15th November 1913. They all departed from Liverpool on the 29th November 1913 and arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia on the 5th December 1913 aboard the Empress of Ireland Ship number 123972.

On the 6th of March 1916, John with his brothers Benjamin and Harry are enlisted together at Sydney. He was 5 feet 5 half inches tall, sallow complexion, blue eyes and brown hair, weight 157lbs. Service number 877004. He is in the HQ Company, 185th Battalion, Cape Breton Highlanders. John is married to Isabel [nee Graham], Hitchen on the 8th June 1916, where all three brothers were fined for being absent without leave to attend Johns wedding in June 1916 and the address of Box 171 new Aberdeen, Cape Breton was offered as the Postal address. Isabel returned to the UK, at Liverpool, to reside at 39 Salisbury Street, Middlesbrough, England, c/o a Mrs B. Fryett, on the 26th December 1916 onboard the Scandinavian ship number 109441, travelling third class, after embarking at St John's.

John Hitchen embarked on the SS Olympic ship number 131346, at Halifax on the 13th October 1916 arriving on the 18th October at Liverpool. He then is transferred to the 219th Battalion and is based at Whitley Camp. Eventually this battalion is merged into the 17th Reserve Battalion on the 1st January 1917. John is now posted to the 85th Battalion from the 16th March 1917 at Bramshott arriving at Le Havre the Canadian Base Depot on the 17th March 1917. On the 5th April John joins his battalion in the field at Bouviny Huts. On the 24th April 1917 whilst in a support trench, right sub sector, at Zouave Valley, John accidentally bayoneted himself. The Statement of Evidence provided by a 283253 Private H. G, Potter, [who witnessed the accident], stated :On Tuesday night, 24-4-17, Pte. J.D. Hitchen was in the hole in the bank next to me. He said "I'm going over the top to the latrines." He threw his greatcoat and equipment into the hole and went over. The rifle with bayonets fixed were leaning against the side of the trench towards the parados. Pte. Hitchen came back in a few minutes and slid over the top on to a bayonet. He said "I've stuck a bayonet in my leg." He then pulled the bayonet out himself and got down in to the bottom of the trench and stayed there until the Stretcher Bearers came. Dated 1st May 1917. Signed Pte H Potter.

He was taken to the 12th Canadian Field Ambulance Station, and eventually returned to the UK aboard the Hospital Ship St Andrew, to recover from the 3rd May, at the 1st General London Hospital at Camberwell. On the 18th May 1917 he is now convalescing at the 2nd Canadian Convalescent depot at Bromley Kent. John is discharged from here on the 23rd 1917. He is posted back to the 17th Reserve Battalion at Bramshott.

On the 6th March 1918 he is granted a Good Conduct badge. John is taken on strength of the 85th Battalion on the 28th March 1918 and joins the battalion overseas back in the field. In April he is at Aubrey Camp.

On the 9th August 1918, John is wounded by a Gun Shot wound to his left leg at Caix, taken initially to the 1st Canadian Field Ambulance, then is admitted to the 3rd Australian General Hospital at Abbevile on the 10th August and then is transferred to the no 5 Canadian Convalescent Depot at Bayeux prior to be discharged on the 4th September 1918 and reporting to the Canadian Base Depot at Etaples. [Eat Apples]. On the 13th September he is with the 85th Battalion at Wailly Huts.

On the 14th January 1919, John was transferred to the 38th Battalion at Bourgeois in Belgium until the 4th May 1919. On the 31st May 1919 he embarks for Canada on the H M T Adriatic and arrives on the 7th June 1919. He is discharged on the 15th June 1919 at Halifax, and is entitled to wear two wound stripes. He served 3 Years and 63 Days in total.

Isabella and the two children Gladys [born 16th September 1917], and Benjamin {named after their Uncle}, [born 1918], were residing at 39 Salisbury Street, Middlesbrough, England. c/o a Mrs B. Fryett.

On the 10th January 1919, Isabel returned to Canada with the two children aboard the Scandinavian ship number 109441, from Liverpool, from their residence address at Middlesbrough , and were going to reside at Box 171, New Aberdeen, C.B.. John returned home from the Army and became a Shot Firer at the mining company until the mid 1940's. John died on the 26th March 1867 at Toronto, with the last address where he died as 116 Elmhurst Avenue, North York, Ontario. Isabel who died in 1993, with her husband are remembered at St Mary's Anglican Cemetery, Glace Bay, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia, Canada.

John Hitchen is not remembered on a North East War Memorial.