Henry 'Harry' Hitchen was born in Gateshead on the 4th March 1892, at 109 Derwent Water Road, Gateshead, died 1965, who served in WW1 with the service 877002, with 'A' Company, 185th Canadian Infantry Battalion Cape Breton Highlanders Canadian Expeditionary Force.

The 3rd youngest 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].

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, John born 22nd March 1891 as they attested together on the same day, Henry, 'Harry' 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 Derwent Water 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.

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 Wlliam. 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 seven children of James Richards [born Cornwall], and Selina Richards, [born Cornwall], 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, Henry with his brothers Benjamin and John all enlisted together at Sydney. He was 5 feet 5 inches tall, fair complexion, blue eyes with light brown hair. Weight 140lbs. With a mole on the right abdomen. Service number 877002, as a private in the 185th Battalion, Cape Breton Highlanders.

And in June 1916, all three brothers were fined for being absent without leave for three days to attend his brothers Johns wedding on the 8th June 1916.

Henry was married to a Mary Jane [nee Richards, born 13th October 1893, from South Moor. Co Durham], Hitchen on the 15th November 1913. And in June 1916, Mary Jane was residing at c/o Mrs J. Richards, 54 3rd Street, Quaker Houses. South Moor, Stanley, Co Durham. Henry was residing at New Aberdeen No 3.

Henry Hitchen embarked from Halifax on the 13th October 1916 on the SS Olympic and disembarked at Liverpool on the 18th October 1916. Henry is transferred to the 219th Battalion at Whitley on the 19th December 1916. He is taken on strength on the 1st January 1917 with the 219th Battalion at Bramshott. Then on the 13th January 1917 he is transferred to the 85th Battalion who are now at Whitley Camp. On the 13th October 1916, Henry is appointed Lance-Corporal. He reverts back to a private on the 29th December 1916.

On the 10th February 1917, he is disembarked at Boulogne with his battalion. This Battalion is part of the 4th Canadian Division. Henry is now at Le-Havre at the Canadian Base Depot on the 28th April 1917, permanently attached due to a deformed right ankle, this was caused by a dislocation of his right ankle in 1907, which did not heal properly. He is then placed into the Composite Company. On the 11th July 1917, he is attached to the 4th Divisional Employment Company. 20th March 1918 Henry is granted 14 days leave. He returns on the 7th April 1918.

On the 30th August 1918 he was admitted to the 14th Canadian Field Ambulance, with Piles, Henry then is transferred to the 18th General Hospital at Camiers, [which was taken over by the American Army in June 1917], on the 22nd September 1918, he is then discharged from the hospital on the 25th October 1918.

From the 21st September 1918 he is no longer attached to the 4th Divisional Employment Company. At Le-Havre, he is back with the 85th Battalion.

Henry is now struck off the strength of the 85th Battalion and is in 'H' Wing, now at Whitley Camp. Now at Buxton on the 12th August 1919. Henry embarks from Liverpool on the SS Scandinavian 8th September 1919, with his wife [died 13th June 1948], who travelled as a Military Dependant, and arrives at Quebec on the 17th September where he is demobilised. Henry spent 3 years and 117 days in the Army.

Henry returns to work in the Domnion Coal Mine, he died from a Heart attack on the 25th January 1965 on route to the Glace Bay General Hospital. He is buried at St Luke's Anglican Cemetery, Port Caledonia, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Henry Hitchen is not remembered in the North East on a War Memorial.