Photo : Short History Nova Scotia Highlander
CWGC Headstone
Jemima'd Headsone
Chester-Le-Street Chronicle 10/05/1918
Canadian Memorial Book page 249.
Benjamin Hitchen was born on the 21st November 1888 at Burnhope, the eldest boy of four children to Charles Hitchen, [born June 1862, baptised on the 19th July 1862 at St Peters Church, 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 John, born 22nd March 1891, at 109 Derwent Water Road, Gateshead, died 1937, [who also served in WW1 with the service 877004, the next number to his eldest brother, as they attested together on the same day, died 1937], Harry 'Henry' born the 4th March 1892 at 109 Derwent Water Road, Gateshead, also attested on the same day as his other brothers, 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 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 ship number 145933, 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 also 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,
Benjamin emigrated to Canada on the 21st July 1910 departing from Liverpool on the Canadian Pacific Railway ship Lake Champlain ship number 110650, third class arriving at Quebec, Canada on the 1st August 1910. He went to Sydney in Nova Scotia. His intended occupation was a miner which he had worked for 8 years prior at Pelaw Colliery. He was also in the Colliery Band. Benjamin had £25 sterling with him.
He was then employed by the Sydney mine company.
In 1911 the family minus Benjamin, were now residing at 28 Ryde Terrace, Kyo, Annfield Plain. 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 now 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.
Benjamin attested on the 6th March 1916 at Sydney, Nova Scotia, along with his brother John Hitchen and Henry. Benjamin's service number was 877003, John's was 877004 with Henry's 877002.
Benjamin [suitable to be a Bandsman], was described as 5 Feet 6 and a half inches tall, Fair Complexion, blue Eyes with light hair, Weight 153lbs. He joins the 185th Overseas Battalion Cape Breton Highlanders on the 28th April 1916, and is residing at Dominion # 6, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Canada. Benjamin is married to a Jemima Forrest Thompson, nee Asmit, on the 1st May 1915; [she is the daughter of Mr Andrew and Elizabeth Asmit of 'Lochview', Kilconguhar, Fifeshire, Scotland]. Jemima and Benjamin now were residing at New Aberdeen, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
Jemima Forrest Thompson had emigrated to Canada on the 16th June 1912 from Glasgow arriving at Quebec aboard the Grampian ship number 124220. She was a shop assistant.
In June 1916, Benjamin forfeited three days' pay for taking leave without permission. It was for Benjamin to attend his brother John's wedding.
On the 26th November 1916, Benjamin made a will leaving everything to his wife. He arrived in the UK, with the rest of his Battalion at Liverpool, on board the SS Olympic ship number 131346, on the 18th October 1916, prior to this he was embarked at Halifax on the 13th October 1916. The Battalion was based at Witley. Benjamin is in 'A' Company. On the 30th December 1916, he is transferred to the 219th Battalion who are based at Bramshott. He is now again transferred to the 85th Battalion on the 12th January 1917. On the 10th February 1917 he disembarks at Boulogne.
Benjamin is now attached to the Canadian Base Depot at Le Havre and is attached to Administration duties within the Canadian Corps Headquarters. From the 16th June 1917 he is returned to his unit the 85th Battalion. He was then granted 14 days leave from the 20th March 1918 and he visited Scotland. Benjamin returned to his unit on the 9th April 1918.
Benjamin was killed in action on the 21st April 1918. His wife now a widow returned to her parents' home at 'Lochview', Kilconguhar, Fifeshire, Scotland, where she received a pension of 40 Canadian dollars a month which had commenced from the 1st July 1918.
On the 20th April 1923, Jemima Hitchen left the UK for Canada on board the S S Metagama, ship number 136791, 2nd Class with £60.00 after visiting her parents' home from the 13th January 1923. She was to work for R. H. Anderson, Faber, Alberta.
Susannah Atkinson and her husband John Smith Atkinson, returned to Canada on the 17th October 1923 to reside back at Dominion No 6, Glace Bay on the SS Pittsburgh ship number 145933, third class after visiting their parents after being in the UK from the 30th April 1923.
Her Brother John Hitchen was residing at Norton near Stockton-on-Tees.
On the 14th October 1933, Jemima is sailing on the SS Duchess of Bedford ship number 160482, from Greenock for Quebec arriving on the 21st October 1933. Residing with an Andrew Arnott, 418-9th Avenue, South Lethbridge, Atlanta.
In 1974 Jemima, now retired was residing at 12th Street, 'A' North in the City of Lethbridge.
Jemima died in 1981.
Benjamin Hitchin is remembered at Chester-le-Street on C105.28 and C105.40 where his name is shown as B. Kitchen in error.
