Royal Navy obituary in the Times newspaper
Royal Navy obituary in the Times newspaper


Royal NavyObituaries

The following obituary for William Nathan Wrighte Hewett appeared in the Times newspaper.

Obituary in the Times newspaper
DateObituary
15 May 1888

DEATH OF ADMIRAL HEWETT.

We much regret to announce the death of Vice-Admiral Sir William Nathan Wrighte Hewett, K.C.B., V.C., which occurred at 11 o'clock on Sunday night at Haslar Hospital. Soon after hauling down his flag as chief in command of the Channel Squadron the Admiral was attacked by acute symptoms of Bright's disease, at his residence in Southsea. On Wednesday his complaint underwent a serious change, and his brother, Sir Prescott Hewett, was sent for, under whose directions, and with the concurrence of the physicians in attendance, the Admiral was conveyed to the Naval Hospital on Friday last. The deceased was the second son of the late Dr. Wrighte Hewett, and was born at Brighton in August, 1834. Few naval officers have had a more brilliant career afloat, and in professional circles he was known as the fighting admiral. Since his first entering the service in 1847 there has been scarcely a war in which England was engaged in which Admiral Hewett did not participate. After serving with the Naval Brigade in Burmah and China, he took part in the Russian war during the years 1854-5,and was rewarded with the Order of the Legion of Honour and the Crimean, Turkish and Sardinian medals, the Medjidieh, 5th class, and the Sebastopol clasp. He also received the Victoria Cross for conspicuous bravery in the field with the Naval Brigade hbefore Sebastopol. His conduct on this occasion was thus referred to in the Gazette:—
"On the occasion of a repulse of a sortie of Russians by Sir de Lacy Evans's division on October 26, 1854, Mr. Hewett, then acting-mate of Her Majesty's ship Beagle, was in charge of the right Lancaster Battery before Sebastopol. The advance of the Russians placed the gun in great jeopardy, their skirmishers advancing within 300 yards of the battery, and pouring in a sharp fire from their Minie rifles. By some misapprehension. The word was passed to spike the gun and retreat; but Mr. Hewett, taking upon himself the responsibility of disregarding the order, replied that 'Such an order did not come from Captain Lushington, and he would not do it till it did.' For the gallantry exhibited on this occasion the Board of Admiralty promoted him to the rank of lieutenant. On November 5, 1854, at the battle of Inkerman, Captain Lushington again brought before the Commander-in-Chief the services of Mr. Hewett, saying, 'I have much pleasure in again bringing Mr. Hewett's gallant conduct to your notice.'" He also commanded the Beagle at the capture of Kertch and Yenikale, and in the Azof expedition (Azof clasp), and afterwards commanded the Devastation on her first experimental cruise. In 1873-4 Sir William was commodore on the West Coast of Aafrica, andwas present at Amoaful and the capture of Coomassie. For his services on these occasions he was created a K.C.B. on the 31st of March, 1874,and received the Ashantee medal (Coomassie clasp). He next took command of an expedition against the river pirates of the Congo in 1875. Subsequently appointed to the command of the East India Station, he was afterwards placed at the head of the naval forces guarding the Suez Canal during the Egyptian expedition, and received the thanks of Parliament for his services, and was made a Knight Commander of the Star of India in 1882. Two years later Admiral Hewett was intrusted with a diplomatic mission to King John of Abyssinia to insure his aid in the relief of the garrison of Kassala. On his return he was nominated for the office of Junior Lord of the Admiralty, but the defeat of Mr. Gladstone's Administration prevented his taking up the appointment. Sir William assumed the command of the Channel Squadron on the 18th of March, 1886, and. Hauled down his flag on board the Northumberland at Portsmouth only on the 17th ult.


Top↑
Valid HTML 5.0