Parade
planned for Chiswick's Rorke’s Drift Hero
Fred Hitch VC to be commemorated
on the 125th anniversary of the battle
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at 10.30 am, Sunday 25th January the parade will begin at the Corney
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On
the occasion of the 125th Anniversary of the battle of Rorke's Drift,
made infamous by Michael Caine in the film ‘Zulu’, a blue plaque is to
be unveiled marking the house where Fred Hitch VC died.
To celebrate this auspicious event, a parade in the Private’s honour will be held on Sunday 25th January setting off from his grave in Chiswick Cemetery, via the plaque unveiling and ending at Chiswick Memorial Club.
The parade
will require the A4 to be closed for a short period around 11.20am.
Hitch was born 29th. November 1856 and was 20 years old when he enlisted.
He was severely wounded at Rorke's Drift by a roughly made Zulu bullet
that shattered his shoulder bone and permanently disabled him. He kept
communications at the hospital open, despite wounds, allowing patients
to be withdrawn. After his wounds were dressed, he worked through the
night by dispensing ammunition to his comrades at the defences. He was
just 22 years old.
On his return to the UK he was a patient at Netley Hospital and it was
here that he received the Victoria Cross, presented to him by Queen Victoria
on 12 August 1879.
He was discharged from the army with a pension that same month and was
employed as a Commissionaire at the Imperial Institute, but later became
a London Cab Driver.
On 6th January
1913 he died of pneumonia at 62 Cranbrook Road and is buried in Chiswick
Cemetery. His funeral was attended by a large number of London 'Cabbies'
and still today there is the Fred Hitch gallantry award for Cab drivers.
In addition to honouring this exceptionally courageous man, this occasion
will also been seen as one to celebrate all the brave men who died in
the Zulu war.
Amongst those taking part in the parade will be 1879 Society, Family of
Fred Hitch VC, Society of Hackney carriage drivers, English Heritage officials
and Chiswick Sea Cadets. Members of the public are also invited to take
part in this historic occasion.
Fred Hitch has often been commemorated on this date, however the unveiling ceremony is truly a once in a life time event celebrating an heroic private soldier, one of very few who have had blue plaques erected in their honour.
March (approx. 200 people) will go across Hogarth Roundabout (traffic to be stopped briefly to allow this) around 11.20am.
The Chiswick
Branch of The Royal British Legion are the event organiser, and they would
appreciate any donations for the Poppy Fund.
January 19, 2004