22/12/1924 – 6/11/2024

HEWITT Patricia Joy (nee Piper)  Passed away peacefully on 06 November 2024, aged 99 years.

Joined the WRNS 21st October 1942 aged 17yrs 10months (No. 26887)

Initial training in Portsmouth, then stationed at Weymouth with the fleet mail crew, then London on a Post Office course, including censoring of mail which led to becoming a Leading Wren in 1943. Moved to HMS Bee (Coastal forces – MTBs, MTLs et.) Then to Holyhead, Anglesey. Early 1944 moved to HMS Squid, Southampton, for D-Day Operations.

Still with the Fleet Mail, but now with combined operations – LCTs. First met Alfred Hewitt

Promoted to Petty Officer and then to various ships/stations to close down mail offices as ships were decommissioned (after D-Day).

HMS Cricket at Bursledon (Royal Marines)  HMS Peewit – Scotland  HMS Jackdaw – Scotland  1946 HMS Crail, Royal Naval Air Station – Scotland

She then moved on to a base at St. Andrews where she met up with Acting 1st Lieutenant Alfred Hewitt again.After closing mail offices she became a Regulating Officer and signed on for a further two years.  Promoted to Regulating Petty Officer and attended Burfield, Reading and Wetherby for additional training.

Married Alfred Hewitt 29th August 1947 Stationed at HMS Seahawk, Culdrose, Cornwall

1948 declined a commission as she didn’t want to stay on for a further 4 years.  1949 discharged  1951 moved to Friars Cliff

We have set up a donations page for people wishing to contribute, supporting the local branches of the WRNS and RBL.

https://www.memorygiving.com/patriciajoyhewitt