Born in Southgate, in Middlesex,[2] he joined the British Army and served as a private in the 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot (later The South Wales Borderers).

Forced to pay for a new one from his own pocket, Hitch also lost his job soon afterwards when he was accused of faking the fall to hide the fact that he had sold his medal to raise funds.

[citation needed] By the time of his death in 1913, Hitch was living alone in Chiswick, West London at 62 Cranbrook Road where he is commemorated with a blue plaque from English Heritage.

The memorial was paid for by subscriptions to a well-supported fund established shortly after Hitch's death by Chiswick's Urban District Council.

[8] Notable subscribers including leading Chiswick figures, Mayors of the London Boroughs of Hammersmith, of Kensington, and of Poplar, four MPs and the wealthy banker Leopold de Rothschild.

[8] Additional funds came from a donation by the American producer, Joseph Menchen, of the proceeds of a screening of the world's first all-colour feature film.

Menschen opened London's newly built Picture House cinema, at 166 Oxford Street, with The Miracle[9] and gave the takings of its first matinee to Hitch's memorial fund.