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John (Jack) Hitchen (1897–1965)

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John (Jack) Hitchen (1897-1965) miner, gaoled trade unionist and Communist

Birth: in September quarter 1897 at Wigan, Lancashire, England, son of Thomas Hitchen (1868-1942), coal hewer, and Mary Ann, née Moran (1863-1925). Marriage: 1923 in Sydney, New South Wales, to Anastasia Maud (Maud) Woodbury (1882-1953). They had one daughter. Death: 15 August 1965 in hospital at Bulli, NSW; usual residence Sandhurst Street, Bulli. Religion: Anglican.

  • Arrived in New South Wales about 1922.
  • Member of the Miners’ Federation. Spent several years unemployed due to victimisation from Old Bulli colliery for union activities.
  • Active in the struggle of the unemployed during the Depression. Was a member of the Militant Minority Movement. Gaoled for six months due to a demonstration of the unemployed against police being put in the Dole Depots.
  • Gained work at Coalcliff colliery until a forced retirement due to ill health from miners’ dust.
  • Cause of death: cerebral thrombosis and cerebral arteriosclerosis.

Sources
Common Cause
, 28 August 1965 p 4.

Additional Resources and Scholarship

Citation details

'Hitchen, John (Jack) (1897–1965)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/hitchen-john-jack-34080/text42737, accessed 9 November 2024.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

1897
Wigan, Lancashire, England

Death

15 August, 1965 (aged ~ 68)
Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia

Cause of Death

cerebral thrombosis

Cultural Heritage

Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.

Religious Influence

Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.

Occupation or Descriptor
Key Organisations
Political Activism