HITCHENS
DESCRIPTION
William Henry Hitchens (1894-1950) was born a Cornishman to a family centuries rooted in Cornwall.
He was the son of a tin miner and became a miner himself. After serving in World War I with the Duke of
Cornwall's Light Infantry he migrated to Canada to work in the gold mines of northern Ontario. He fathered
five children and always expressed his love of Cornwall to them. He repeatedly voiced his desire to one
day return "home" to Redruth. In 1950, William Henry died - without realising his dream of returning to his
beloved Cornwall.
The colours and sett of this commemorative tartan illustrate the bright red of Canada set in five stripes
to represent his children, all born in Canada. The dark red and the black stripe are in memoriam and are
sett to show William Henry on the shores of Canada, eyes ever looking homeward across the seas to Cornwall.
The green stripes are the shores and the blue the depths and broad expanse of the oceans between his homeland
and Canada. The black and white are St. Piran's Cross, the Patron Saint of Tinners and the Cornish National
Flag. William Henry Hitchens is the maternal grandfather of the tartan designer, Eric Duane Genet, and Genet's
most recent (though not exclusive) Celtic ancestor.
SETT
** If you intend to weave or otherwise use any of these patterns, please be aware that you may need
the written permission of the designer or producer. This information can be found in the Scottish Register of Tartans.
R/8 K4 R4 K4 R4 K4 DR16 K12 DR4 G4 NB18 G4 K42 W/8 (SRT No. 10251)