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Most of the South African War service records for soldiers in this database have now been digitised and are available by searching the Archives New Zealand Archway website.

Reg No: 
3745
Surname: 
hewson
Given Names: 
william alfred
Unit: 
no 20 company
Rank: 
private
Contingent: 
sixth
Ship: 
cornwall 30 january 1901
Occupation: 
labourer
County/City: 
waitaki
Address: 
pukeuri
Next of Kin: 
hewson mr james
Next of Kin Address: 
pukeuri otago
Relationship to Soldier: 
father
Notes: 

See his full service record here (Archway)

Community contributions


John Seal
08 Mar 2012
My grand father Alfred William Hewson served in the Boer War in the 6th Contingent No. 3745. He was from Pukeuri, Waitaki district, Otago which is about 10 km north of Oamaru. Any details appreciated.

Post Boer War he was based at Taihape building the Main Trunk railway line until 1908. He was a wharfie based at J Shed (burned down and was replaced by Shed 21) in Wellington which is opposite the Hotel Waterloo. He moved to the Coal Wharf, don't know what date, and worked there shoving coal during WWI. He apparently frequented Hanning Street, the infamous Opium Den. Not surprising if you worked 3 days straight.

He retired after the 1951 General Strike at the behest of my father.

He died in 16th June 1964 the year of my birth.

Alfred married Cynthia Jamieson, b 1903(?) died 1968(?), and they lived at 108 Randwick Road, Moera Lower Hutt.
Relatives are:
Eileen Bucknell 12th March 1925
Triplets: Unknown Name, died in first few days maybe a little longer
Kathleen Bennett (died June 2001), Helen triplets. Born late 1925 or early 1926
William Henry Hewson September 1926.
Helen died from cancer in 1946 less than one year after marrying Cornelis O'Regan of Petone who was one of four sons; Jack, Des and Clifford

Later relatives are:
Bennett (Basil worked for Lower Hutt Power Board as a linesman/sparky and died early 1970's)
Bucknell (Ken Panel Beater died 2008(?) Hewson

Most details known; some very tragic.

Thanks,
John

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