HEWITSON, John Leonard
| Service Number: | 269 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 14 September 1914, Sydney, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 6th Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Ballina, New South Wales, Australia, 21 May 1890 |
| Home Town: | Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Wollongong Superior School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Shearer |
| Died: | Natural causes, Concord, New South Wales, Australia, 16 February 1961, aged 70 years |
| Cemetery: |
Rookwood Cemetery & Crematorium |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 14 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Trooper, 269, 6th Light Horse Regiment, Sydney, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Dec 1914: | Involvement Private, 269, 6th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Suevic embarkation_ship_number: A29 public_note: '' | |
| 21 Dec 1914: | Embarked Private, 269, 6th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Suevic, Sydney | |
| 20 May 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Trooper, 269, 6th Light Horse Regiment, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 6 Aug 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Trooper, 269, 6th Light Horse Regiment, The August Offensive - Lone Pine, Suvla Bay, Sari Bair, The Nek and Hill 60 - Gallipoli | |
| 7 Jul 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Trooper, AIF Headquarters (Egypt), Clerk in transport section. | |
| 4 Apr 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, AIF Headquarters (Egypt), Acting | |
| 16 Jan 1918: | Honoured Mention in Dispatches, For distinguished service. | |
| 18 Sep 1920: | Discharged AIF WW1, Sergeant, 269, 6th Light Horse Regiment, RTA 12 April 1919 and discharged as medically unfit (myelitis). |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Robert Wight
Sergeant John Hewitson (Service no. 269) was born in Casino circa 1889 and at enlistment was a single 25 year old shearer living in Wollongong.
He embarked on HMAT A29 Suevic on 21st December, 1914 with D troop, B Squadron 6th Light Horse. After training in Egypt he went to Gallipoli, arriving on 15th May, 1915 and saw service there until he was evacuated sick on 3rd September, 1915. He was sent to hospital in England for treatment on 28th September, 1915.
John returned to Egypt in March, 1916 and saw service in the Middle East, however, he had numerous admissions to hospital with illness. On 4th April, 1917 he was promoted to Sergeant. He was admitted to hospital seriously ill with influenza and paralysis and was returned to Australia in April, 1919. He was discharged medically unfit with Myalitis on 18th September, 1919. On 16th January, 1918 he was mentioned in Dispatches for Distinguished Service with Military Operations. John's brother Archibald Hewitson (Service no. 948) also served with the 6th Light Horse.
In 1936 John married Gertrude Preston Harris at Paddington. He died at Concord Hospital on 16th February, 1961.
John Hewitson is remembered on the Wollongong Presbyterian Church Roll of Honour.
Source: Illawarra Remembers
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