HEWETT, Douglas
| Service Number: | VX50064 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 3 March 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia, 10 July 1919 |
| Home Town: | Eumungerie, Dubbo Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Eumungerie Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Labourer, Wheat Farmer |
| Died: | Illness Beri Beri, Ambon, Netherlands East Indies, 12 April 1944, aged 24 years |
| Cemetery: |
Ambon War Cemetery, Ambon, Maluku, Indonesia |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Eumungerie - Coboco RSL Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Private, VX50064 | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Mar 1941: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX50064 |
Life and Death
Douglas was born the fifth child and only son of Ted and Alice Hewett of Eumungerie NSW. Douglas, a promising cricketer, enlisted in the Australian Infantry Force in March 1941. He was taken prisoner of war by the Japanese in early 1942 and unbeknownst to his parents, succumbed to malnutrition in early 1944. His parents were only informed of his death in September 1945, after cessation of hostilities.
Source: Don Jones, eumungerie.weebly.com
Submitted 17 April 2024 by Suzanne Nagel
Biography contributed by Suzanne Nagel
Douglas was the only son of a Eumungerie wheat farming family. He and his father were keen cricketer's and played in their local cricket team. Douglas joined the war at the age of 24. He was listed as missing in action April 1942 and declared a Prisoner of War in June. He died of Beri Beri on 12th April 1944. He was remembered every year at ANZAC by his family. Before the death of his mother she asked her friend, Mrs Lesslie of Eumungerie, to carry on his memory. Mrs Lesslie lay a wreath for Douglas every ANZAC in memory of his family. Mrs Lesslie's daughter, Doris, carried on the tradition after her mother died in 1987. Douglas has never been forgotten. This biography was written by Mrs Lesslie's granddaughter, Suzanne daughter of Doris. Lest we forget.