HEWSON, George Blackburn
| Service Numbers: | 2161 , 85707 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 5 December 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 4th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Scotter, Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom, 7 April 1869 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Flour Miller |
| Died: | Brain Haemorrhage, Temora, 29 December 1922, aged 53 years |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 5 Dec 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2161 , 7th Light Trench Mortar Battery | |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Aug 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 85707, 4th Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Geoffrey Gillon
Service Number 2161 Private, 7th Light Trench Mortar Battery
transferred to 4th Battalion Service Number 85707. Special Service in May 1919 .
Son of Joseph and Abigail (nee Blackburn)
When he was a boy his mother, Abigail moved with her children to Low Burnham near Haxey.
Over a 3 year period, he served in the South Africa Light Horse, the Kane Rifles and the Johannesburg Mounted Police.
Enlisted in Liverpool, New South Wales on 5th December 1916 claiming to be 43 years old
Embarked from Melbourne in May 1917 and arrived at Plymouth two months later
Sent back to Australia in March 1918 and discharged due to ill health
Set sail from Sydney for London on the 'Willochra' arriving in July
Returned to Australia a month later and discharged on 6th September 1919.
His death from a brain haemorrhage on 29th December 1922 was the subject of a murder trial:-
The ‘Sydney Morning Herald’ of 1st January 1923 reported:
Before Mr. Walter Scott, P.M., yesterday morning, John Edward Young was committed for trial at the Central Criminal Court in Sydney on March 19 on a charge arising out of the death of George Hewson at Temora on December 29. Evidence was given that Hewson in falling struck his head against a telegraph post, and died a few minutes later.
The ‘Brisbane Courier’ of 27th March 1923 under the headline ‘Temora tragedy - charge of murder’
John Edward Young (35) was charged in the Central Criminal Court, Darlinghurst, to-day, before Mr. Justice Gordon and a jury, with having murdered George Hewson, at Temora on December 29. The Crown Prosecutor stated that Hewson was employed at the Empire Hotel, Temora. Young had also been employed there, but had been given notice. He met Hewson coming out of the shop, and struck him. Hewson fell, and died a few minutes later. When arrested Young said, "He was after my job." William Davis, a contractor, said that he saw Hewson, in falling, hit his head against a post. As he lay on the ground blood came from his mouth. The defence was that Hewson was drunk when he met accused, who, from the dock, stated that he did not at any time strike Hewson. Accused was acquitted and discharged.