Harold Walter HEWETT (aka Harry) [c.1892-????]

Jill, as you're the owner of the page you're able to make any edits needed - just click on 'edit', make the changes, then scroll down and click 'save'.

Likely it was Hewett as the APC owned houses on Broadwood Road. See: https://archive.org/details/NPTG19400601/page/n15/mode/2up?q=Broadwood with regard to Shirley Ann Hewett (daughter?)

The passenger manifest for the whole family on the ship "S.S. Hector" of the Blue Funnel Line which departed Liverpool, England on 20th March 1937 for Hong Kong had spelt the family surname as "Hewett".

They travelled first class and Harry W. Hewett was aged 45 years, Mrs Evelyn L. Hewett was aged 39 years, and Shirley Ann Hewett was aged 3 years. Their last address in the UK was "c/o John Swire & Commercial Sons. Ltd.", with intention to live permanently in Hong Kong. 

This would suggest Harry Walter Hewett was born circa 1892. The assumption is he is English. But I can't find a birth record in England in that time period. There were a lot of birth registrations for the name Henry Walter Hewitt (note spelling) but even with that spelling there is none around 1892. Of course its possible he was born outwith England. 

I note there was a British chap 'H.W. Hewett" employed as a Watcher in Canton on 1st Feb 1911. 

Then there was another British Hewett a generation older employed in the same job as a Watcher on 18th September 1885, unmarried, and called Henry Charles Hewett born 31st December 1865 in North Shields - working in Shanghai and later Ichang but died in 1898 Shanghai. Could he have been H.W. Hewett's father? 

s.s. Hector arrived at 6am Friday 24^th April 1937 at Holt’s Wharf, Kowloon

Source: The Hong Kong Telegraph, page 4, 24^th April 1937

“The following passengers arrived by the s.s. Hector from the United Kingdom, via ports, on Friday:-

…Mr. and Mrs. H.W. Hewett, Miss S.A. Hewett,..”

Source: Hong Kong Daily Press, page 13, 26^th April 1937

Harry Walter Hewett was living with his wife Evelyn Lennox Hewett and daughter Shirley Ann Hewett at 84 Ramsgate Avenue, Bondi Beach, Phillip County, New South Wales, Australia as recorded in the 1980 Australian Electoral Rolls.

He was listed as a clerk, his wife listed as home duties, and her daughter in advertising. Same details in the 1977 Australia Electoral Rolls. 

Back in 1968 the family was living at 84 Darling Point Road, Edgecliff, Double Bay, Wentworth, New South Wales, Australia. He was a clerk, his wife listed as home duties and his daughter as a copywriter.

Yes, he was the son of Henry Charles Hewett. So Harold would have been born in the Far East.

“WEDDING BELLS.

                    ---------------

HEWITT-PATERSON.

------------------------------------------

The wedding was celebrated at the Peak Church on Thursday, December 24, of Mr. Harold Walter Hewett (son of the late MR. H.C. Hewett of North Shields, Northumberland, and the late Mrs. D. Urquhart) and Miss Evelyn Lennox Paterson (daughter of Captain and the late Mrs. Paterson, of Ilford, Essex). The Rev. T.B. Powell, M.A., officiated.

The function was of a very quiet nature, only relatives and a few intimate friends being present.

With a bouquet of pink roses and orange blossoms, the bride was dressed in a charming gown of silver-grey French silk with hat and shoes to match. She was given away by Mr. James Smith. Mr. A. Urquhart was the “best man”.

Leaving the church the party proceeded to No. 12, Conduit Road (residence of Mr. J. Smith) where the reception was held. The honeymoon is being spent at Repulse Bay. The bride’s travelling dress was of beige crepe-de-chine trimmed with fur, and she wore a nigger-brown georgette hat.”

Source: The China Mail, page 1, 28th December 1925

"The following forthcoming weddings are announced. - Mr. Harry Walter Hewett, of the Kowloon Hotel, to Miss Evelyn Lennox Paterson, of No. 151, the Peak,..."

Source: The China Mail, page 8, 10th December 1925 

The anal American passenger manifest is an absolute gem...

Harry Walter Hewett aged 35 years and his wife, Mrs Evelyn Lennox Hewett aged 29 years travelled First Class on the ship “S.S. Sarpedon” from Hong Kong and arrived in London, England on 5^th August 1927 for the purposes of a ‘vacation’. His profession was listed as “Commercial” and his wife was listed as “Housewife”, with the address in the UK listed as “c/o Dr. Felix Jones “Porte Rouge”, Torpoint, Cornwall.”

Harry Walter Hewett aged 35 years and his wife, Mrs Evelyn Lennox Hewett aged 30 years travelled First Class on the ship “S.S. Troilus” of the Blue Funnel Line and departed Liverpool, England on 16^th December 1927 bound for Hong Kong. Their address in the UK was listed as “c/o Dr. Drury, “Ashbrock” Chingford Mount Rd. Chingford, E.4.” and his profession was listed as “Commercial”   

Harry Walter Hewett aged 40 years and his wife, Mrs Evelyn Lennox Hewett aged 35 years travelled on the ship “R.M.S. Aquitania” of the Cunard Line from Southampton, England which departed on 10^th September 1932 and arrived in New York, USA on 16^th September 1932. His profession was listed as “Oil Merchant” and his wife was listed as “Housewife”, He was listed as English and she as “Scotch”. He was listed as being born in Kinkiang, China and she was born in Ilford, England. Both travelled on documents issued in London on 6^th September 1932 and was passing through the USA for ‘pleasure’ with their final destination being Hong Kong via Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, eventually sailing on the ship President Madison to depart on 15^th October 1932.

Their last permanent residence was stated as Canton, China. In the UK the couple was residing with Harry’s aunt, Miss Kate Hewett at 14 Frank Place, North Shields and also Evelyn’s aunt, Mrs Smelyn Jones at Porte Rouge, Torpoint, Cornwall. The trip was paid for by “father” (impossible as both their father’s were deceased but it said “See No. 17”) and the Asiatic Petroleum Company London. It was the first trip to the USA for the both of them. His appearance was described as dark complexion, brown hair, brown eyes and a height of 5 feet 11 inches with a tattoo mark on his left arm. Her appearance was described as fair complexion, brown hair, hazel eyes and a height of 5 feet 4 and a half inches.

As an aside Mrs Evelyn Lennox Hewett of 84 Ramsgate Avenue, North Bondi, New South Wales, Australia died on 27^th April 1981.The Probate date was 5^th July 1982 with the Probate Registry in London to the value of £10000.

Going through the various Asian Directories, these were his following roles over the years:

Asian Directories and Chronicles

Tidewaiter in the Revenue Department of the Chinese Maritime Customs in Canton (1918)

Assistant in Little & Co., Ltd., John (Est. 1840 – Wine, Spirit and Provision Merchants, Manufacturers of Furniture, Complete House Furnishers, Tailors, Drapers, Milliners, Dressmakers, General Outfitters, Stationers, Booksellers, Watch and Clock Makers, Commission Agents, Crockery, Hardware and Estate Supplies) at Raffles Square in Singapore (1920)

Assistant in Asiatic Petroleum Company (South China) Ltd, at Shameen, Canton (1921, 1922)

Foreman, Sawmill for Federated Malay States Railways at Gemas, Malaya (1922)

Assistant in Asiatic Petroleum Company (South China) Ltd, at Shameen, Canton (1924)

He was an Assistant at Pritchard & Co., Ltd., (General Merchants) in Penang, Malaya (1924)

Assistant in Asiatic Petroleum Company (South China) Ltd, at Shameen, Canton (1925, 1926, 1927, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933)

Hong Kong Branch and Sales Department of the Asiatic Petroleum Company (South China) Ltd, Hong Kong – Asiatic Building, Queen’s Road Central (1934, 1935)

Manufacturers’ Representative, Penang (1934, 1935, 1936, 1937)

Hong Kong Branch and Sales Department of the Asiatic Petroleum Company (South China) Ltd, Hong Kong – Shell House, Queen’s Road Central (1936, 1938, 1939 ,1940, 1941)

Freemasonry

He was an Organizer and member of the “Makepeace” Masonic Lodge No. 3674 in Selangor, Malaya (1922)

He was on the Committee of the Masonic Club in Shameen, Canton (1930)

D.G.S. of the District Grand Lodge of Hong Kong and South China (English Constitution) (1930)

He was President of the Committee of the Masonic Club in Shameen, Canton (1931)

So he was working in Canton in 1925 and came to Hong Kong to get married, hence he was staying at the Kowloon Hotel. So how did he meet his future wife given his job took him between Canton and Malaya? Via Freemason connections? Her mapped out timeline may cough up some clues. 

And by 1934 he was based in Hong Kong so it makes sense his daughter Shirley Ann Hewett was born in Hong Kong about that time.

I also note his father Henry Charles Hewett died in Kiukiang, China in August 1898 so for the first 6 years of his life Harold ('Harry') Walter Hewett probably spent a fair amount of time there. But in adult life had visited his relations in North Shields so had clearly kept in touch with the father's family...I wonder what happened between the years 1898-1911 by which the end of that time period he was employed in Canton. 

In 1942, going through the Australian Directory for Victoria:

Harry W. Hewett was living at 15 Montgomery Street, Mordialloc, S.12

Mrs E.L. Hewett was living at 334 Riversdale Road, Hawthorn East E.3

Jill, what do you know of as to why or what was Leslie Warren's link to Malaya when he chose to go there in 1941? Did he have prior business or social interests there? You would have thought he would join his wife and kids in England? I don't know if his neighbour Harry Hewett had any role in Leslie choosing to go to Malaya.