On ANZAC Day this year I watched the televised versions of the dawn services and part of the Sydney march of the veterans. I thought of my Uncle Dave Pollock who fought and was wounded, gassed in France during the 1st World War, my brother Geoff who was in the Middle East with the 2nd AIF when he was injured with other troops in a vehicle accident, and my cousin Mervyn Brace who was a prisoner of war held by the Japanese.
It dawned on me that there would have been many more Mewetts who served in both wars. I searched without success in my disorganised paper files and folders for a list I had once seen; however, using Spotlight, a Mac application, I located the list of names hidden away in my computer files, and then downloaded further information from the National Archives and the Australian War Memorial. Genealogical information was sourced from research by the late Bob Mewett and Darryl Mewett.
The First World War 1914 – 1918 (names listed alphabetically)
Charles Mewett, Private No. 903, of the 5th Battalion, who enlisted at Ripponlea, Vic.,17 August 1914. He was born at Mentone, Vic. Next of kin: Thomas (father).
Frank Gawler Mewett, Private No. 7036, of the 4th A.S.C., enlisted at Adelaide, S.A., 23 October 1916. He was born at Gawler, S.A. on 1 October 1897. Stated next of kin: Eva Mewett (mother). My comment: Frank was a great-grandchild of Samuel and Martha, grandson of Jesse and Rhoda, son of David William and Eva (nee Trestrail), and cousin of my father Percy.
Harold Ernest Mewett, Sapper No. 21615, of the 2nd Field Squadron (Signals), who enlisted in Brisbane 30 May 1917. He was born at Caboolture, Qld. Next of kin: Alfred Ernest Mewett (father).
John Scott Mewett, Private No. 4473, of the 28th Battalion, who enlisted at Blackboy Hill, W.A., 15 February 1916. He was born at Busselton, W.A. Next of kin: Robert Mewett (father).
+ John Scott Mewett was killed in action. His name is listed on the Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial +
Walter Leslie Mewett (a.k.a. Leslie Walter), service number 6062, who enlisted in Adelaide, S.A. He was born at Kersbrook, S.A. Stated next of kin: Mary Jane Mewett (mother). My comment: he was a great-grandson of Samuel and Martha, grandson of Thomas and Caroline (nee Meakins),and son of William Samuel and Mary Jane (nee Stephenson).
William Charles Mewett, service number 95735, who enlisted at Wallsend, NSW. He was born at Wallsend. Next of kin: James Mewett.
As the last two entries of Walter Leslie and William Charles were not listed on the embarkation rolls kept at the Australian War Memorial; it seems likely neither of them served overseas. My next posting will list the names of Mewetts who served with the 2nd A.I.F
Postscript : Alison Mewett, a follower of this blog, has added her grandfather to the above-listed Anzacs:
Major James Edward Hedley Mewett, M.C., O.B.E., enlisted in the Auckland, N.Z., Infantry Battalion 4 January 1915. He served at Gallipoli; wounded in action in France 21 February 1917 losing his right hand. 1918-19 Company Commander N.Z. Command Depot, Codford, England. He returned to N.Z. aboard SS Ionic 25 October 1919. He was born in Australia in 1893 and emigrated to N.Z. shortly afterwards. His father was James Mewett from Newhaven, England, a distant cousin to Frank Gawler Mewett (see above).
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