Sydney Hewlett, No1 Cdo

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 19/02/2012 19:40:29

Hey everyone,

I'm looking for Sydney Hewlett who was probably in the Welsh or Scottish regiment in the No. 1 commando. I don't know anything about where he went and I have little information about him.

Born: 24 July 1908/1909
Died: 27 July 1983

He was in Fort William before the war.

AHewlett wrote:Hey everyone,

I'm looking for Sydney Hewlett who was probably in the Welsh or Scottish regiment in the No. 1 commando. I don't know anything about where he went and I have little information about him.

Born: 24 July 1908/1909
Died: 27 July 1983

He was in Fort William before the war.

Hi AH,
Welcome to the CVA Forum. Don't despair that there has been no response to your appeal for infomation but the details that you have provided are, to say the least, a little thin.
Do you not know anything more about this Commando?
The Regiment that he joined the Commandos from?
Whether he was a commisioned officer?
Whether he was WIA (wounded in action), KIA (killed in action), received an award for gallantry?
Any of this information will help in your research.

Good luck,
Nick

I don't know a lot about him. The only information I know about him, I have already given in my post.

I know it's not much, but it's all I have

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 17/10/2010 17:49:05

It's been awhile since I posted but I have information that's changed.

Sidney/Sydney Hewlett
Born abt 24th July 1911 (Barry Island, Wales)
Died abt 27th July 1983

In the No1 Commando's, possibly at Fort William, Scotland. He has the No1 Army Commando "united we conquer" on his gravestone.

Any information would help in my search for him

EDIT: Looked on the gallery and I found a programme which mentions his name of who died and he comes up. His rank was TSM (Troop Sergeant Major)

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 19/10/2010 11:14:32

Hello

You did not give your first name and relationship to Sidney Hewlett - this would be nice to know. The former Commando Association now disbanded have details of a Sidney Hewlett. I should point out that these are association membership records and not government official documents so to speak. They have a Sidney Hewlett as being attached to No.1 Commando from the Dorset Regiment. I have some further details but before I post them, do you know of anything that might link in with this, ie. a Dorset connection.

Regards

Pete

My name is Anne-Marie Hewlett and Sidney Hewlett was my grandfather.

Like I mentioned, I don't know too much about my grandfather and my family aren't willing to put forward any information, apart from what I already know.

I don't know about a Dorset connection, only that he may have gone down there to join the No.1 Commando but I was told by the family that he was in Fort William. Whether this is true or not, I don't know.

Thanks Pete!

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 20/10/2010 10:00:14

Hello Anne-Marie

It is likely that this man is your grandfather however to confirm this and ultimately apply for a copy of his service record you are going to have to try and get the rest of your family on side. The nearest next of kin can apply for a copy of the full service record of your grandfather but certain details are required. This can be seen here:

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/WhatWeDo/Personnel/ServiceRecords/MakingARequestForInformationHeldOnThePersonnelRecordsOfDeceasedServicePersonnel.htm

Someone in the extended family may have papers documents even photos of your grandfather from his war days that might help in this. The Sidney Hewlett who became a member of the original Commando Association (now disbanded) was in No.1 Commando. He then was attached to the Commando Mountain Warfare Training Camp (CMWTC). Subsequently from there he was attached to 46RM Commando. I had thought this unusual as No.1 Cdo. was Army and 46RM Cdo. was Royal Navy. However I am told that for people with specialist skills such as those acquired at (or he could even have been an instructor at) the CMWTC this was not uncommon. The Service number of this man was 3907388. Again I emphasise that although these are likely to be they are not definitely your grandfather's details. On any application you make you can add these details in the comments section as a possibilty rather than in the details section as a definite.

Good luck with your research and keep us informed as to how it goes

Regards

Pete

Thanks Pete for researching.

I've been in contact with my aunt and she said he was a Training Sergeant Major in Fort William and Glencoe. I don't know if that helps any.

I also don't know if her or her sister's would give me the information needed or even fill the form in but I'll try and if all else fails, I'll just fill it in.

Hello everyone again,

My aunties aren't interested in giving me any information for the MOD forms nor are they willing to fill it out themselves so it's up to me. I understand that Pete found someone but it's not 100% sure if it's him, so what do I do in terms of this form?

Have you any photos of your grandfather? If so he might be here(photo Gallery)?

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/1/1+cdo+grp/Copy+of+Stage+10-numbered+copy.jpg.html

Kevin

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 09/12/2010 21:08:27

Hi Anne-Marie,

As the death of your grand father occured over 25 years ago you do not need the permission of his next of kin to apply for his Service Records (you'd need to complete the 'general enquirers form)but you will need a copy of his death certificate...
In the UK death certificates are considered public domain documents and can therefore be obtained, for a fee, for any individual regardless of the requester's relationship to the deceased...

There are a number of sites on line which will carry out the search and provide you with a copy - I cannot, however, make recommendations on any of the sites as I have not used their services.
I would suggest that you browse the 'direct-gov' site and maybe follow any links from there.

Please do not hesitate to pm or email me if I can be of any help in this.

Regards,
Nick

Email from Sheila Guppy received 1 Feb 13:

Hi

I have somehow managed to log on to your CVA site and noticed a note from a A Hewlett asking for info. about a Sydney Hewlett.
He was my mothers half brother. His mother also being the mother of my mother. He was born in Barry South Wales ( a couple of miles from Barry Island). His mothers maiden name was Emily Thomas. She was born in Poplar London in 1882 and was married to Charles Hewlett on 22nd Oct 1900 at Emmanual Church Camberwell London. She died on 1st March 1972 in Clacton. He died in new tredegar in the Welsh Valleys in january 1943. One of Sydneys half sisters, my aunt, is still alive and lives here in Rugby. We have always been told that the middle commando in the statue at Spean Bridge is that of Sydney as he taught the commandos in Scotland. One of his daughters lives in holland. I hope it ok for me to email you as I didnt know how to reply to A Hewlett through your site, not very good with a computer. I still have a christmas card sent to my mother from Sydney and he was then living at 4 Woodstreet Kilwinning. Hope this is of some help to the person enquiring. Sheila Guppy

geoffmurray1 wrote:Email from Sheila Guppy received 1 Feb 13:

Hi

I have somehow managed to log on to your CVA site and noticed a note from a A Hewlett asking for info. about a Sydney Hewlett.
He was my mothers half brother. His mother also being the mother of my mother. He was born in Barry South Wales ( a couple of miles from Barry Island). His mothers maiden name was Emily Thomas. She was born in Poplar London in 1882 and was married to Charles Hewlett on 22nd Oct 1900 at Emmanual Church Camberwell London. She died on 1st March 1972 in Clacton. He died in new tredegar in the Welsh Valleys in january 1943. One of Sydneys half sisters, my aunt, is still alive and lives here in Rugby. We have always been told that the middle commando in the statue at Spean Bridge is that of Sydney as he taught the commandos in Scotland. One of his daughters lives in holland. I hope it ok for me to email you as I didnt know how to reply to A Hewlett through your site, not very good with a computer. I still have a christmas card sent to my mother from Sydney and he was then living at 4 Woodstreet Kilwinning. Hope this is of some help to the person enquiring. Sheila Guppy

I've just found this post again and just seen this - 6 years later which is typical of me! Can I PM you for her email at all? if you still have access to this account

Hi Anne-Marie,

Unfortunately Sheila Guppy emailed Geoff Murray, our former National Secretary - who has since emigrated to Australia.
As she emailed Geoff and didn't register on the Forum, we do not have her email address.

I don't know if Geoff still has her email address - I will ask if he has...

Nick

Thanks Nick! Luckily enough I've made contact with her via a relative so it's all good. Thank you for trying though