William Herbert (Herb) BEWS

BEWS, William Herbert

Service Numbers: 17586, N449853
Enlisted: 16 September 1916, Maryborough, Queensland
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: Volunteer Defence Corps (SA)
Born: Baroota, South Australia, 19 January 1890
Home Town: Toowoomba, Toowoomba, Queensland
Schooling: State School
Occupation: Blacksmith
Died: Natural causes, Boolaroo, New South Wales, 18 August 1968, aged 78 years
Cemetery: Newcastle Memorial Park, Beresfield, New South Wales
E G W 13/3 H/57
Memorials: Maryborough City Hall Honour Roll, Toowoomba Queen of the South Lodge, Toowoomba St. Stephen's Presbyterian Church Roll of Honour
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World War 1 Service

16 Sep 1916: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 17586, Maryborough, Queensland
10 May 1917: Involvement AIF WW1, Sapper, 17586, Field Company Engineers, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '5' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Marathon embarkation_ship_number: A74 public_note: ''
10 May 1917: Embarked AIF WW1, Sapper, 17586, Field Company Engineers, HMAT Marathon, Sydney
3 Oct 1919: Discharged AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 17586, 14th Field Company Engineers

World War 2 Service

18 Nov 1943: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, N449853, 32nd (NSW) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC)
18 Nov 1943: Enlisted Private, N449853, Volunteer Defence Corps (SA), Newcastle, New South Wales
19 Nov 1943: Involvement Private, N449853, Volunteer Defence Corps (SA), Homeland Defence - Militia and non deployed forces
16 Oct 1944: Discharged Private, N449853, Volunteer Defence Corps (SA)
16 Oct 1944: Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, N449853, 32nd (NSW) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC)

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Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

William Herbert Bews was a "Sapper" in No. 1 Section of the March reinforcements, Australian Field Engineers, AIF and left Sydney on 10th of May 1917 aboard the HMAS Marathon. He was a Fitter and Turner by trade and worked for the Commonwealth Steel Company at Waratah NSW.

Lillian and Herb moved to Waratah (Newcastle) after they were married when he got the job at the Commonwealth Steel Co. To get back to Queensland to see family in Toowoomba and Maryborough they bought a Ford 4 Tourer. Off to Queensland with a lot of faith in his ability. At times they became bogged on the plains going into Toowoomba and all the adults had to get out and push - a friend going along for the trip took a step and left her slipper well and truly lost in the mud. They also had to push the car out of creeks and holes made by waggon tracks.

William and his son Noel David had the same office in the Special Steel Department at the Commonwealth Steel, Waratah.  Lillian and Herb left Waratah about the time he retired and lived at Coral Point on the lake at Lake Macquarie.

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