Interview with Neale Hewett

Neale Hewett talks about his birth in Burma in 1906. Mentions that many generations of his father and mother's side of the family served in the military in India. Details great grandfather's service and the family tradition. Describes himself and his father as Cape Horners. Mentions Dartmouth and Royal Navy.

Talks about father's service in Burma and describes the influences of the King and Queen on their subjects. Details being sent to a home in Cheltenham, England at 4 years of age and school in Eastbourne until 13 holidays included, and not recognising his parents. Describes growing up without parents.

Describes attending Pangbourne College aged 12, the Royal Naval Reserves and outlines his work including HMS Winchelsea testing poison gas. Outlines voyages with P&O to obtain his 2nd mate's ticket, enters the Royal Indian Marines. Describes the relief given at the 1923 Japanese earthquake.Talks about moving from ship to ship, having royalty as passengers, later surveying the coastline of India on the Investigator. Describes copying charts during the monsoon season. Talks about the closure of the Indian Navy and finding work with Bombay Burma Trading Company while continuing as a reserve officer with the Frontier Force Cavalry. At the outbreak of war describes re-entering the Navy. Describes his jobs and escorting the First NZ Echelon: taking a gunnery course, wanting to return to sea but having to train gunners. Describes the situation at the changeover in 1947 and gives reasons for retiring from the navy and leaving India.

Talks about his parents, wife and children and his father wanting to retire to New Zealand. Mentions living in Australia with his children. Gives reason for moving to New Zealand, applying for citizenship, discovering that his father was a New Zealander and his mother's family were here also. Talks about his employment in commercial fishing and NZ Forest Products..

Relates his United Nations job in 1950's in various countries, describes the way he organised his work and staff. Describes the changes when a political element joined the UN, and his resignation. Compares the African independence with that of India.

Describes wartime atrocities by the Japanese.

Talks about his nationality and religion, and as it was in India. Talks about his accomodation, furnishings and places he called home, his servants who travelled with him, the meals, lifestyle and languages spoken.

Relates meeting his wife, Thecla Edana Davis, and describes her background. Talks about his children's schools and education and family health. Mentions snake encounters. Details the clubs they belonged to in India, multiculturism and integration of races, talks of Anglo-Indians. Talks of partition. Mentions his impressions on his return to India.

Awards/funding - Project received an Oral History Grant

Interviewer(s) - Dorothy McMenamin

Accompanying material - Includes 2 leaves of notes about conversations held with Neale Hewett. One clarifies various subjects and the second conversation was over lunch with a neighbour.

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-008510, OHA-008511

Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 transcript(s). 1 interview(s). 1.30 Hours and minutes Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - transcript(s) available OHA-2644.

Original recordings not available for playback. Surrogate copies will be provided.