William Hewitt (1903-1950)
1952 Obituary [1]
"WILLIAM HEWITT spent the whole of his professional career in Malaya, where for many years he was concerned with the oil industry. He was born in 1903 and served his apprenticeship with Ruston and Hornsby, Ltd., Lincoln, engineers, from 1920 to 1925, during which period he attended classes in engineering at the Lincoln Municipal Technical College. He proceeded to Singapore in 1925 to take up the appointment of sales engineer for United Engineers, Ltd. In this capacity he was in charge of the agency for Ruston and Hornsby and was responsible for the erection of all new plant for that firm. In addition his services were engaged in a similar manner for Belliss and Morcom, Ltd., Worthington-Simpson, Ltd., Hans Renold, Ltd., and other British engineering concerns. Two years later he transferred to the Vacuum Oil Company (New York), Ltd., and remained as sales engineer for Singapore and other branches in Malaya and Siam up to the time of his death, which occurred on 12th December 1950. He was in Hong Kong at the outbreak of the 1939-45 war, and was a prisoner in Japanese hands in Hong Kong until its liberation. Mr. Hewitt was elected a Student of the Institution in 1923, and transferred to Graduateship in 1924 and to Associate Membership in 1930."