Cyril Desmond “Squib; also recorded as Cyril D.” Hewson

Sergeant · NZ #1030 · T Patrol

What this roll records

THE PLACE HE WAS KILLED, FROM HIS FAMILY’S OWN NOTICE. The Auckland Star of 11 January 1943, under “ROLL OF HONOUR - IN MEMORIAM”, two years to the day after he fell: “HEWSON. - In loving memory of 1030, Sergeant C. D. Hewson, L.R.D.G., killed in action, MURZUK, January 11, 1941.” Inserted by his sister and brother-in-law, Mae and Jack Sinton. THE SERVICE NUMBER, THE INITIALS, THE RANK, THE UNIT, THE DATE AND THE PLACE IN ONE LINE - and the number and initials match this card exactly. The Murzuk raid is the operation described in the official war correspondent’s despatch of 15 February 1941, listed on the Newspapers page: a New Zealand patrol and a party of Guardsmen left on Christmas Eve, met French troops in the Tibesti foothills and took the fort and landing ground at Murzuk by surprise. A further notice in the New Zealand Herald of 14 June 1944 gives his name in full as Cyril Desmond Hewson and mourns him beside a brother, Corporal William Selwyn Hewson, N.Z.A.S.C., killed in an accident in Syria on 12 June 1942 - not of this Group and not on this roll. Source: Auckland Star, 11 January 1943, and New Zealand Herald, 14 June 1944, both via Papers Past (National Library of New Zealand).

ROLL OF HONOUR: died on active service with the LRDG (2 NZEF) per W.B. Kennedy Shaw, "Long Range Desert Group" appendices. Appendix 2.

On LRP Roll (T Patrol); killed Murzuk 11 Jan 1941 per LRP Roll. Source: LRP Roll (Original LRP Nominal Roll as at 5 Dec 1940, Capt L H Browne).

Killed in action 11 Jan 1941 at Murzuk, in the Fezzan — the first LRDG man to fall in action, killed alongside the Free French commander Col. d'Ornano in the raid on the fort and aerodrome. Source: contemporary account (“Prelude to Battle”) and the Murzuk raid records.

The Kiwi Scorpions (Brendan O'Carroll): Sgt C. D. Hewson — labourer; born Auckland, 27 Jan 1908; killed in action, 11 Jan 1941.

Killed at Murzuk (11 January 1941) when he stood up to clear his jammed machine gun during the LRDG raid on the fort. Source: ‘Long Range Desert Group in Libya, 1940–41’, Episodes & Studies Vol. 1 (NZ official war history).

Labourer; born Auckland, 27 Jan 1908. Killed in action, 11 Jan 1941. Source: Episodes & Studies Vol. 1 (biographical notes).

Labourer in civilian life. Source: Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph.

Buried at Tripoli War Cemetery, Libya - grave 12.B.21, commemorated at Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of Memories. Source: Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph.

Forenames given in full in August 2026 as Cyril Desmond, where this roll held only “Cyril D.”. The Auckland War Memorial Museum’s L.R.D.G. Membership Roll of February 1970 gives the full form against the same service number. The old form is kept in the AKA field and stays searchable. The same record gives his nickname as “Squib”, correcting the spelling formerly held in the AKA field on this card. Source: Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph, record C25890.

Embarkation detail from his Cenotaph record: he embarked as CORPORAL, 2nd Division Cavalry; vessel Rangatira. The rank held on this card, Sergeant, is his LRDG rank; promotion after embarkation was the rule rather than the exception, so the two are not in conflict. Source: Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph, record C25890.

Cenotaph record linked. Source: Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph.

The prefix NZ has been added to his service number, on the authority of the Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph record already linked on this card — the Museum holds him as a New Zealand service person. The digits are unchanged. This roll formerly left the number unmarked, which made it look like a British number to anyone reading the field rather than the card.

See him in the full roll →

Where this comes from

• Missing info added from the LRDG Preservation Society’s Troopers roll.
• AKA added from the LRDG Preservation Society’s Troopers roll (missing information).
• Murzuk Raid roll (courtesy Tarek el Mahdy)

In collaboration withThe Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) Preservation SocietyTo add information about this man, or note a correction, please post in the Society’s Facebook Group →

This page is part of the Long Range Desert Group roll of members at lrdgarchive.org. If you hold rights to anything on it and would like it credited differently, or taken down, please see Sources and Copyright. It will be dealt with promptly.

Not By Strength But By Guile