John Robert Dewar, CBE^[1]

1883 - 1964  (81 years)

John Dewar

1834 - 1927  (92 years)

Birth	4 October 1834	Culross, Perthshire, Scotland
Died	26 April 1927	Alexandra, Otago, New Zealand
Buried	after 26 April 1927	Alexandra Cemetery, Alexandra, Otago, New Zealand
Father	John Dewar,   b. 6 March 1794, Culross, Perthshire, Scotland
Mother	Janet Ross,   b. 11 June 1805, Carthall, Liberton, Edinburghshire, Scotland
Family/Spouse	Bethia Bringans,   b. 30 October 1859, Bothwell, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Married	15 February 1883	Mosgiel, Otago, New Zealand
Children	+ 1. John Robert Dewar, CBE,   b. 1883, Alexandra, Otago, New Zealand   2. Alexander Dewar,   b. 25 February 1887, Mosgiel, Otago, New Zealand + 3. Janet “Nettie” Bethia Dewar,   b. 14 May 1889, Mosgiel, Otago, New Zealand   4. Maurice Dewar,   b. between 1889 and 1894 + 5. Robert Alexander Dewar,   b. 1892, Dumbarton, Otago, New Zealand

Bethia Bringans

1859 - 1937  (77 years)

Birth	30 October 1859	Bothwell, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Died	17 September 1937	Balclutha, Otago, New Zealand
Buried	19 September 1937	Alexandra Cemetery, Alexandra, Otago, New Zealand
Father	Alexander Bringans,   b. 18 October 1828, Dollar, Clackmannanshire, Scotland
Mother	Janet Mitchell,   b. 29 January 1842, of, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Family/Spouse	John Dewar,   b. 4 October 1834, Culross, Perthshire, Scotland
Married	15 February 1883	Mosgiel, Otago, New Zealand
Children	+ 1. John Robert Dewar, CBE,   b. 1883, Alexandra, Otago, New Zealand   2. Alexander Dewar,   b. 25 February 1887, Mosgiel, Otago, New Zealand + 3. Janet “Nettie” Bethia Dewar,   b. 14 May 1889, Mosgiel, Otago, New Zealand   4. Maurice Dewar,   b. between 1889 and 1894 + 5. Robert Alexander Dewar,   b. 1892, Dumbarton, Otago, New Zealand

Gladys Kathleen Plunkett

1885 - after 1964  (> 79 years)

Birth	6 September 1885	Tasmania, Australia
Died	after 12 April 1964
Father	Robert James Plunkett,   b. about 1859
Mother	Ellen Rogers
Family/Spouse	John Robert Dewar, CBE,   b. 1883, Alexandra, Otago, New Zealand
Married	19 July 1911	St John’s Church, Goulburn St., Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Children	+ 1. John Richard Gresley “Dick” Dewar,   b. 1916

John Richard Gresley “Dick” Dewar

1916 - Yes - date unknown

Birth	1916
Died	Yes - date unknown
Father	John Robert Dewar, CBE,   b. 1883, Alexandra, Otago, New Zealand
Mother	Gladys Kathleen Plunkett,   b. 6 September 1885, Tasmania, Australia
Family/Spouse	Andrena Victoria Hopwood
Married	1944
Children	1. Living + 2. Living   3. Living

• Gender	Male
  Birth	1883	Alexandra, Otago, New Zealand   [2, 3]
  Employment	1906-1911	Pahang, Federated Malay States   [4]
  Employment	1912-1924	Kedah, Unfederated Malay States   [4]
  Employment	1924-1938	Kuala Lumpur, Federated Malay States   [4]
  Occupation	Surveyor General Of Federated Malay States And Straits Settlements.  [5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13]
  Residence	1939	Callander, Perthshire, Scotland   [4]
  Residence	after 1939	Tasmania, Australia   [4]
  Obituary	MALAYSIA Journal of the British Association of Malaysia London: The British Association of Malaysia May, 1964: p 41. Social and Personal DEATHS The following deaths are recorded with regret: DEWAR. On 12th April, 1964, at Flat 3, Castle Mount, St. Valerie Road, Bournemouth, John Dewar, C.B.E., formerly Surveyor-General, Malaya, beloved husband of Gladys, and dear father of Richard. June, 1964: p 36. OBITUARIES JOHN DEWAR, C.B.E. The death of John Dewar occurred in Bournemouth on April 12th, 1964. He was 80 years old. Born in New Zealand in 1883 he became a qualified land surveyor there before going to Malaya in 1906 to join the Survey Department. He spent the first five years of his service in Pahang and then moved to Kedah where he eventually became Superintendent. In 1924 he was transferred to Kuala Lumpur and in 1931 was promoted to Deputy Surveyor-General. In 1933 he was appointed Surveyor-General, Malaya, a post he held until his retirement in 1938. He was made C.B.E. in that year. On retirement he and his wife lived in Callander. Immediately after the last war in 1946 he was invited by the Colonial Office to return to Malaya and advise on the rehabilitation of the Survey Department. He went back to Callander for a few years and then moved to Tasmania, subsequently returning to England to live in Bournemouth until his death. In his official life he was a believer in efficiency and perfection. In 1930 he undertook a comprehensive review of the whole Department which resulted in a complete re-modelling of its operations. He set a standard for the future which subsequent heads of the department were proud to maintain. But under the skin of apparent sternness lay the gold of sterling friendship and generosity. He was a very sociable man of great humour; he loved life and he loved his friends. He was a man of great physique and a well known rugger player in his younger days. But golf was his chief delight; Captain of the Selangor Golf Club in 1927 and its President in 1930, his handicap was in single figures for most of his playing life. He served Malaya well and his very many friends mourn his passing and extend their sympathy to his wife, Gladys, and his son, Richard. C.N. [C.N.: Christopher Noble, a former Surveyor-General of Malaya who retired in 1955.] [[Above from Mok in Singapore who provided transcript of this and some other information - Roger 13 January 2005]]  [4]
  Death	12 April 1964	Bournemouth, Hampshire, England   [2, 4, 14]
  	Reported June 1964 6b 144
  Headstones	Submit Headstone Photo
  Person ID	I5173	Roger
  Last Modified	27 April 2010

  
  

  Father	John Dewar,   b. 4 October 1834, Culross, Perthshire, Scotland d. 26 April 1927, Alexandra, Otago, New Zealand (Age 92 years)
  Mother	Bethia Bringans,   b. 30 October 1859, Bothwell, Lanarkshire, Scotland d. 17 September 1937, Balclutha, Otago, New Zealand (Age 77 years)
  Family ID	F6	Family Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family/Spouse	Gladys Kathleen Plunkett,   b. 6 September 1885, Tasmania, Australia d. after 12 April 1964 (Age > 79 years)
  Marriage	19 July 1911	St John’s Church, Goulburn St., Hobart, Tasmania, Australia   [15, 16]
  Children	+   1. John Richard Gresley “Dick” Dewar,   b. 1916   d. Yes - date unknown
  Family ID	F1642	Family Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	21 August 2013

  
  

• Event Map		Birth - 1883 - Alexandra, Otago, New Zealand  Employment - 1906-1911 - Pahang, Federated Malay States  Marriage - 19 July 1911 - St John’s Church, Goulburn St., Hobart, Tasmania, Australia  Employment - 1912-1924 - Kedah, Unfederated Malay States  Employment - 1924-1938 - Kuala Lumpur, Federated Malay States  Residence - 1939 - Callander, Perthshire, Scotland  Residence - after 1939 - Tasmania, Australia  Death - 12 April 1964 - Bournemouth, Hampshire, England   = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend

  
  

• Photos » Slide Show		John Robert "Uncle Jack" Dewar Back of photo says: "John Robert Dewar taken at 6 1/2 months" Scanned from original held by Bob Moffat.
  		John Robert "Uncle Jack" Dewar Went on to become Surveyor General of Federated Malay States and Straits Settlements, and in 1938 was awarded a CBE for his services.
  		John and Bethia Dewar and Family Scanned from original photo held by Bob Moffat. Left to Right: John (Jack) Dewar, Janet (Nettie) Dewar, John Dewar, Bethia (Bringans) Dewar, Robert (Bert) Dewar
  		Jack Dewar CBE John Robert "Jack" Dewar was awarded the CBE in the New Year's Honours List of 1 January 1938 for his services as Surveyor General of Federated Malay States and Straits Settlements. The picture was taken in Kensington, London. Scanned from an original held by Bob Moffat

  
  

  Documents		Page from Supplement to London Gazette showing John Dewar, Esq., listed for award of the CBE Published 31 December 1937 dated 1 January 1938 the list of New Year's Honours for 1938, on page 15 shows: John Dewar, Esq., Colonial Survey Service, Surveyor-General, Federated Malay States and Straits Settlements.
  		Newspaper clipping announcing CBE awarded to John Dewar. Scanned by Roger from a photo copy of the original clipping held by Peter Moffat.

  
  

  Histories » Slide Show		A letter written by John Dewar to "The Magazine of the Survey Departments of Malaya" 1 year after his retirement. Information researched and compiled by Ly Mok in Singapore and kindly provided for publication here.
  		eMail from Ly Mok in Singapore and kindly provided for publication here. eMail from Ly Mok in Singapore and kindly provided for publication here.
  		eMail from Ly Mok in Singapore with further information about John Dewar, and kindly provided for publication here. eMail from Ly Mok in Singapore and kindly provided for publication here.
  		Information about John Dewar's service in the Federated Malay States This information researched and compiled by Ly Mok in Singapore and kindly provided for publication here.
  		John Dewar — Otago Pioneer: Notes about John Dewar Written by his daughter, Janet Bethia Dewar, probably in 1973, prior to her death (the third to last paragraph mentions "a grandson (1973)".
  		Several reports from the Federated Malay States Survey Department mentioning John Dewar The information in these reports was researched and compiled by Ly Mok in Singapore and kindly provided for publication here.
  		Two letters written by John Dewar to Australian Surveyor Magazine. Copies of letters researched and compiled by Ly Mok in Singapore and kindly provided for publication on this site.
  		Who Was Who entry for John Dewar Information researched and compiled by Ly Mok in Singapore and kindly provided for publication here.

  
  

• Notes

  ============================= From: www​.jupem​.gov​.my/​UploadedFileAnnouncement/​sg-527​.HTML S.G. CIRCULAR NO. 5/27 :: Return of Completed Job :: During my recent inspections I have noticed that there have been many cases where the Asst: Supt. Field has had difficulty in obtaining the return of Field Books from Surveyors after the completion of the Field work. The prompt return of Field Books must in every case be insisted on and if necessary at any time the Surveyor must be brought into office immediately his work is overdue, and not allowed to return until the work is handed in. During each term in office he will be considered as transferred to office and his commuted allowence will cease for the period. This office should be notified in each case as it becomes necessary and a note will be made in his records. J. DEWAR For Surveyor General, F.M.S.&S.S. Dated: 17th October, 1927 ============================= From www.gazettes-online.co.uk Was awarded the CBE in the New Year’s Honours List of 1 January 1938 as published in the supplement to the London Gazette on 31 December 1937. ============================= NEW YEAR HONOUR EX-TARANAKI SURVEYOR MALAY STATES SERVICE In a letter received at Patea by Mrs. Horner, her son, Mr. Brian Horner, senior district surveyor and inspector at present stationed at Kulin, Kedah State, Malay State, states that Mr. John Dewar, who recently retired from the position of survey-general of the Federated Malay States, has been honoured by having a C.B.E. conferred on him in the New Year honours list, in recognition of his long and responsible service in control of the survey branch of the Federated Malay States civil service. Born at Alexandra, Central Otago,, Mr, Dewar was appointed at the age of 17 to a cadetship in the survey department at New Plymouth, From the office he was placed as a field cadet under Mr. Harry M. Skeet, district surveyor, and in due course was appointed an assistant surveyor on the Taranaki staff, having passed his examinations, practical and theoretical, with distinction. In 1905-6 he was appointed an assistant surveyor to the Federated Malay States Government, and his rise from that position to the head of a great department was rapid, reflecting credit on his training both in the office and field in Taranaki as well as on his natural ability. Mr. Skeet, who is living in Auckland, may take pride in the distinction won by his cadet of earlier years. Mr. and Mrs. Dewar are living in their retirement on the margin of Lake Lomond, Scotland. ============================= John and Bethia Dewar’s eldest son, John, walked the six miles from Dumbarton to Roxburgh school. A classmate was Sidney Smith (later Sir Sidney) whose investigations into criminal poisonings made his name famous in the medical world. John began work as a pupil teacher, then took a position with the Lands and Survey Department at New Plymouth. He was a cadet in the surveying party which opened up the King Country. A rugby player, he was fly-half in the Taranaki team known as the Bush Whackers XV the year they were North Island champions. As soon as he received his surveyor’s licence he went to the (then) Federated Malay States, where he rose to be Surveyor-General. He retired to Scotland in 1937. After World War II, he was sent back to Malaysia by the Imperial Government to an expected problem with land titles it was thought would have been lost. John had worked with Maori trainees during his time at New Plymouth and, in Malaysia, persisted until successful with applications for permission to train Malay clerks in Kuala Lumpur. The wisdom of this was discovered when he found clerks had hidden every land title and none had been lost. For his work in Malaysia, John was awarded the C.B.E. He married Gladys Kathleen Plunkett, a relative of a former Governor-General of New Zealand, and they had one son, John Richard Gresley Dewar, now living in England. [3, 5, 6, 17]

  
  

• Sources

  [S18] Photo of “John Robert Dewar” taken at 6 1/2 months. [S120] compiled by someone from the Bringans Family in New Zealand, Bringans Family Tree. [S302] unknown author, Article from an unknown newspaper. [S470] London: The British Association of Malaya, Obituary. [S247] Published by Authority, Website of The London Gazette. [S240] J. DEWAR For Surveyor General, F.M.S.&S.S., Website of Surveyor General of Malaysia. [S467] from Ly Mok in Singapore, eMail message titled “Re: John Dewar”. [S468] list provided by Ly Mok from Singapore, Written note titled “The Malayan Civil List 1938”. [S469] provided by Ly Mok from Singapore, Written note titled “Who was Who Vol. VI”. [S471] written by J M Dewar, Letter to The Australian Surveyor. [S472] from Ly Mok in Singapore, eMail message titled “Re: John Dewar”. [S473] Author Unknown, Obituary of John Dewar. [S474] written by John Dewar, Letter to a Surveying Magazine. [S2422] from Colin Moffat, eMail message titled “Re: Dewar”. [S120] compiled by someone from the Bringans Family in New Zealand, Bringans Family Tree, gave the year only. [S2544] published in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, Newspaper titled “The Mercury”, gave full date. [S289] remembrance by his daughter, Janet Bethia Dewar, John Dewar - An Otago Pioneer.