Button, Alfred

died 21 August 1911 aged 82 years
buried Linwood Cemetery, block 15 plot 141

A CRIMEAN VETERAN

At the age of 82 years, another old veteran passed away at Lyttelton on Saturday in the person of Mr Alfred Button.

Deceased, who was born at Maidstone. in Kent, joined the Navy and served through the Crimean war. He gained the Baltic, Crimean, and Turkish medals, and was also the holder of the Sebastopol clasp, he having taken part in the siege of that place.

In 1875 Mr Button, with his family, left England for New Zealand and landed at Auckland, where he was engaged for some years in dairy farming at Mount Albert and Mangere. He sold out and came to Lyttelton, where he was appointed signalman at the Sumner road signal station for the Lyttelton Harbour Board.

This was a congenial employment for the old navy man, and he held the post for many years, retiring about six years ago on account of old age. He leaves two sons and three daughters, his wife having died, about five years ago.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14181, 23 October 1911, Page 7

Wales, William

Obituary — Two old and respected residents of Lyttelton, Mrs Anna Webb, wife of Mr J. R. Webb, and Mr William Wales, a Crimean veteran, died late on Saturday night. Flags were hoisted at half-mast in all parts of the town as a tribute to their memory.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume LIII, Issue 2742, 20 January 1903, Page 2

Mr William Wales, of Lyttelton, a native of Kent, died the other day at the age of 70 years. He joined the navy as a boy on board H.M.S. Boscawen in 1851.

During the Crimean War he was on H.M.S. Algiers, and saw service in the Crimea and in the Baltic, for which he received the Crimean, Baltic and Turkish medals. He purchased his discharge, on May 15, 1863, when leading seaman on H.M.S. Black Prince.

Nearly 40 years ago he landed at Dunedin.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 20, 23 January 1903, Page 1

Hewstone, Henry James

death registered 1910/9349 aged 72 years

It seems extraordinary that the British War Office should, this year, be paying out prize-money gained nearly half a century ago, but such is the case. A resident of Lyttelton, Mr Henry James Hewstone, who served in the navy during the Crimean war, and was engaged before Sebastopol, received a few weeks ago arrears of prize money, amounting to a few pounds, due to him from that far off time.

Mr Hewstone left the navy forty-four years ago, and has been a resident of New Zealand for more than forty years. About six months ago, hearing that it was proposed to grant pensions to all survivors of the Crimean War, he applied for one, and wrote at the foot of his application the words, "also prize-money, if any." The question of Mr Hewstone's pension is not yet settled, but the Agent-General for the colony is attending to the veteran's interests in the matter.

Star , Issue 6616, 14 October 1899, Page 4