Colonial Service of Henry Hedges

Henry Hedges was recruited by Crown Agents on behalf of the colonial administration in Nigeria.

His service commenced on 11th October 1922 [1], which is the date he first sailed to Nigeria [2]. This is the date which he joined the Nigeria Widows and Orphans Pension Scheme [1].

He travelled to Nigeria in 1922, 1924, 1926, 1928, 1930, 1932, 1934, 1936 and 1938 and his occupation was listed as a reader, proof reader or printer [2].

He was the Superintendant of Government Press 3 in Kaduna, Northern Nigeria [1][3] and a Government Printer in Sierra Leone [1].

While in Nigeria, he planned out the first issue of the Northern Provinces News, a trilingual newspaper [4].

He joined the Sierra Leone Widows and Orphans Pension Scheme on 14th January 1939, this is most likely his date of transfer to his appointment in Sierra Leone [1].

He died in service in Freetown, Sierra Leone on 4th November 1939 [5].

Pensions in respect of his contributions to the Nigeria and Sierra Leone Scheme/Fund would have been paid to his widow from 5th November 1939 until her death [1]. This was used to pay for my father’s schooling at Christ’s Hospital School [6].

Sources:

[1] Index card at Department for International Development, Pensions Department – see my post My Brick Wall is crumbling

[2] From Outbound Passenger Lists at Findmypast

[3] Birth certificate of Peter Henry Hedges, his son

[4] Letter from Kaduna from Henry Hedges to his future wife Lillian

[5] From National Probate Index

[6] Verbal from my mum

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