Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From Australian Remembrance Army

Reginald Henry LEWIS
Service No: 31910
Rank: Driver
Unit: 14th Field Artillery Brigade

We managed to dodge the rain and storms this morning and were able to voluntarily restore the lettering to the granite headstone of WW1 veteran, Reginald Henry Lewis. We received permission to do this work from Alicia, who is a relative of Reginald through her father’s side of the family. Alicia was also able to contact the great-granddaughter of Reginald’s brother Ernest, who also gave her permission for this work to be carried out, on behalf of their family. As with all our restorations, we obtained permission from Brisbane City Council prior to commencing work on this grave.

Reginald Henry Lewis was born on the 1st December 1891 in Bowen, Queensland to parents Alfred James Lewis and Sarah Jane Gough, and was the eldest of three sons. Reginald was educated in the town of Emerald, and later worked as a shop assistant.
On the 13th April 1916, Reginald enlisted in Emerald and was sent to Enoggera Camp in Brisbane, where he was attached to the Artillery. He embarked at Sydney on the 10th February 1917 with the 9th Field Artillery Brigade, on board RMS “Osterley”, disembarking in Plymouth, England on the 11th April. Upon arrival in England, Reginald marched in to the Reserve Brigade Australian Artillery, Larkhill.

Six months later, on the 4th October, Reginald proceeded overseas to France, arriving one day later. On the 5th October, Reginald marched in to Rouelles and joined the 5th Division Artillery on the 9th October. On the 11th October, he was taken on strength and posted to the 53rd Battery in the field in France.

The following year, on the 29th April 1918, Reginald was wounded in action. He received a gun shot wound to his right shoulder and was admitted to the hospital in Rouen before being invalided to England. He was admitted to hospital in Portsmouth, England on the 29th April and discharged to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford at the end of May.

Reginald returned to France, proceeding overseas from Southampton on the 8th October 1918, arriving in Havre on the 10th October, and rejoined his unit in the field on the 14th October. Whilst Reginald was serving in France, the Armistice was signed. He was granted leave in England from the 7th to 21st April 1919 before returning to Australia on the 15th November per HT “Ypiranga”. He disembarked in Australia at the 2nd Military District on the 9th January 1920, and was discharged on the 25th February.

On his return, Reginald lived in the Brisbane area, where he worked as a grocer, warehouse representative and manufacture agent. He did not marry or have any children. He was a prominent and popular figure in Brisbane’s business and sporting circles, and was a keen bowler and member of the Indooroopilly Golf Club.

After a short illness, Reginald died on the 31st December 1951 in Brisbane, aged 60 years. He was buried on the 2nd January with his mother, who had passed away in 1936. In 1968, his brother Frederick William Lewis was buried with Reginald and their mother Sarah, however there is no inscription for Frederick on the headstone.

Lest We Forget