LEWIS, James Walter
| Service Number: | 6289 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 April 1916, Blackboy Hill, WA |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1) |
| Born: | Minlacowie, South Australia, 6 September 1880 |
| Home Town: | Brentwood, Yorke Peninsula, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Perth, Western Australia, 14 September 1973, aged 93 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Karrakatta Cemetery & Crematorium, Western Australia Roman Catholic-Pe-0063 |
| Memorials: | Esperance District WW1 Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 17 Apr 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 6289, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), Blackboy Hill, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| 13 Oct 1916: | Involvement Private, 6289, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Suffolk embarkation_ship_number: A23 public_note: '' | |
| 13 Oct 1916: | Embarked Private, 6289, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), HMAT Suffolk, Fremantle |
World War 2 Service
| 14 Jun 1942: | Enlisted Grass Patch, WA |
|---|
Help us honour James Walter Lewis's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
The only survivor of four brothers, 6289 Pte James Walter Lewis, was also the eldest, not enlisting until 17 April 1916, aged 35 on his papers, he was wounded in action during October 1917, and eventually wrote to his CO C Coy 32nd Battalion in August of 1918, "I wish to apply for my return to Australia on the following grounds- My three brothers have all been killed in action during the present war, and I am the only remaining son of our family. I am 38 years of age and have done eighteen months of continuous service with this Battalion. Both my parents are well on in years and I am their sole support. If I get killed, they will be left destitute and I consider it my duty to get back and support them and tend them in their last years. I consider that my family has done its duty towards the Empire and I trust that this application will meet with success." This letter was "forwarded and recommended" by Lt. P.B. Thomson O.C. C.Coy 32nd Bn, then "forwarded and recommended with particulars of service attached" by Lt.Col. C.S. Davies Commanding 32nd Bn AIF dated 12 August 1918.
The letter was, "forwarded and recommended" by Brig-Gen.E.Tivey Commanding 8th Aust.Inf.Bde. on 18 August 1918, and finally "forwarded and recommended for favourable consideration in view of Pte.Lewis having had three brothers killed in the War" by Col. J.W. Bruche for Major Gen. Commanding 5th Australian Div. dated 18 August 1918. The HQ of AIF Depots in the UK at Horseferry Rd was notified in writing on 29 August 1918, "approval had been given for the above named soldier to be returned to Australia for discharge on account of three of his brothers having been killed in the war. Will you please arrange for his passage by the next available transport. James, who was on active duty with the 32nd Bn at the time, received orders to leave France was returned to Australia 23 September 1918.
Brother of
John Percival LEWIS, of the 10th Light Horse Regiment, killed in action at Gallipoli on 7 August 1915.
Charles Stephen LEWIS, of the 28th Battalion, died of wounds in France 14 August 1916.
Archie Gordon LEWIS, of the 16th Battalion, died of wounds in France on 1 September 1916.
Their father, James Lewis, sent a letter in March 1922 re the inscription on the graves for his sons, as he had exceeded the 66 letters permissible on the headstones, and wanted to know if everything was now in order, his closing comment being "Kindly let me know, as I wish to do all I can for those who done all they could for me" signed James Lewis.
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