LEWIS, Arthur Edmond
| Service Number: | 10273 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 7 September 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Gunner |
| Last Unit: | 4th Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Balmain, New South Wales, Australia, 10 February 1894 |
| Home Town: | Rockdale, Rockdale, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Railway Porter |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 27 May 1917, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
H.A.C. Cemetery, Ecoust-St. Mein, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 7 Sep 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 10273 | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Dec 1915: | Involvement Gunner, 10273, 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '22' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Berrima embarkation_ship_number: A35 public_note: '' | |
| 17 Dec 1915: | Embarked Gunner, 10273, 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column, HMAT Berrima, Sydney | |
| 27 May 1917: | Involvement Gunner, 10273, 4th Field Artillery Brigade, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 10273 awm_unit: 4th Australian Field Artillery Brigade awm_rank: Gunner awm_died_date: 1917-05-27 | |
| 27 May 1917: | Discharged AIF WW1, Gunner, 10273, 4th Field Artillery Brigade, K.I.A. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by John Oakes
Arthur Edmund LEWIS (Service Number 10273) was born on 10th February 1894 at Balmain. He first worked on probation for the NSW Government Railways as a night gatekeeper in the Sydney District from 15th February 1912. By September he had progressed to junior porter, and on 10th February 1915, his 21st birthday, he progressed to porter. It was from this position that he was granted leave to join the Expeditionary Forces on 12th September 1915.
Lewis had already enlisted at Warwick Farm the week before. Because he was unmarried, he gave his father as his next of kin. He also claimed four years’ experience with the 17th Signal Troop of the Army Engineers.
He was allotted to the 2nd Reinforcements to the 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column. He embarked at Sydney on HMAT ‘Berrima’ on 17th December 1915. At Zeitoun, Egypt, on 24th January 1916 he was taken on the strength of that unit. He proceeded to join the British Expeditionary Force through Alexandria and Marseilles in March. He was transferred to the 22nd Field Artillery Brigade Headquarters in May. In January 1917 he was transferred to the 4th Field Artillery Brigade Headquarters.
At the end of that month he was admitted to the 3rd Australian Field Ambulance with Traumatic Synovitis, and this took three weeks to clear. This was followed by nearly two months at the Divisional Rest Station with dental issues. He finally re-joined his unit on 15th April 1917.
He was killed in action on 27th May.
Sgt Angus Reid reported:
‘He originally came from the 22nd Brigade he was killed by same shell as Olsen and was killed instantly, and was blown all to pieces. We gathered him together and he and Olsen were buried together – prayers and a cross.’
Gunner A J Barby reported:
‘ – from Sydney I believe but am not sure. He was a very big chap with a fat pleasant face, and I’m told was a great piano player.’
He was buried near the place that he died. Despite the mutilation, the location of his grave was discovered after the war and his remains exhumed and re-interred at HAC Cemetery, Ecoust St Mein, Arras, Calais.
A pension of £1 per fortnight was granted to his mother Juliana.
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.
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