John Bertie LEWIS

LEWIS, John Bertie

Service Number: 146
Enlisted: Not yet discovered
Last Rank: Driver
Last Unit: 2nd Field Ambulance
Born: Not yet discovered
Home Town: Not yet discovered
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Not yet discovered
Memorials:
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World War 1 Service

19 Oct 1914: Involvement Driver, 146, 2nd Field Ambulance, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '22' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Wiltshire embarkation_ship_number: A18 public_note: ''
19 Oct 1914: Embarked Driver, 146, 2nd Field Ambulance, HMAT Wiltshire, Melbourne

John Bertie Lewis

burial at Lake Terrace Cemetery, Mount Gambier, South Australia.
headstone inscription-In Loving Memory of John Bertie Lewis, loved husband of Amelia, devoted father of Reita, Faye and John, died 25 August 1952, Aged 63 years.
John Bertie Lewis was born at Mount Gambier on 25 October 1888, the eldest son of John and Annie Lewis. He attended the local public school and spent most of his younger years here.
In 1914 during World War One John enlisted for active service and was assigned to the 2nd Field Ambulance as a stretcher bearer. Men chosen for this role had to be physically strong as to be able to carry the wounded from the field of battle. They were trained in basic first aid, clear airways, stop bleeding and splint fractures. Casualty rates among stretcher bearers was high as they were often under fire while performing their duty. He was at the Gallipoli landing on 25 April 1915 and also served in Egypt, France and Belgium. In 1916 he suffered a gun shot wound to the arm and spent time in hospital in England. He recovered and returned to duty. John attained the rank of Lance Sergeant and returned to Australia on 12 November 1918.
In 1917 his younger brother Leslie Cecil Lewis enlisted and served with the 10th Field Artillery Brigade. Sadly he was killed in action in France on 13 October 1918. Leslie was also born at Mount Gambier and grew up here. He left behind a wife and three children. He was 29 years old.
After the war John Bertie Lewis took on work throughout Victoria and while at Mildura in 1925 he married Miss Amelia Helen Smith. In the early 1930’s John and Amelia came to Mount Gambier with their three children. They first lived on Sturt Street and John began his own business milling timber, then later served as a director with the Penola Timber Milling Company. About 1950 John retired from work due to ill-health and they moved to a new home on Gwendoline Street. John passed away suddenly on 25 August 1952. Amelia stayed at her Gwendoline Street home until about 1985. She passed away at Tweed Heads, New South Wales, in 1987.
The children of John and Amelia Lewis were Thelma Reita (Mrs Fraser)(1925-2002), Faye Norma (Mrs Spehr)(1927-1996), and John Bertram Lewis.
John Bertie Lewis was also well-known in the district for his contribution to the Mount Gambier Racing Club as a committee member and a race horse owner. He arranged and supervised many improvements at the Glenburnie Race course. His two best known horses were Russian Boy and Count Sion.

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