LEWIS, William
| Service Number: | 469 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 30th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Adamstown, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, 1893 |
| Home Town: | Adamstown, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Adamstown, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Plumber |
| Died: | Pneumonia, Isolation Hospital, Salisbury, Wiltshire, England , 30 April 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Stratford-Sub-Castle (St. Lawrence) Churchyard, Wiltshire, England |
| Memorials: | Adamstown Methodist Church Honour Roll, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 9 Nov 1915: | Involvement Private, 469, 30th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Beltana embarkation_ship_number: A72 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Nov 1915: | Embarked Private, 469, 30th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Beltana, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in UK & Ireland”
William Lewis was born at Adamstown, Newcastle, NSW in 1893 to parents John & Florence Mary Ethelberta (Ethel) Lewis (nee Date).
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 22nd July, 1915 as a 22 year old, single, Plumber. His next of kin was listed as his mother – Mrs Ethel Lewis, Popran Street, Adamstown, Newcastle, NSW.
Private William Lewis, Service number 469, embarked from Sydney, NSW on HMAT Beltana (A72) on 9th November, 1915 with the 8th Infantry Brigade, 30th Infantry Battalion, “B” Company & disembarked at Suez on 11th December, 1915.
On 16th June, 1916 Private Lewis embarked from Alexandria on Troopship Hororata to join B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force). He disembarked at Marseilles, France on 23rd June, 1916.
He proceeded to England on leave from 20th December, 1916 & rejoined 30th Battalion in France on 16th January, 1917.
Private William Lewis was evacuated sick on 16th February, 1917. He was admitted to 5th Divisional Rest Station on 16th February, 1917 then transferred & admitted to 1st SM Casualty Clearing Station on 17th February, 1917 with Pneumonia. Private Lewis was transferred to Ambulance Train on 28th February, 1917 then admitted to 2nd Australian General Hospital at Wimereux, France on 1st March, 1917. He was transferred to Boulogne & embarked for England on Hospital Ship St. Denis on 2nd March, 1917.
On 2nd March, 1917 Private Lewis was admitted to Military Hospital at Edmonton, England with Broncho Pneumonia (slight). He was transferred to No. 2 Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Southall, England on 16th March, 1917 with Bronchitis & Pneumonia. The Hospital Admissions form recorded: “Evac from Somme 14.2.17 left Pneumonia. Had a previous attack of Pleuro Pneumonia (left) 15 mths ago”. A later report: “He is not very strong yet but has improved considerably & requires rest & tonics. Not fit for furlough.” Private Lewis was discharged from No. 2 Auxiliary Hospital to No. 2 Australian Command Depot at Weymouth, Dorset on 20th March, 1917.
He was marched in to No. 2 Australian Command Depot at Weymouth, Dorset on 20th March, 1917. The Hospital Admissions form recorded “ Out of bed week, Chest clear”. Private Lewis was marched out from No. 2 Australian Command Depot at Weymouth on 4th April, 1917 & marched in to No. 3 Command Depot, Hurdcott, Wiltshire, England the same day.
Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire. Convalescing was also completed in Wiltshire.
Private Lewis was medically classified as B1 A3 (fit for overseas training camp in 2 or 3 weeks) on 6th April, 1917 while posted at No. 3 Command Depot, Hurdcott. The Hospital Admissions form recorded for 5th April, 1917 “Feeling well.” On 16th April 1917 “Not strong yet. Short winded.”
On 23rd April, 1917 Private Lewis was transferred to Military Hospital, Fovant, Wiltshire from No. 3 Depot at Hurdcott with Bronchitis.
(Note: The Casualty Form – Active Service for Private Lewis has a record that he was admitted to Hospital at Fovant on 29th April, 1917 with Bronchitis.)
He was admitted to Salisbury Isolation Hospital, Wiltshire, England on 24th April, 1917 – cause N.Y.D. (not yet determined). They suspected that Private Lewis had Cerebro Spinal Fever. The Hospital Admissions form recorded “Admitted as ? 5. C S Fever. CS fluid negative. Was suffering from Pneumonia both lungs.”
Private William Lewis died on 30th April, 1917 at Isolation Hospital, Salisbury, Wiltshire, England from Pneumonia.
He was buried on 2nd May, 1917 in St Lawrence’s Churchyard, Stratford-sub-Castle, Wiltshire, England – Plot number 118 and has a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/stratford-sub-castle.html
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