(L to R) 1914-15 Star; British War Medal; Allied Victory Medal
We don't know anything about Lewis' family or his early life.
He served in the Manchester Regiment during the First World War, although we don't know which battalion he was a member of. He was given the service number 4566.
Lewis was sent to Egypt on the 14th September 1915. We don't know where he served after this.
At some point Lewis was transferred to a Garrison Guard Company of the Labour Corps. He was given the service number 412872. We don't know which of the many Garrison Guard Companies he was assigned to. They were formed in September 1917, although we don't know when he joined his company. This transfer tells us that Lewis was no longer considered fit enough to serve as an infantryman on the front line.
Garrison Guard Companies were used for protecting senior headquarters and supply depots. Some were also used to hold quiet sections of the front line, to spare fitter men for more dangerous areas.
In May 1918 11 of them were grouped together and designated the 43rd Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers. This was not a battalion in the traditional sense. The companies were spread over a wide area guarding the 5 Army Headquarters in France. These 11 were joined by 38 other companies during September. Lewis served with the 43rd Battalion. He was given the service number GS/102742. We don't know when Lewis was transferred or which Company he served with.
Lewis survived the war, but the rest of his life is a mystery. .
