Arthur Lewis

Arthur Lewis

Courtesy Joy Dalgelish
Personal Information
Date of Birth	not known
Place of Birth	Jarrahdale, Western Australia
Death	28 Feb 1917
Place of Death	Warlencourt, France
Age at Enlistment	21 years, 7 months
Occupation	tally clerk
Religion	Methodist
Address	Newtown, Jarrahdale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father Mr Joseph Lewis
Military Information
Reg Number	5039
Date of Enlistment	20 Mar 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	28th Battalion, 13th Reinforcement
Date of Embarkation	18 Jul 1916 - 9 Sep 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A48 Seang Bee
Fate	Killed in Action 28 Feb 1917 near Warlencourt, France
Monument	Jarrahdale War Memorial Jarrahdale Honour Roll ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford)
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

On arrival in England was sent to the 7th Training Battalion at Rollestone. A month later (16 Nov 1916) he proceeded overseas to France on the HMT Victoria.

Arriving in Étaples he was held on strength of the 2nd Australian Division Base Depot for a fortnight before being sent to Segregation Camp from 9 Dec 1916 until 6 Jan 1917.

Taken on strength by the 28th Battalion on 27 Jan 1917, at a time when they were alternating in and out of the line south of the Albert - Bapaume road near Warlencourt. On 28 Feb 1917 they were again in the line holding a line of outposts. That evening they were involved in a series of bombing raids against what was known as Malt Trench. While they took casualties early, the attack finally floundered under heavy machine gun fire and up against unbroken wire defences.

The battalion's war diary suggests little action occurred on 28 Feb 1917, with the first attack against a strong point in Malt trench occurring on 1 Mar 1917. Contrary to his official death date, this is the most likely action that led to Arthur's death, as the Field Services Report of his death was based on a Casualty Report dated 5 Mar 1917.

Mother granted pension of 30/- to go with the 30/- per fortnight received following the death of Herbert George.

• 

  Warlencourt British Cemetery
• 

  Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Notes

Buried in Warlencourt British Cemetery, France (Plot IV, Row J, Grave No 11)

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Virtual War Memorial