John Richard Lewis
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | not known |
| Place of Birth | Williamstown, Victoria |
| Death | 3-6 Nov 1916 |
| Place of Death | The Maze Gueudecourt, France |
| Age at Enlistment | 19 years, 3 months |
| Description | 5'3¼" (1.61m) tall; weight 111 lbs (50.3kg); fair complexion, blue eyes, fair hair. |
| Occupation | horse driver |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Jarrahdale, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Mother Mrs Minnie Lewis |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 3177 |
| Date of Enlistment | 26 Jul 1915 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 28th Battalion, 7th Reinforcements |
| Date of Embarkation | 18 Jan 1916 - 16 Feb 1916 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A7 Medic |
| Fate | Killed in Action 3-6 Nov 1916 |
| Monument | Jarrahdale |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Contents
Pre War
War Service
Entered camp on 26 Jul 1915 and was allocated to the 7th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion on 1 Nov 1915. Arrived in Alexandria on 16 Feb 1916 and departed for Marseilles aboard HMT Oriana on 21 March, landing there on 27 Mar 1916. On 5 May 1916 he was posted to the 2nd Division's Base Depot.
On 6 May 1916 while in Étaples he was taken to the 26th General Hospital with pleurisy. Discharged from hospital on 5 May 1916, he was taken on strength by the 28th Battalion on 16 June 1916 and allocated to B Company. On 25 Sep 1916 he was charged with being absent from 9:00am to 9:30 am the previous day, for which he was awarded 24 hours fatigue duty.
On 3 Nov 1916 until the 5th the 28th Battalion was involved in an attack on enemy trenches near Gueudecourt known as 'The Maze'. In atrocious conditions of rain and mud the attack failed and the battalion took substantial casualties - 59 killed, 169 wounded, and 50 missing There is nothing in the war diary or John's individual records to give us an insight into how or where on the battle field he was killed.
Notes