Daniel Adkins Lewis

Daniel Adkins Lewis

Personal Information
Date of Birth	c1881
Place of Birth	Borstal, Warwickshire, England
Death	29 May 1951 aged 69
Place of Death	Bassendean, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	34 years, 11 months
Description	5'8" (1.73m) tall ; 147 lbs 66.678 kg ; fresh complexion ; brown eyes ; dark brown hair
Occupation	Farm hand
Religion	Church of England
Address	'Eden Park', Kelmscott, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs Ada Lewis
Military Information
Reg Number	2675B
Date of Enlistment	26 Apr 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	51st Battalion, 6th Reinforcement, B Company / 13th Brigade, 4th Division
Date of Embarkation	13 Oct 1916 ‒ 2 Dec 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A23 Suffolk Fremantle to Plymouth
Date of Return	10 Dec 1918 ‒ 21 Jan 1919
Ship Returned On	SS Somali
Fate	Wounded in Action 2 Apr 1917 at Noreuil Wounded in Action 14 Oct 1917 at Passchendaele Wounded in Action 11 Aug 1918 at Etinehem Returned to Australia
Monument	Kelmscott War Memorial (North panel)
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

Entered Blackboy Hill camp on 25 Apr 1916 when he was allocated to the 64th Depot Company before a week later being allocated to the 6th reinforcement draft for the 51st Battalion. Following 5 months training he embarked for England, where after a month's further training with the 13th Training Battalion, he embarked 10 Jan 1917 on HMT Princess Victoria in Folkestone.

On arrival in France, Daniel joined the 51st Battalion at Bazentin south of Pozieres on 22 Jan 1917. On 1 Apr 1917 Daniel's battalion moved from Vaux-Vracourt into position to attack Noreuil at 5.15am on 2 Apr 1917. During the attack Daniel was wounded badly with a gun shot wound to his neck (severe). Treated by 4th Field Ambulance, and 13th Stationary Hospital in Boulogne, he embarked on HS Princesse Elisabeth at Boulogne for England where he was admitted to the Kitchener Military Hospital in Brighton. Granted furlough from 8 - 23 May 1917 on discharge from the Brighton Hospital, Daniel reported to the No.1 Command Depot at Perham Downs for assessment on 24 May 1917. Daniel embarked for overseas again on 26 Jul 1917 after time with the Overseas Training Brigade Perham Downs. He rejoined the 51st Battalion on 14 Aug 1917 when it was in Belgium near Kemmel, north of Ploegsteert.

On 11 Oct 1917 they relieved the 49th Battalion in the line near Ypres, and during the period 12 - 14 Oct 1917 their trenches were shelled. Daniel received multiple shrapnel wounds to his knees, and was treated by the 3rd Field Ambulance and the 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station on 14 Oct 1917, before being admitted to the 2nd Australian General Hospital in Boulogne on 15 Oct 1917. He was evacuated to England on the HS Princesse Elisabeth on 17 Oct 1917 in order to be admitted to Tankerton VAD in Kent between Margate and Sheerness, the same day. On 25 Mar 1918 Daniel had recovered enough to be released to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield. Granted furlough from 30 Mar to 13 Apr 1918, he then reported to No.1 Command Depot which was now at Sutton Veny

Following convalescence on 29 May 1918 he was posted to the Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge Deverill, and on 19 Jun 1918 he returned to France through Folkestone, rejoining the 51st Battalion on 21 Jun 1918 at Daours just outside Amiens where it was rebuilding its strength and training.

On 11 Aug 1918 the battalion moved to the northern bank of the Somme near Chippilly and "B" Company was loaned to the 50th Battalion which was charged with capturing Etinehem. During this engagement Daniel was wounded a third time, this time receiving gun shot wounds to his left elbow, left thigh, and shoulder. His injuries were classed as severe. Initially treated by the 10th Field Ambulance, and then the 55th Casualty Clearing Station, he arrived at the 11 Stationary Hospital in Rouen on 13 Aug 1918, before being evacuated to England on 16 Aug 1918 to the 2nd Southern General Hospital in Bristol. Released to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford for treatment on 4 Oct 1918 and then furlough from 8 - 23 Oct 1918, he then proceeded to the No.2 Command Depot Weymouth to recover his strength while waiting for a ship home.

Discharged by the 5th Military District on 7 Mar 1919.

Casualty List 292 reports D.A. Lewis of Kelmscott WIA severely

Post War

Electoral Roll entries - 1916 - 1917 with Ada at 'Eden Park', Kelmscott, a labourer; 1921 - 1931 Wallace street, Belmont, labourer; 1936 Walyurin, farm hand (south of Kulin); 1937 Boyerine (north of Katanning), labourer; 1949 Umbra street Wagin, pensioner. Ada died 24 Jan 1950 in Wagin.

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Virtual War Memorial