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Frederick George Lewis |
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No / Rank: 203498 Private
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F.G Lewis |
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Died aged 28, Son of John and Anne Lewis of The Mill Chatham, Machen. Frederick Lewis has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the missing. A unique collection of letters from Pte Lewis and others are in the possession of his family. They offer a poignant insight into impact of the Great War on an individual soldier and his family. Having trained with the Gloucester Hussars (Cavalry), he was subsequently transferred and served as an infantryman on the western the front.
F.G. Lewis and 3 members of the Gloucester Hussars - 1915/16.
May 16 1916…Went out riding on the horses half past six in the morning then of course we had all the cleaning to do after, but then it’s the army now all for a good cause, mustn’t say anything. October 15 1916…Thanks for your letter, was going to write last night but had to attend a lecture…then had my saddle to do …I don’t like writing letters it makes my heart ache. Still there is no sign of us ‘going out’ we are going to stay in England until after the war. We don’t want to go out there because we have heard that they have hurt people out there. It’s a shame I can’t get leave, I would be very grateful for a few days home just now. You ought to come and taste a bit of this glorious free life in the army. I’d rather have a nice blue suit on down at Weston or somewhere. December 16 1916Dear Mother, Just a postcard to let you know we are at Southampton sailing tonight, don’t know where will write as soon as possible. December 19 1916 (55 Infantry Base Camp: France)…it’s very cold here we had some snow today. That pack we had to carry did seem a weight but we’ll get used to it expect…rather ride on the horses than carry that lot on your back. Undated LetterI was on guard duty last night. It’s not very often I like hearing reveille blow but I was really pleased to hear it this morning. Rain and blow, awful and today is really terrible, well they had to cancel church parade so you can bet it was rough… I often think of the chaps in the trenches its bad here but it’s a jolly sight worse there I expect. January 25 1917…Well here we are in France after all I never expected to come here. I should rather have stayed with our own (Battalion) and gone to Egypt, but still we can’t grumble so far. The plaques on the Gloucester Hussars memorial pictured below depict the battalion 's service in Egypt and Mesopotamia. March 1 1917…I’m keeping fit as a fiddle. We had our first trial in the trenches*, got on alright only the mud was terrible, up to your knees, still mustn’t grumble. …don’t forget to shove all your money into War Bonds you wont regret it. (The battalion diary for this period show that the 2/6 Gloucesters had been occupiing front line trenches near the village of Framerville, between Amiens and Peronne, on the Somme, France). May 5 1917That’s trouble for the Harringtons isn’t it they have had their share without any more…he hadn’t had his commission long either. (see Lt W. Harrington) May 27 1917…was I home last Whitsun? I forget now, I’m writing this Whit Sunday and it’s a glorious day, should like to be up the mountain this afternoon. Your loving brother Fred. The final letter written to his mother is dated 12 August 1917; it is possible that the letter was received after Pte Lewis was killed in Action. News of his death reached home through one of his comrades. The following letters were written to the family on September 7 1917 from the Volland, Lower Machen and from a friend of the family who was serving with the 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards. Dear Mr & Mrs Lewis, At the meeting of the Machen Working Party yesterday afternoon our thoughts were naturally with you all as we heard the dreadfully sad news conveyed in Arthur Williams’ letter and it was resolved that I should write and tell you how deeply each member sympathises with you in your great anxiety we all hope that as you have had no official news a mistake has been made and that you will yet hear that your boy is safe and well. Dear Penry, It was this evening that I heard the sad news about poor Fred…as you know he was my real pal and I can’t help thinking about him…I still have 4 of his letters on me which I will keep. I had got quite confident about seeing him again but I’m sorry to say its not to be, it was only last Thursday that I wrote to him and I can hardly realise that poor Fred has gone…convey my heartfelt sympathy to all at home and may Lord God comfort you all in the great loss you have sustained. Letter from Mrs Lewis (Mother of Pte Lewis) to her daughter Alice. September 9 1917…I did hope until the final (notification) came it is hard but by account there are thousands in the same grief….I did hope and pray for him to come back again but it was not to be…love from your broken hearted Mother. The battalion had been training away from the front lines nr Zeggars, Belgium. On 21st August the battalion moved from Ypres to Wieltje. The battalion diary records no offensive action on the 27th or 28th August, save for ‘artillery on both sides considerably increased.’ Private F.G.Lewis was one of 14 other ranks from the battalion killed in action on the 28th August, 1917.
Tyne cot cemetery where F.G. Lewis is commemorated.
Gloucester Hussars' Memorial at Gloucester Cathedral. |
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