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Cpl. Walter Lewis
British Army 7th Btn. South Staffordshire Regiment
from:Bilston
(d.20th Oct 1915)
Walter Lewis was my grandfather. He was born in Bilston in the West Midlands in 1883 (his service records says 1880) to Richard and Marie Lewis, one of six children. He married Ada Lilley on 20th December 1903. They had three children - Walter, Reginald and Fredrick.
We believe that Walter joined the army in the August 1914, in Wolverhampton. We are sure that after joining he was in the 7th Btn. South Staffordshire Regiment at Lichfield, which we believe was formed in August 1914 as part of K1 and became part of 33rd Brigade in the 11th (Northern) Division. They moved to Grantham, then Freansham in April 1915 and sailed from Liverpool in July 1915 for Gallipoli. We think they landed at Suvla Bay in August. We have no record of Walter until October and on his medal card it states that he joined Balkan theatre of war on 6th October 1915 and died of wounds on 20th October. In the letter Ada received regarding his death it said that he died of dysentery. We also have a copy of a letter sent to Ada Lewis from a Captain Harry A Frost, a Canadian Meathodist Minister, No 3 Canadian Stat Hospital saying that he and a Captain Whitaker had been with Walter the evening before he died, and had readings and prayers with him and that Walter had been buried with full military honours at Portianos Military Cemetery, West Mudros on the Greek Island of Lemnos/Limnos. My husband and I have just returned from Limnos and have visited both the Military Cemeteries and they are immaculate. They are in beautiful settings, very quiet and peaceful. So anyone reading this who has family members buried on Lemnos should have peace of mind that their loved ones rest in a great place. I am happy that grandad can rest in peace in a wonderful place with very special people looking after him.
