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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment
Robert Lewis
British Army 12th (Rangers) Btn. London Regiment
My grandfather was born Boris Pokotilow on the 7th of January 1898 in Kiev, Ukraine. His mother died in 1900 giving birth to his younger sister Ruth and his father was murdered by Russians in 1906. He was put up for adoption by the Jewish Board of Deputies and brought to England with one of his sisters (Diana Pokotilow) in 1906. His young sister Ruth went to Denmark. My grandfather Boris was adopted by Harry Wilson but the Jewish Board governors took my grandfather from him (as Mr Wilson had became an atheist and married a Christian). The Rev Lewis of Tamby Hall, Whitechapel had been appointed his guardian. But as he was not married they placed him in the care of the Cowen family.
In 1914 my grandfather was 16 yrs old but when the Cowen brother joined up my grandfather changed his name to Robert Lewis and lied about his age so he could join up with them. Robert Lewis age 18 in 1914 joined The 12th London Rangers an infantry Regiment. He became a corporal.
Mills bomer: wounded twice first-time beneath the chest. The second time in 1917 seriously wounded by exploding in the shell. I'm so intrigued to find out what battles his regiment was in to learn the horrors he had to live through to make better world for all of us.
He was sent home for hospital treatment and during his convalescence he was allowed to visit his sister Diana. The Cohens had moved to Becon in Wales and opened a jewellery shop. I like to think what a lovely moment this must have been for them. What an award for a hero! I hope they stayed in touch.
In 1919 he was discharged from the Army. He returned to Rev Lewis who arranged with the Board of Guardians that Robert Lewis now be trained as an engineer at Cadby Hall by J.Lyons.
He met my grandmother in 1920 at a dance. They married and had four children, two boys and two girls and lots of us grandchildren and even more great grandchildren. He died in 1957. Sadly for me I never got to know him in person as I was born in 1965.
Did you know that Boris means fight or fighter and he certainly was.
Dvr. Samuel Lewis
British Army Royal Field Artillery
from:Mansfield, Notts.
My father Samuel Lewis was born 5th of January 1897 in Withington, Manchester, he enlisted on his 18th birthday at Mansfield, Notts. He served through the great War with the RFA. Little is known about his service but I am hopeful of finding out the areas he served in.
Ptr. Sydney G. Lewis VC.
British Army 106th Machine Gun Company Machine Gun Corps
A 12-year-old schoolboy who ran away to join the Army and found himself at the Somme has been declared the youngest authenticated combatant of The Great War. Pte Sidney Lewis enlisted in August 1915, and was fighting in the trenches of the Western Front by the following June. Sidney underwent six months of military training with his regiment before crossing the Channel. His exploits made the newspapers at the time, but the reports were considered inconclusive and until now were not corroborated by Army records, The Sunday Times reported.
The Imperial War Museum has now officially backed his claim after being shown a bundle of family papers including his birth certificate. The new evidence included the discovery that Sidney was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal. Thousands of boys are believed to have lied about their age and signed up to fight in the First World War as waves of patriotic fervour swept the country. Richard van Emden, author of "Boy Soldiers of the Great War", who found the evidence that Sidney was awarded the medals, said the boy was deployed to France with the 106th Machine Gun Company and saw active service. Records at the National Archives dated January 10, 1920 show Sidney G Lewis was on the roll of individuals entitled to the Victory Medal. It listed his current rank as lance sergeant and previous rank as private. Mr van Emden said some boy soldiers were lured by the chances of adventure, while others thought the trenches could be no worse than factory work at home. He told the newspaper: "Some parents were happy to have one less mouth to feed and some explained to their sons how to puff up their chests to meet the qualifying standard."
Frank Bardell, 94, Sidney's brother-in-law, who lives in San Diego, said he could not explain why Sidney's mother had not intervened earlier. "I'm told he more or less ran away from home to enlist." Surviving relatives described him as a man who continued to ignore convention in later life. His son said he was a "forthright fellow" who "stood against authority".
Pte. Thomas William Lewis
British Army 1/1st (Brecknockshire) Btn. South Wales Borderers
from:Merthyr Tydfil, Wales
(d.7th November 1918)
Private Lewis was the son of Mr and Mrs William Lewis, of 44 High St., Cefn Coed, Merthyr Tydfil.
He was 41 when he died and is buried in the Indore New Cemetery in India.
Pte Titus Lewis
British Army 9th Btn Welsh Regiment
from:Nantyrhedyn, Newport, Pembrokeshire, Wales
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.
Pte. Wilfred Henry Lewis
British Army 1/23rd Btn. London Regiment
from:Lewisham
(d.26th May 1915)
Wilfred's brother Frederick Lewis was also in the same battalion and is believed gassed but survived.
Pte. Wilfred Henry Lewis
British Army 1/23rd Btn. B Company. London Regiment
from:Battersea
(d.27th May 1915 )
The family lived in Battersea (Wards & Lewis families), Bill Lewis joined the TA aged only 15 years old in 1912. He fought at Aubers Ridge and was killed in action during battle of Festubert on the 27th May 1915.
Gnr. William E. Lewis
British Army 124th Brigade Royal Field Artillery
(d.29th Oct 1916)
W.E Lewis served with 124th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. He was executed for mutiny on29th October1916 and is buried in St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France.
Rfmn. William Lewis
British Army 10th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
from:58 Rutland Street, South Belfast
(d.1st July 1916)
William James Lewis was the son of William James Lewis and Ellen Lewis of 58 Rutland Street, South Belfast. He was my Grandfather's brother. William joined the Royal Irish Rifles, 36th Ulster Division and was sent to war in France on 4th of October 1915. As part of the 107th brigade he was attached to the 4th division Nov 1915 until Feb 1916 to receive trench warfare instruction, and on the 7th Feb 1916 he was moved to the front line between the river Ancre and the Mailly - Maillet to Secre Road. In March 1916 he was moved to Thiepval Wood. He was killed in on the opening day of the Battle of the Somme Rifleman William Lewis 15157, 10th Bn, Royal Irish Rifles is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. I believe William was also the company Bugler.
My grandfather Wilfred Lewis was 6 years younger than William so survived the great war, but we will never forget him or the sacrifice he made for our freedom.
L/Cpl William Patrick Lewis
British Army 4th Btn. South Wales Borderers
from:Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
I never knew my grandfather William Lewis as he passed away in 1937 from illness. I only ever knew the story as told in the newspaper clipping about the death of his brother Thomas Frederick Lewis.
Spr. William Howard Lewis
British Army 246th Base Park Coy. Royal Engineers
from:Swansea, Wales
William Lewis was the Son of John and Mary Ann Lewis of 50 Brunswick St., Swansea. He was buried in the Meana Di Susa Communal Cemetery in Italy. His grave was lost and he is commemorated by Kipling Memorial in same Cemetery. He was 41 when he died.
William John Lewis
Jack Lewis was my grandmother's brother. He was treated in Gifford House in 1916. Written on the back of this picture it says: "Jack at Gifford House after he came from Italy in 1916" (a black pen mark indicates Jack). I think Jack Lewis died in 1928, the family moved to Hitchin, Herts and there is a death certificate for a John Lewis St Alban's Herts in 1928, but I am not sure of this either. I am trying to find his war record.
Cpl. William Lewis
British Army 1st Garrison Btn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
from:Falkirk, Scotland
(d.12th Jul 1918)
My great grandfather was William Lewis from Larbert, Falkirk.
He served in the Boer War with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, and in WW1 with the Scottish Rifles as a corporal in the 1st Garrison Battalion, Meerut. He died of heatstroke on 12th of July 1918, and is buried at St. John's Church, Meerut. His headstone was erected by the officers and other ranks of the battalion.
Pte. William Lewthwaite
British Army 9th Btn. Black Watch
(d.25th September 1915)
William Lewthwaite, my great uncle was killed in 1st attack of the Battle of Loos 25th of September 1915.
Lt. E. A. Leybourne
Army 8th Btn. Durham Light Infantry
Pte. Charles Leyland MM.
British Army 76th Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps
from:371, Poulton Rd., Wallasey, Cheshire.
(d.7th Jun 1917)
Pte. Patrick Collins Leys
British Army 8th Btn. Seaforth Highlanders
from:Catherine Street, Aberdeen
(d.25th Sep 1915)
2nd Lt. Spencer Henry Le_Marchant
British Army 6th Battalion Royal Fusiliers
from:Chobham, Surrey
(d.25th May 1915)
Spencer Le Marchant served with the 6th Royal Fusiliers.
Sgt. Frank Thomas Libby MM.
British Army 5th Btn. London Regiment
from:Croydon, Surrey
(d.19th April 1918)
Frank Libby was posted to 1st/28th Bn. Artists' Rifles, he died of wounds on the 19th of April 1918, received at Mailly-Maillet on 2nd of April. He is buried in the Etaples Military Cemetery in France. The Military Medal was awarded for conspicuous Bravery at Passchendaele, on the 20th of September 1917. He was the son of John and Emily Harriet Libby, of Croydon, Surrey.
Pte. George Lichfield
British Army 2nd Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers
(d.8th May 1915)
Pte. Charles Frederick Lickiss
British Army 9th Battalion The Duke of Wellington's Regiment
from:Husthwaite, Easingwold, Yorkshire
(d.21 December 1915)
Charles Frederick Lickiss is my 1st cousin 3x removed and when I started researching about him, I discovered that so little is known. I haven't been able to find a picture of Charles but I did find references to him in military records.
He died at the 1st Canadian General Hospital in Etaples, France. He is buried in the Etaples Military Cemetery, part 4, Etaples, France. He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. When he died he had 3 pounds, 16 shillings and 3 pence saved and this was transferred to his mother Rosamond Lickiss, maiden name of Batty, who was living in Husthwaite, Yorkshire.
The Husthwaite Historical Society is researching their soldiers as well.
Sgt. Cyril Edward Lickman
British Army 2nd Btn. Royal Berkshire Regiment
In 1911, Cyril Lickman was in the 2nd Berkshires in India. He returned in 1914 (17yrs old), moved to Winchester, and was made Acting Sergeant for the 6th Berkshires, training the service battalion. He fought through the First World War, then re-joined in the Second World War. He survived and passed away in 1974.
Pte. Daniel Mackintosh Liddel
British Army 8th Btn. East Kent Regiment (The Buffs)
from:Croydon
(d.16th June 1917)
L/Cpl. Jeffrey Liddell
British Army 2nd Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers
(d.27th Mar 1915)
Jeffrey Liddell died of wounds and is buried in Byker and Heaton Cemetery in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Capt. John Aidan Liddell
British Army 7 Sqd. Royal Flying Corps
from:Basingstoke
(d.31st Aug 1915)
Capt. John Liddell died 31st August 1915, aged 27 and was buried in Basingstoke South View or Old Cemetery. He served with 3rd Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders before transferring to 7 Squadron RFC. He was the son of John and Emily C. Liddell, of Sherfield Manor, Basingstoke.
An extract from The London Gazette, dated, 23rd Aug., 1915, records the following:- "For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on 31st July, 1915. When on a flying reconnaissance over Ostend-Bruges-Ghent he was severely wounded (his right thigh being broken), which caused momentary unconsciousness, but by a great effort he recovered partial control after his machine had dropped nearly 3,000 feet, and notwithstanding his collapsed state succeeded, although continually fired at, in completing his course, and brought the aeroplane into our lines - half an hour after he had been wounded. The difficulties experienced by this officer in saving his machine, and the life of his observer, cannot be readily expressed, but as the control wheel and the throttle control were smashed, and also one of the under-carriage struts, it would seem incredible that he could have accomplished his task."
Captain John Aidan Liddell MC VC
British Army RFC 7 Squadron
from:Newcastle-upon-Tyne
(d.31st August 1915)
John Aidan Liddell was born in Newcastle upon Tyne on 3rd August 1888. He studied zoology at Balliol College Oxford. At the outbreak of war he joined the 2nd Btn, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, where he was appointed Captain in command of the machine gun section of the Battalion. He was in the front line at Le Maisnil, France. He was wounded and invalided home, and received the award of the Military Cross on 14th January 1915.
Prior to the war Aidan Liddell had already obtained privately a flying certificate and, on being declared fit for further service, he joined the RFC. Ha was posted to No.7 Squadron in France on the 24th July 1915. On the 31st July, on only his second mission, his plane was attacked by ground fire during a reconnaissance patrol over Ostend in Belgium and he was seriously injured and the aircraft was badly damaged. Although he successfully returned to his base, and saved his observer Second Lieutenant R.H. Peck and his plane, his leg had to be amputated and he died of septicaemia a month later. For his courage and skill he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Pte. Sidney John Liddell
Australian Imperial Force 29th Btn.
from:Marrickville, New South Wales
(d.26th Aug 1917)
Sidney Liddell served with the 29th Battalion, Australian Infantry, Australian Imperial Force during WW1 and died on the 26th September 1917, aged 29. He is buried in Hooge Crater Cemetery in Belgium. He was the son of William and Margaret Liddell; husband of Mary K. Liddell, of 168, Sydenham Rd., Marrickville, New South Wales.
Pte. T. Liddell
British Army 24th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
Pte. William Stewart Liddell
British Army 1/12th Btn. Royal Scots
from:Blackburn, West Lothian
(d.10th May 1917)
William Stewart Liddell was born in 1894 in parish of Livingstone, Linlithgowshire (more likely to be Blackburn, West Lothian) to Robert Liddell and Mary Stewart. He was one of nine children: Mary was born 1887, Maggie 1889, David 189?, William 1894, Robert 1896, Henry 1898, Thomas 1899, Euphemia 1902 and Jessie 1906. His will is dated 3rd April 1917 and he died 10th May 1917, aged 23 years.
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