BORN – Oswestry
HOMEFRONT – Place / Occupation / St Oswald’s Church(WM)
JOB – Apprentice Grocer
UNIT – 1 Bn Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
RANK – Private 49093
THEATRE – 100 Days / Battle of Epehy. Fresnoy-le-Petit. 1 Bn Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. 18 September 1918.
DIED – KIA 18 September 1918. Aged 19.
COMMEMORATED – Vis en Artois Memorial (grave unknown). (CWGC)
Thomas Lewis was born in Oswestry in 1899, the third son of William and Elizabeth Lewis. His two elder brothers were William and David. There were 3 younger sisters: Margaret, Elizabeth and Dorothy. His father worked at the Cambrian Railway as a coach body maker. The family lived at 21 Prince Street, Oswestry. Thomas would take up an apprenticeship as a grocer working for the Cooperative Stores, King Street.
Thomas enlisted at Oswestry on 22 March 1917, aged 17 years. He had a medical at Shrewsbury in May 1917 and was mobilised on 2 August 1917 joining 50 Training and Reserve Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment at Prees Heath Camp. He went over to France on 11 July 1918 posted to 1/5 Bn South Lancs. and was then transferred into 1 Bn Loyal North Lancashire Regiment.
Thomas was KIA on 18 September 1918 during the Battle of Épehy. The battalion was in the line near to Fresnoy-le-Petit and Gricourt with the objective to capture the Villemay Trench system. Over the period of 17-22 September, casualties were 48 killed, 130 wounded, 9 missing and 21 gassed. Thomas was buried on the battleground but his grave was lost. He is commemorated on the Vis en Artois Memorial. He is also remembered on St Oswald’s Church War Memorial, Oswestry.
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