Selected Biographies

Lewis, Albert Richard ‘Dick’ [DCM] – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 14.2.1881.[1]  Parents: Thomas Lewis (Flax Dresser) and Catherine [née Murray].  Family Connections: Cousin of Arthur Samuel Lewis [b1874], Charles Samuel Lewis [b1881] and Joseph Bernard Lewis [b1886]; also, brother-in-law of John William Stone [b1883]. Home: Hall Street, Long Melford (1881), Victoria Road, Diss, Norfolk (1891), Beehive Yard, Denmark Street, Diss (1911), Apple Tree Cottage, Beeston, Sheringham, Norfolk [1939 to 1966].  Occupation: Labourer [1899], Gas Stoker (1911), Water Works Labourer [1939].  Service Record: Dick enlisted in 1899 as Pte.4303 with 3^rd Battalion, Norfolk Militia, transferring as Rfn.7320 to the Rifle Brigade [The Prince Consort’s Own] and posted to South Africa during the Second Anglo-Boer War.  He was recalled from the Army Reserve and on 22.9.1914 was posted to France with 3^rd Battalion, Rifle Brigade, later transferring to 11^th [Service] Battalion, Rifle Brigade as part of 59^th Brigade, 20^th [Light] Division].  The 11^th Battalion was posted to the Western Front in July 1915 and saw action during the Somme Offensive of 1916, at the Third Battles of Ypres in 1917, and in 1918 during the German Spring Offensive and the Final Advance in Picardy.[2]  In April 1917 Dick Lewis, now a Lance Sergeant, was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for rescuing wounded soldiers from no man’s land under heavy machine-gun fire.[3]  He rose to the rank of Colour Sergeant and was mentioned in despatches on several occasions.[4]  Died: North Walsham, Norfolk in 1966.[5]

Lewis, Arthur Samuel – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 16.12.1874.[6]  Parents: Samuel Lewis (Blacksmith) [d1875] and Martha [née Chatters] (Horsehair Weaver) [married Samuel George Warford in 1876].  Family Connections: Cousin of Charles Samuel Lewis [b1881], Joseph Bernard Lewis [b1886] and Albert Richard Lewis [b1881]; also, brother-in-law of Charles Fitch [b1879] and Herbert Edward Fitch [b1882].  Home: Rotten Row, Long Melford (1881), Hall Street, Long Melford (1891) to [1947].  Occupation: Boot Maker (1901), Boot Dealer (1911), Boot Maker [Kelly’s 1916], Boot and Shoe Dealer (1921), retired Bootmaker (1939).[7]  Married: Clara Elizabeth Fitch in 1896.  Service Record: Arthur is recorded as a member of the Melford Silver Band in 1900, 1911 and 1914.[8]  From 1893 to 1908 he served as a Sergeant with 2^nd [Volunteer] Battalion, Suffolk Regiment and from 1908 to 1914 as Sgt.45 in 5^th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment [Territorial] restyled from 5.9.1914 as 1/5^th Battalion, Suffolks.[9]  On 28.10.1914 Arthur was diagnosed with enteric fever and discharged from the Army as medically unfit.[10]  This notwithstanding, the following year he is recorded as the Company Sergeant Major with Long Melford Volunteer Training Corps.[11]  He was highly regarded by his unit and was presented with a silver rose bowl in appreciation of his work.  In December 1915 he was invited to sit on the Long Melford Recruiting Sub-Committee and acted as a canvasser during its subsequent recruiting drive.[12]  Died: Long Melford, Suffolk on 23.7.1947.[13]

Lewis, Charles Samuel – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 17.4.1881.[14]  Parents: Harry Lewis (Coconut Mat Maker) and Mary Maria [née Warnes].  Family Connections: Brother Joseph Bernard Lewis [b1886]; also, cousin of Arthur Samuel Lewis [b1874] and Albert Richard Lewis [b1881], and brother-in-law of Herbert John Lungley [b1889].  Home: 78 East Street, Sudbury, Suffolk (1891), recorded as Samuel Clark Lewis lodging with William Groome (brother-in-Law) in Glebe Lane, Rayleigh, Essex (1901), 311 Queens Road, New Cross, Deptford, London (1911), 6 Edith Road, Camberwell, London (1921), 11 Arbuthnot Road, Deptford (1939).  Occupation: Railway Platelayer (1901), Tram Conductor (1911), Motorman for the London County Council Tramways Undertaking (1921 to 1939).  Married: Ada Constance Christie in 1910.  Service Record: Charles was conscripted in 1916 as a Private with the London Regiment, receiving his discharge the following year.  It is not known if he served overseas or the name of his battalion.[15] Died: Surrey in 1946.

Lewis, Joseph Bernard – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk in 1886.  Parents: Harry Lewis (Coconut Mat Maker) and Mary Maria [née Warnes].  Family Connections: Brother to Charles Samuel Lewis [b1881]; also, cousin of Arthur Samuel Lewis [b1874] and Albert Richard Lewis [b1881], and brother-in-law of Herbert John Lungley [b1889]. Home: 78 East Street, Sudbury, Suffolk (1891), 13 Upper East Street, Sudbury (1901), ‘Bognor’ Queens Road, Sudbury (1911), 239 Bramford Road, Ipswich, Suffolk [1915] to (1921).  Occupation: Goods Clerk for the Great Eastern Railway (1901 to 1921).  Service Record: Joseph enlisted on 24.4.1915 as Rfn.C1236 with ‘C’ Company, 1/16^th [Service] Battalion [Church Lads Brigade], King’s Royal Rifle Corps, and was posted to France from 16.11.1915 as part of 100^th Brigade, 33^rd Division.  The Battalion fought several major actions during the Somme Offensive of 1916.[16]  Joseph also served briefly as Pte.12525 in the Army Pay Corps, before being issued with a Silver War Badge and discharged on 14.2.1917 due to sickness.[17]  Died: Ipswich, Suffolk on 14.11.1927.[18]

Related Biographies

Lungey, Herbert John – Born: Wrabness, Essex on 22.6.1889.[19] Parents: Frederick Lungley (Agricultural Labourer) and Mary [née Minns]. Family Connections: Brother-in-law of Charles Samuel Lewis [b1881] and Joseph Bernard Lewis [b1886] both of Long Melford. Home: Ash Street, Wrabness, Essex (1891 to 1921), Queech Farm, Stutton Hill, Samford, Suffolk (1939), Peace Burnt Heath, Ardleigh, Essex [1942], 32 Conifer Close, Colchester, Essex [1977] Occupation: Horseman on Farm (1911 to 1939). Married: Annie Louise Baalham in 1912 [d1924] and Nellie Lewis of Long Melford in 1929. Service Record: Herbert was conscripted on 4.10.1916 as Gnr.120252 with the Royal Garrison Artillery, being posted to France and serving with 264^th Siege Battery from March to September 1917. He returned to England and was discharged in 1919.[20] Died: Colchester, Essex on 2.8.1977.[21]

Stone, John ‘Jack’ William – Born: Worlingworth, Suffolk on 27.1.1883.[22] Parents: Jacob Stone (Agricultural Labourer) and Mary [née Wright]. Family Connections: Brother-in-law of Albert Richard Lewis [b1881].  Home: Hall Road, Bedingfield, Suffolk (1901), Bridge Street, Witham, Essex (1911), Townfield Farm Cottages, Coronation Close, Rochford, Essex (1939), 2 Crown Cottages, Collier Row Road, Hog Hill, Romford, Essex [1944]. Occupation: Maltster’s Labourer (1911), Horseman on Farm (1939), Agricultural Labourer [1944] Married: Ellen Ada Lewis of Long Melford in 1911. Service Record: Before enlisting in 1905, John was a member of the Royal Garrison Artillery [Militia].  He joined 2^nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade as Rfn.849 being posted to India until his discharge in 1909 as medically unfit. He re-enlisted on 10.11.1914 as Rfn.5306 but was discharged only months later on 27.3.1915.[23] Died: Romford, Essex on 16.4.1944.[24]

Notes – [1] Date of birth from the Baptism Register 1.5.1881, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [2] For details of 11^th Rifle Brigade’s movements see War Diary [WO 95/2116/2-6]. [3] For notification of Albert’s DCM see the Supplement to the London Gazette 12.4.1917. [4] Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363], Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329], and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372]. [5] The information regarding his being mentioned in despatches is found in his obituary entitled Founder member of Sheringham Legion dies posted on the Ancestry website by janimac42; the name of the newspaper and date of publication is not cited. [6] Date of birth from the Baptism Register 7.2.1875, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [7] His occupation is taken from Kelly’s Directory for Suffolk 1916. [8] My thanks to Tim Seppings of Sudbury for showing Arthur’s connection to the Melford Silver Band. [9] Soldiers’ Documents and Pension Claims, First World War [WO 364] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372]. [10] Infectious Diseases Register of Medical Certificates Received [Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk Record Office ref: EF501/4/20]. [11] Training Corps articles see Suffolk and Essex Free Press 4.8.1915 and 29.12.1915. [12] Long Melford Parish Council Minute Book [Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk Record Office ref: EG501/1/3]. [13] Date of death from the National Probate Calendar. [14] Date of birth from the Baptism Register 2.10.1881, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [15] London County Council Record of War Service.  His service details are not available as no definitive First World War record has been found. [16] For details 1/16^th KRRC’s movements during Warnes’s period at the Front see War Diary [WO 95/2430/3]. [17] Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363], Service Medal and Award Rolls, First World War, Silver War Badge [WO 329] record [ref: 25778], Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372]. [18] Date of death from the National Probate Calendar. [19] 1939 Register. [20] Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363] and Medal Index Card [WO 372]. [21] Date of death from the National Probate Calendar. [22] 1939 Register. [23] Soldiers’ Documents and Pension Claims, First World War [WO 364]. [24] Death Certificate.