Dedicated to the memory of all the men and women of the Bridgnorth area who died during the two World Wars.

A Lewis (1895 – 1917)

Arthur Lewis was born in Kingswinford where he was baptized on 25th October, 1895. He was the son of Thomas Lewis, a coachman born in Chirk, Denbighshire and his wife Sarah, who had been born in Bridgnorth. By 1901 the family had moved to Bridgnorth where they lived in Bylet Cottages and, later, Hospital Street. In 1911 the 15-year-old Arthur was working as a baker’s errand boy.

Arthur served with ‘D’ Coy. 1/4th Battalion King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. He may have been old enough to have gone to the Far East with the battalion in 1914 but he is more likely to have joined when the battalion was sent to France in July 1917. Arthur was killed in action on 30th October, 1917. He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial to those who died in the Ypres Salient who have no known grave.

Private Lewis, 200915, was awarded the Victory and British medals. His death was reported in the Bridgnorth Journal on 26th October, 1918. He was the brother of Bertie Lewis who is also commemorated on the Bridgnorth War Memorial.

PRESUMED TO BE DEAD
[Bridgnorth Journal, Saturday 26th October, 1918]
Mr. and Mrs. T. Lewis, 11 Hospital Street, Bridgnorth, have received an official notification in regard to their eldest son, 200915 Pte. A. Lewis. 1/4 K.S.L.I., who has been reported missing from the Western front since October 30th. 1917, stating that the Army Council have been regretfully constrained to conclude that he is dead and that his death took place on the date named (or since). He went out with the local Company of Territorials to the Far East soon after the outbreak of war, being stationed at Hong Kong, and proceeded with the Company to France in July, 1917.

This memorial has mostly been compiled from official sources. It would be good to be able to expand it with more personal material - memories, stories, photos, etc. If you have any suitable material or any corrections please contact Greg. For news of updates follow @BridgnorthHeros on Twitter.