B Lewis (1897 – 1917)

Bertie Lewis was born in Kingswinford on 31st July, 1897, where he was baptized on 29th August. 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 13-year-old Bertie was working as a bobbin currier in a woollen yarn spinning mill.

Bertie served with the 1st Battalion, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. He was killed in action on 19th April, 1917, in the River Lys area. He is commemorated on the Loos Memorial.

Private Lewis, 18991, was awarded the Victory and British medals. His death was reported in the Bridgnorth Journal on 19th May, 1917. He was the brother of Arthur Lewis who is also commemorated on the Bridgnorth War Memorial.

KILLED IN ACTION
[Bridgnorth Journal, 19th May, 1917]
Mr T. Lewis, 11 Hospital Street, Low Town, Bridgnorth, has received from the Infantry Record Office, Shrewsbury, a communication dated the 11th May, informing him that a report had been received from the War Office notifying the death of 18991 Pte. B. Lewis, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, which took place on the 19th April, and expressing the sympathy and regret of Army Council. The deceased was killed in action at a place not stated. Mrs Lewis has received a sympathetic letter from an officer expressing his own sorrow and that of the whole of No. 3 Platoon at losing her son, and stating that he was a very popular man in the platoon, very keen on his work, always cheery under any circumstances, and anything he did he did well. They hoped it might be a small consolation to her to know that he was killed at once, suffering no pain, and also that he died for a very great cause.