George Alfred Lewis

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Sat, 03/06/2017 - 11:22

First Name:

George

Middle Name:

Alfred

Last Name:

Lewis

Mother's Name:

Esther Lewis nee Ogden

Father's Name:

John Lewis

Date Enlisted:

Tuesday, December 14, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

5th Division Signal Company

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

1914-1915 Star Medal

Date of Death:

Monday, August 17, 1925

Place of Death:

Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney

Cause of Death:

Suicide

Details:

George Lewis (Service No. 5835) was born in Parramatta, NSW in 1866. In 1888 he married Alice Newman and they had 10 children.

At enlistment George was 41 years old, worked as a quarryman. His records state George's age as 41, but he was in fact, 50 years of age.

George embarked from Sydney on HMAT A54 Runic with Signal Troop 2, Reinforcement 14 on 20th January 1916. Arriving in Egypt on 27th February 1916 he was sent on to France on 15th June 1916. Posted to 5th Division Signal Company in the Field on 1st August 1916, he saw service on the Western Front.

George was admitted to hospital suffering from rheumatism, on 7th January 1917. He was returned to Australia in May 1917 and discharged medically unfit due to senility on 13th November 1917.

Two of George's sons, William Lewis (Service No 6921) and George Alfred James Lewis (Service No 5966 ), also served in World War I.

In 1925 George suffered a work place injury to the head while working with the NSW railway. Several weeks later George, attempted suicide by taking poison and was rushed to hospital, however he died a few hours later.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, LEWIS GEORGE ALFRED