L/Cpl 23081 Frank Lewis

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 5 Horatio Street, Birkenhead. His father, Pryce, is aged 50, born in Ross Herefordshire in 1861, his occupation is a railway inspector, his mother Alice Ann is aged 47, born 1864 no occupation and born in Birmingham. They have been married for twenty-four years and have had six children. Those listed in the household were; Albert John aged 23, born 1888 is a railway booker, Arthur aged 21, born 1890 is a hairdresser, James William aged 19, born 1892 is a shipwright apprentice, Frank aged 17, is a clerk, Sidney aged 12, born 1899 and Edith Mary aged 9, born 1902 are at school.     

He was educated at St Catherine’s Church School and the Higher Elementary School, Conway Street, Birkenhead.

Prior to the outbreak of the war he was employed by Perrin and Son who were carting agents for the Great Western Railway. He was a member of Claughton St Mark’s AFC

He enlisted in Liverpool on 11th November 1914 as Private 23081, joining the 20^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment. He gives his age as 21 years and 157 days and his occupation as clerk. He was described as being 5’ 6 and a half inches tall, weighing 125 lbs, 36” chest, with a fresh complexion, grey eyes, and dark brown hair. He stated his religion as C of E. and his next of kin as his father Pryce, of 5 Horatio Street. 

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain.

Frank shipped to France with his battalion, disembarking at Boulogne on 07th November 1915.

His military record survives and shows -

28.03.1916 Appointed unpaid L/Cpl

26.06.1916 Appointed paid L/Cpl

01.07.1916 Attached to 30th Div. Bomb Store

13.07.1916 Rejoined unit in the field.

Frank was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, which was his 23rd Birthday, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive.

The 20^th King’s Battalion Diary records:

“At 4.45am prompt the attack was launched. Unfortunately, a thick mist prevailed and it was impossible to see more than 10 yards ahead. This continued until about 6 o’clock when it lifted slightly, but it was still too hazy and impossible to see what was happening 100 yards ahead. This being so, it was not surprising to find that the attacking waves were experiencing great difficulty in maintaining connection.”

At 6am, Lt. RE Melly, No.1 Company, reported that his men had taken the German Maltz Horn trench.

At 6.30am, 2/Lt. CP Moore reported that he had 150 men, 4 Stokes Mortars and 2 Lewis Guns, but he was the only officer. He also said that due to the fog, both his “flanks were in the air” i.e. he was not in contact with neighbouring troops.

At 9.10am, Moore was still not in contact at his flanks, and now he had only 75 men, he had sent out 2 patrols and neither not returned. Later Moore established communication with the French on his right.

Around 10.00am, 2/Lt Musker reported that he had just over a company with him, but his left flank was suffering from German machine gun fire. Later he reported that he had over 30 casualties from the machine gun fire. His flanks were also “in the air”. No contact was made with this party until the remnants returned around 9.30pm, all runners sent were killed or missing. The War Diary states that this group had: ”held the ground won all day, and this permitted the consolidation of the ground won on the Maltz Horn ridge with little interference from the enemy”.

Relief for 20/Kings had been planned for 11.00pm, but it was 5.00am on the 31st July before it took place, ending a tragic day for the Liverpool Pals.

Casualties for 20^th Battalion were 16 Officers and 357 Other Ranks

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30^th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55^th Division during the early hours of the 31^st July. 

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89^th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.

His Casualty Form shows a report received on 05.08.1916 stating Wounded, and a further entry dated 03.09.1916 Wounded and Missing.

He was reported as Wounded in the Liverpool Daily Post on Tuesday 12 September 1916: 

His parents placed a notice appealing for information in the Birkenhead News on 25th October 1916.  

An entry dated 08.08.1917 states, Death accepted for official purposes. 

His parents received official notification of his presumed death over a year later, posting a notice in the Liverpool Echo on 16th August 1917:

“In ever-loving memory of Lance-Corporal Frank Lewis (K.L.R.), the dearly-beloved fourth son of Mr. and Mrs. Pryce Lewis, 5, Horatio Street, Birkenhead, previously reported wounded and missing, now officially reported killed July 30, 1916 (his 23rd birthday).

   He nobly rose to his country’s call,

   He gave his best, his life, his all.

From his loving Parents, Sister, and Brothers.”

Frank's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

He is also commemorated on the following Memorials:

Birkenhead War Memorial, Hamilton Square

Higher Elementary School Memorial, Birkenhead 

Frank earned his three medals.

In November 1917 his father received Frank’s personal belongings: 1 Letter, 1 Photo.

His Army pay and a War Gratuity of £7-10s went to his father. His mother was awarded a pension of 10/- a week from June 1917.  The pension card shows a later address as 4 St. Andrews Road.

In May 1919 his parents are at 5 Horatio Street with James, 27, Sidney, 21, and Edith, 17.  Albert, 31, lives at No.12, and Arthur, 29, is with the army in Egypt.

Arthur attested in January 1916 and was mobilised on 13th June 1916.  He arrived at Alexandria in December 1916 with the Royal Welch Fusiliers and later served in Palestine. He suffered a gunshot wound to the face in Gaza on 27.03.1917.  After being hospitalised in Alexandria he returned to duty one month later. He was hospitalised with malaria in May 1919, and in Cyprus with dysentery in July.  He returned to the U.K. in November 1919, and was demobbed in December. 

James attested on 06.03.1916 and was appointed S/Sgt. the same day, having previously served in the A.S.C. (Welsh Div.), and arrived in France on 01st July 1916.  He was sent to Field Ambulance on 01.09.1916 and admitted to hospital with D.A.H.(“soldier’s heart”). He was invalided to England in October and deemed permanently unfit for war duty.  He remained with the A.S.C. until discharged on 14.12.1918 as surplus to military requirements. 

We currently have no further information on Frank Lewis, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.