L/Cpl 16251 Herbert John Lewis

• Age: 24
• From: Bebington
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 9th April 1917
• Commemorated at: Wancourt Brit Cem
  Panel Ref: V.E.30

Herbert John was born on 18th August 1892 in Port Sunlight and was the son of George Frederick Lewis and his wife Harriet (nee Ellis), who were married in 1891 at St Andrew's Church, Bebington. He was also baptised at St Andrew's on 13th November 1892.  

His mother Harriet died in the June quarter of 1898, aged 37. 

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 18 Park Road, Lower Bebington. His father, George, is aged 35, a widower, employed as labourer in a soap works, born in Whitbourne, Herefordshire. He has two children declared in the household; Herbert is 8  born in Bebington, George is 7 also born in Bebington. George's sister Annie Lewis 25 and a boarder are present.    

The 1911 Census shows the family are living at 18 Park Road, Lower Bebington. Herbert John is 18 years of age and a shipping clerk. His father, George Frederick is a widower, employed as an edge tool grinder, born in Whitbourne, Herefordshire in 1866. Also present in the household is George Frederick's sister Annie also born in Whitbourne in 1876. Herbert's younger brother George Sydney is also present, he is 17 years of age and a card box manufacturer born in Bebington. There is also a boarder present   

Herbert was a member of the Bebington Church Lads Brigade.

Prior to the outbreak of war he was employed as a clerk in the Printing Department at Lever Brothers, Port Sunlight. 

Arras 09^th April 1917

Details of the circumstances the 18^th Battalion had to contend with are illustrated below:

The battalion formed the left assaulting battalion of the brigade, the 2^nd Wiltshire Regiment being on the right, the 19^th Manchester Regiment being in support and 2^nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment furnishing “moppers -up”  for the two assaulting battalions. The brigade advance was timed to begin at ---- hour after “Zero”, suited to conform with the movements of 56^th Division and other divisions on our left further north (near Arras). This battalion’s objective was the front-line system Lion Lane on the left (exclusive) to Panther Lane on right (exclusive). This sector included the strongpoint known as “The Egg”.

The brigade advanced at prearranged time, i.e., 11.38 a.m, from position of assembly trenches south of Neuville Vitasse to German front line. This necessitated an advance across the open of at least 2,000 yards. This area up to Neuville Vitasse- Henin road was crossed in artillery formation; after this, owing to machine-gun fire and considerable resistance from German posts forward in the sunken roads, it was found necessary to deploy. During the whole movement across the open the advancing columns had been under considerable artillery fire from guns of all calibres. On gaining the position immediately in front of German line it was found that the wire was practically uncut; this wire formed two strong belts in front of German trenches. Two small gaps were eventually discovered and Second-Lieut H.F.Merry gallantly led a bombing party through them, but his three remaining men were killed as they reached the German trenches.

From the moment the battalion was “held up” in front of German wire Capt. R. W. Jones, the senior company commander on the spot, at once began the work of consolidating in front of German wire. The battalion held on in this position for the remainder of the day, until relieved by the 16^th Manchester Regiment about 3 a.m. on the 10^th of April, all the time under intense machine-gun and rifle fire.

Between 9th-10th April, 1917, the 18th King's lost 2 officers 2nd Lt. F. Ashcroft and 2nd Lt. H.G. Ewing and 59 other ranks killed. 8 other officers were wounded. 

Herbert now rests at Wancourt British Cemetery, France.

Wancourt was captured on 12 April 1917 after very heavy fighting and the advance was continued on the following days. The cemetery, called at first Cojeul Valley Cemetery, or River Road Cemetery, was opened about ten days later; it was used until October 1918, but was in German hands from March 1918 until 26 August, when the Canadian Corps recaptured Wancourt. At the Armistice, the cemetery contained 410 graves, but was very greatly increased in the following years when graves were brought in from small cemeteries and isolated positions on the battlefields south-east of Arras. Including HENIN NORTH CEMETERY, HENIN-SUR-COJEUL, about 800 metres North of the village, contained the graves of 29 British soldiers who fell on 9 April 1917, almost all of whom belonged to the 2nd Wilts or the 18th King's Liverpools. The cemetery now contains 1,936 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 829 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 76 casualties known or believed to be buried among them, and to 20 who were buried in Signal Trench Cemetery whose graves were destroyed in later battles. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.  

Soldiers Effects to father George F., Pension to his Aunt Annie Lewis. 

Herbert is commemorated on the Lever Brothers Memorial at Port Sunlight.  

His father died in the March quarter of 1923, aged 56. 

Grateful thanks are extended to Mark Stanton for providing the wonderful photograph of Herbert John and for allowing us to use it.  

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