Pte 35239 Thomas Ralph Lewis

• Age: 25
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: 12th KLR
• Died on Friday 4th August 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: Pier and Face 1 D 8 B and 8 C. 

Thomas Ralph Lewis was born in Liverpool in the March quarter of 1891, the son of William Lewis and his wife Elizabeth (née Lucas)  who were married on the 14th March 1888 at St. Nicholas's Church, Liverpool. William was a 25 year old joiner of 2 King Street, father William deceased, whilst Elizabeth was aged 25 also of 2 King Street, father James a mariner.   

On the 1891 Census the family are living at 4 Sharp Street, Kirkdale. His father, William, is aged 29, a joiner born in Cardiff, born Liverpool are; his mother Elizabeth aged 27, and two children William G. aged 2, and Thomas R. aged 1. 

On the 1901 Census the family, now showing as all born in Liverpool, are living at 12 Fishguard Street, Everton. His father, William, is aged 38, a house carpenter, mother Elizabeth is now shown as also aged 38. They now havefive children in the household; William 12, Thomas 9, Florence 7, Sydney 5, and Lucy 1.

On the 1911 Census the family are still at 12 Fishguard Street, Everton. His father, William, is aged 50, a joiner, mother Elizabeth is aged 49, they have been married for 25 years and have had 7 children, 6 of whom have survived. There are five children declared in the household; Thomas 20, a sampleman for cotton broker, Florence 18, confectioner, Sydney 14, a dairy worker, Lucy 11, and Jane 9. 

He enlisted at Seaforth, Liverpool with The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 35239. According to his medal roll he shipped to France with another draft of the 17th Battalion of the K.L.R. after the 01st January 1916 and died on, or since, the 04th August 1916. SDGW and CWGC have him in the 12th Battalion K.L.R. which is to be investigated as on Soldier Effects his service number is 21/35239 i.e. 21st Battalion. 

If he transferred to 12/KLR he went missing on operations around the 04th August 1916. 

12th Battalion War Diary 

AUCHONVILLERS SECTION. 

Aug. 1st & 2nd - Weather fine, enemy very quiet except for counter battery firing - 1 man killed by premature bursting of one of our own shells. Squadron of 24 allied aeroplanes passed over our line at 7p.m. on 2nd inst. 

Aug. 3rd - Battalion relieved at 5a.m. by 7th Bn. K.O.Y(orkshire). L.I., 2 Coys remaining in support at ELLES SQUARE, remainder in Barracks near MAILLY-MALLET. Whole Coys employed at night reclaiming old front line trenches. 

Aug. 4th to 6th - Large parties employed nightly on old front line, exceptionally fine weather, considerable aerial activity  

Aug. 7th - Battalion relieved by 9 Bn. L.N. Lancs. Regt. (25th Division) and marched to Camp in Chateau grounds at COUIN. 

Thomas was initially declared Missing, and his name appeared as such in the list of K.L.R. casualties published in the Liverpool Daily Post on 18th September 1916.   

King’s(Liverpools) - Cloverley(sic), 24591, A.; Lewis, 35239, T.; Weeks, 35554, C.;   

Thomas’ service record has not survived and no further family notices have been found, so it is not known when he was officially reported killed.  

His body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as his name 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.”

His mother received his Soldiers Effects, £2 9s 11d in outstanding pay and a £3 War Gratuity. She also received a pension of 9s 6d p.w. 

She suffered further grief when Thomas’ father William died, aged 55, in the December quarter of 1917.  

He earned his two medals, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. 

His mother died, aged 75, in the June quarter of 1938. 

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