Listed as “R Lewis” on both records. Robert was the twin brother of Herman Frederick Lewis.
Birth records confirm that both were registered in the last quarter of 1896 but these records don’t give an actual birth date. However, the death records for both quote the date of birth – Herman; 9th November 1896 and Robert; 6th November 1896! This may have been due to an error somewhere along the line or indeed that the births were separated by three days.
Robert was smaller than Herman. Robert at 19, in 1915, was 5ft 3ins with a 33 inch chest and, although it is not recorded, his weight was unlikely to have been much more than 9 stone. Herman, however, at 17, was 5ft 6 inches with a 35 inch chest, and weighed 9½ stone when he enlisted in 1913.
It is fairly certain that Robert, being of much slighter build, wouldn’t have made a good recruit for the “front line” battalions at the outbreak of war, if he had presented himself. Robert enlisted in the 3rd/4th Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment (a reserve Territorial battalion) on 16th November 1915 as Private No 3805. (Robert enlisted on the same day as another Bramford man, Bertie Ruffles). As a Territorial, Robert was not obliged to serve abroad but the 1916 Military Services Act swept away this exemption and Robert was drafted into the 1st/4th Battalion in France. He joined the battalion on 2nd June 1916 just before the beginning of the Battle of the Somme on 1st July. On 14th July 1916 the battalion bivouacked near the village of Fricourt where the Battle of Bazentin Ridge was in progress. The 4th Battalion supported the 1st Middlesex in an attack on the 15th July. During severe fighting, the battalion suffered over two hundred casualties, including Robert who received a gunshot wound to the back. (See also Albert James Keeble) Just three days later he found himself on a hospital ship bound for England. No further details of his wounds or treatment are given but he remained in the UK until 24th January 1917 when he was discharged as “no longer physically fit for war service”. He was awarded a Silver War badge No 44794.
A medical record shows that he was with “B” Company when wounded at Mametz Wood.
“Bob” Lewis’s retirement from Fisons is recorded in the company Journal of December 1962:
He is seen here being presented with a cheque on retirement.
He died in 1982 in the Gipping Registration District.
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