(Formerly 8835, 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment and 21065, Northamptonshire Regiment)
Herman is recorded on the School Roll of Honour as “2nd Suffolk Inf.”
Herman Frederick Lewis was the brother of Andrew. Herman was born on 9th November 1896 in Bramford. In 1911 he was a farm labourer. A form in his service record indicates that he worked at Sycamore Farm, for Mr Jackson, although there is an H Lewis on the Packard factory Roll of Honour indicating that he might have worked for them. He enlisted on 17th December 1913 declaring his age to be 18 years and 36 days but in fact he was 17 years old. He was initially in the 2nd Suffolk as Private No 8835 but later transferred to the Northamptonshire Regiment (No 21065) and then finally the Bedfordshires (No 43267). On enlistment it was noted on his medical report that he had had operations for “a disease of the thorax” and “appendicitis” as scarring was apparent.
During his time, like his brother, he fell foul of army discipline. Particularly notable offences were; “talking and laughing on parade” as well an “improper reply to an NCO”. However, Herman proved to be a good soldier and was promoted to Sergeant over a career that took him right through the war, much of it spent on the Western Front, having crossed to France for the first time on 3rd December 1914. He was wounded three times, firstly on 3rd July 1915 to the left hand, then on 30th September 1916 and again on 24th April 1918. The consequences of these wounds, however, were severe. Herman was discharged on 4th April 1919 as the result of the amputation of his right forearm, the loss of his left eye and a gunshot wound to the back. He was awarded a Silver War badge B187261.
Herman married Daisy Ellen Newman in 1919 and died in 1976. He is buried in Bramford churchyard.
Family sources confirm that Herman lost and arm and an eye in the Great War. After the war he was a postman in Flowton and he lived in Bramford.
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