Geburtsdatum: 02/01/1890

Geburtsort: Courtown, County Wexford, Irland, Vereinigtes Königreich

Beruf: Arbeiter

Land: Irland, Vereinigtes Königreich

Truppe: British Expeditionary Force

Rang: Corporal

Dienstnummer: 56682

Einberufung datum: 19/01/1915

Einberufung ort: Shepherd's Bush, Middlesex, England, Vereinigtes Königreich

Einheiten:  —  Royal Garrison Artillery, 321st Siege Bty.  (Letzte bekannte Einheit)

Sterbedatum: 08/08/1917

Sterbeort: Saint Peter’s Parish, Ypres, Belgien

Todesursache: Im Kampf gefallen

Alter: 27

British War Medal Medaille — 11/12/1919

Victory Medal Medaille — 11/12/1919

Corporal Thomas Norman Lewis served in the 321st Siege Battery, of the Royal Garrison Artillery, which participated in the Third Battle of Ypres.

The 321st Siege Battery RGA moved from England to Flanders during the month of May 1917. On the 19th the men positioned their guns among the ruins of Ypres, in the Saint Peter’s Parish, north of the Lille Gate. A few days later they started targeting German positions and artillery batteries. In wake of the offensive that would start on the 31st of July 1917 they frequently targeted German positions near Sterling Castle, along the Menin Road.

However the German artillery was equally on its toes and the 321st Siege Battery was shelled on an almost daily bases. Notwithstanding the persistent German counter shelling and the mounting casualties the Siege Battery remained at its positions in Ypres.

On the 8th of August 1917 the 321st Siege Battery and billets were heavily shelled. Six NCO’s and men were killed at the Siege Battery position. Acting Corporal Lewis, Acting Bombardier Hughes, Gunners Wesson, Balls, Moorman and Routley all lost their lives on the fateful day. Despite the shelling the men still continued on the operation targets, firing 400 rounds.

All six men of the Royal Garrison Artillery 321st Siege Battery who were killed in action on the 8th of August 1917 were buried near Withuis Cottage and Swan Chateau, to the south of Ypres. Their remains were exhumed after the war and reinterred on Voormezele Enclosure No. 3.

Army Troops. 321 Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/217/7). Weitere Quellen

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/456760

Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=2a466222-8a64-4cfc-9484-cd0543198439

Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/2653902