Cpl
Thomas Norman Lewis
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 02/01/1890 |
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Place of birth: Courtown, County Wexford, Ireland, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Labourer |
Army information
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Country: Ireland, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Corporal |
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Service number: 56682 |
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Enlistment date: 19/01/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Shepherd's Bush, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Royal Garrison Artillery, 321st Siege Bty. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 08/08/1917 |
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Place of death: Saint Peter’s Parish, Ypres, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 27 |
Cemetery
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Voormezele Enclosure No. 3 Plot: XIV Row: B Grave: 1 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal — 11/12/1919 |
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Victory Medal Medal — 11/12/1919 |
Points of interest 2
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place |
My story
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.
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.
Sources 1
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Army Troops. 321 Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/217/7). Further reference |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/456760 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=2a466222-8a64-4cfc-9484-cd0543198439 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/2653902 |