Genealogy Chat

All the Lewis brothers were first cousins to my late father. Last year the daughter of Thomas Lewis sent me a photo copy of a paper cutting from the Cambrian News about the four brothers with photos dated 1916. I had passed the Vimy memorial without stopping a few times over the years, just thinking it was a memorial to brave Canadians and not realising that there could be one of my family remembered there. I found the mention of the Kenora trench interesting as I had not come across that information. Thank you.
My Grandfather James Thomas who was Uncle to the Lewis lads also served as a Territorial with the Cardiganshire Battery before becoming a military policeman later in the war. I have found his medal card as a MP but not one for the RFA because there are so many James Thomas's listed.
Gct

The 14th bn was one of 4 battalions in the 3rd brigade, which in turn was one of 3 bdes in the 1st division.

To see David's action in a wider context, check out Chap 6 of:
Author: Nicholson, G.W.L
Official History of the Canadian Army in the First World War: Candian Expeditionary Force, 1914-1919

http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/his/oh-ho/detail-eng.asp?BfBookLang=1&BfId=22

I imagine you looked David up on the CWGC site - if you click on the VIMY link at the end of the entry, you can read more abt this memorial.
Soldiers named on the Vimy Memorial are those with no known grave.
There are probably burials of unknown soldiers for abt half of them.

There is (a dim) photo of the plaque naming David at:
http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/sub.cfm?source=collections/virtualmem

I presume you used MadBull's URL to access the images of his attestation paper.
Instead of using the "Search" link as above, use the "Search Help" link to access the unit's War Diaries.
David was killed in an attack on the Kenora Trench.
Of particular interest are:
http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/e/e044/e001090029.jpg
http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/e/e044/e001090054.jpg
http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/e/e044/e001090055.jpg
etc., thru
http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/e/e044/e001090063.jpg

The soldiers often named landmarks with homey names, e.g., Picadilly Circus, Tyne Cot, etc. Kenora is a town in E Ontario, just 40km from the MB border. The town was originally called Rat Portage, but the locals decided renaming would favour investment in the town.

Using Choccy's info, you can look up David at:
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/passenger/001045-100.01-e.php
[image 31 of 43]
There's 2 other Lewis's on image 30. All 3 Lewis's are going to difft provinces and none are adjacent in the list. I think they're not related. David's bound for Lajerey SK. I don't recognize the place [There is a Lajord abt 30km SE of Regina] Typically, Ancestry has better images than LAC for these records - maybe someone can check my transcription.

David Lewis was killed in an attack on Thiepval Ridge 26th September 1916 by the canadian division. The 14th battalion was just to the west and north of the village of Courcelette. His brother Evan was called up at the outbreak of war into the Grenadier Guards Reserve. This means that at some time previous to the war he had been a regular soldier. He had then left the army after perhaps eight years, but he could then be 'recalled to the colours' when there was a wartime emergency. When the Welsh Guards were formed as a new regiment he became one of there first men as his regimental no was 38. he then went on to win the Military medal. Two other brothers William Benjamin and Thomas Lewis also
served. Thomas Lewis was a Territorial and a shoeing Smith in the Royal Field Artillery. Possible the Cardigan Battery. Lance Corporal William also died of his wounds and is buried at Penygarn Calvinistic Methodist Cem Tirymynach.
Gct

David Lewis was killed in an attack on Thiepval Ridge 26th September 1916 by the canadian division. The 14th battalion was just to the west and north of the village of Courcelette. His brother Evan was called up at the outbreak of war into the Grenadier Guards Reserve. This means that at some time previous to the war he had been a regular soldier. He had then left the army after perhaps eight years, but he could then be 'recalled to the colours' when there was a wartime emergency. When the Welsh Guards were formed as a new regiment he became one of there first men as his regimental no was 38. he then went on to win the Military medal. Two other brothers William Benjamin and Thomas Lewis also
served. Thomas Lewis was a Territorial and a shoeing Smith in the Royal Field Artillery. Possible the Cardigan Battery. Lance Corporal William also died of his wounds and is buried at Penygarn Calvinistic Methodist Cem Tirymynach.
Gct

Well, looks like we're back to square one with the Lewis family!
Incidentally the farm where I stayed was called Tynnewid Farm, Talywern and I know I've probably spelled that wrong, I was just lucky with Machynlleth. It was a long time ago, 1962!

Madbull
I am sure that this not the John Lewis I am after.
He stayed in Edmonton for the rest of his life.
Your spelling of Machynlleth is spot on. I am at Penegoes, between Talywern and Machynlleth !!!!!!!!
David Lewis attestation paper fills in a few of the gaps so a good day's work.

Thank you all for being so wiling to help

not doing very well !

He did have a brother named Evan but Evan remained in Wales.

Could this be his brother?
I've noticed before that these border crossings are transcribed as St. Albans, Vermont. Not so! This one was Eastport, Idaho.

Border Crossings: From Canada to U.S., 1895-1956
about Evan J Lewis Name: Evan J Lewis
Arrival Date: Mar 1914
Port of Arrival: St Albans, Vermont, United States
Age: 29
Birth Date: abt 1885
Birth Country: Wales
Gender: Male
Race/Nationality: Welsh
Record Type: Manifests

He was born Wales, lived in Coleman, Alberta, nearest relative aunt Mrs T. Evans, Coleman. He seems to be with a Thomas R. Evans, also born Wales. His relative is father Mr. T. Evans, Coleman.

Original says they both arriived in Canada Sept. 1912 at Quebec aboard the Teutonic.

p.s. I was in Talywern near Machynlleth. (Probably spelled it wrong, know I couldn't pronounce it!)

looks like he did -

1891

LEWIS, Benjamin R Head Married M 32 1859 Farmer
Taigwynion
Cardiganshire VIEW
LEWIS, Margaret Wife Married F 35 1856
Llanilar
Cardiganshire VIEW
>>>>>LEWIS, Evan Son M 9 1882 Scholar
Taigwynion
Cardiganshire VIEW
LEWIS, Margaret A Daughter F 4 1887 Scholar
Taigwynion
Cardiganshire VIEW
LEWIS, John Son M 3 1888
Taigwynion
Cardiganshire VIEW
LEWIS, Thomas Son M 1 1890
Taigwynion
Cardiganshire VIEW

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RG number:
RG12 Piece:
4560 Folio:
53 Page:
6

Registration District:
Aberystwith Sub District:
Geneurglynn Enumeration District:
5 Ecclesiastical Parish:
Llanfihangel Geneur Glynn

Civil Parish:
Cynnill Mawr Municipal Borough:
Address:
Taigwynion, Cynnill Mawr, Taigwynion County:
Cardiganshire

Passenger lists leaving UK 1890-1960

Name: Evan J LEWIS
Date of departure: 6 September 1913
Port of departure: Liverpool
Destination port: Quebec
Destination country: Canada

Date of Birth: 1884 (calculated from age)
Age: 29
Marital Status:
Sex: Male
Occupation: Miner
Notes:
Passenger recorded on: Page 11 of 35

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The following people with the same last name travelled on this voyage: -

David LEWIS

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ship: TEUTONIC
Official Number: 96334
Master's name: R W James
Steamship Line: White Star Dominion
Where bound: Montreal, Canada
Square feet: 11724
Registered tonnage: 4269
Passengers on voyage: 1067

this looks like it could be him - did he have a brother Evan ?


Passenger lists leaving UK 1890-1960

Name: David LEWIS
Date of departure: 6 September 1913
Port of departure: Liverpool
Destination port: Quebec
Destination country: Canada

Date of Birth: 1891 (calculated from age)
Age: 22
Marital Status:
Sex: Male
Occupation: Miner
Notes:
Passenger recorded on: Page 11 of 35

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The following people with the same last name travelled on this voyage: -

Evan J LEWIS




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ship: TEUTONIC
Official Number: 96334
Master's name: R W James
Steamship Line: White Star Dominion
Where bound: Montreal, Canada
Square feet: 11724
Registered tonnage: 4269
Passengers on voyage: 1067

Choccy
Well that narrows the time when he went to Canada,
In Wales 1911, Enlisting at Edmonton April 1915
Many thanks

MadBull. Glad you loved Montgomeryshire. There is a Welsh Saying "Mwynder Madwyn" which translates as the gentleness of Montgomeryshire. Could be taken to mean the landscape or the people.
I'm just an imigrant to Montgomeryshire from the harsher but beautiful North of Wales.
Which part of Montgomeryshire did you visit.

1911

LEWIS, Benjamin Richard Head Married M 52 1859 Farm Labourer Cardigan Cynnullmawr Parish VIEW
LEWIS, Margaret Wife Married
26 years F 56 1855 Cardigan Cynnullmawr Parish VIEW
LEWIS, E Son Single M 28 1883 Coal Miner Hewer Cardigan Cynnullmawr Parish VIEW
LEWIS, John Son Single M 23 1888 Coal Miner Hewer Cardigan Cynnullmawr Parish VIEW
>>>>>LEWIS, David Son Single M 19 1892 Coal Miner Hewer Cardigan Cynnullmawr Parish VIEW
LEWIS, Willie B Son Single M 15 1896 Farmers Labourer Cardigan Cynnullmawr Parish VIEW
LEWIS, Elizabeth Daughter Single F 13 1898 School Cardigan Cynnullmawr Parish VIEW

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RG number:
RG14 Piece:
33448 Reference:
RG14PN33448 RG78PN1920 RD607 SD3 ED5 SN37

Registration District:
Aberystwyth Sub District:
Geneurglynn Enumeration District:
5 Parish:
Cynnull Mawr

Address:
Golenfyn Taigwynion Borth S O Card County:
Cardiganshire

De rien. Canadian for you're welcome.

Oh! I fell in love with Wales after spending a short time there on my aunt's farm in Montgomeryshire. Beautiful!

I sent off for OH's grandfather's war records (WW1) from the Canadian Archives. They charged 20cents a page - we had about 50 pages - really good value and a lot of info.

Jill

Certainly not after you have been so good finding interesting facts for me., Welsh for Thank you very much

Sorry, can't find when he came to Canada, still looking.

Diolch yn fawr? You're not swearing at me, are you?