Devonshire Regiment
Albert Edward Lewis was the third of four children born to Charles and Fanny Lewis of Cainscross near Stroud. He was baptised on 9 January 1898. Charles occupation is given as labourer.
The 1901 Census shows the family living in Cainscross. His mother had been married previously to Richard Marchant and married Albert’s Father in 1883. Living with them were Fanny’s two children, Arthur and Rose Marchant who were 15 and 11 respectively and three full siblings, Elsie 13, William 11 and baby Kate who was a month old.
Albert’s mother, Fanny died in 1903. His father remarried in 1904 to Hester Julia Carter aged 43.
At the 1911 Census, Albert now 13, was living with his Father, step mother, 10-year-old Kate and his sister Elsie, 22 who was married and had the surname King.
There are no surviving service records for Albert. He enlisted at Stroud (probably conscripted in 1916) and served initially with the Devonshire Regiment transferring to the Labour Corps.
Albert died on 29 April 1918; he was 20 years old. The UK Register of Soldier’s Effects states that he died at Edmonton Military Hospital. Payments of £13 14s and £7 were paid to his father. The pension card states that Albert died from VDH (valvular disease of the heart). Albert may have been transferred to the Labour Corps due to the level of his fitness; his regimental number was 321365. His step mother was awarded a pension of two shillings with effect from 17 June 1919.
Albert’s brother, William, enlisted with the King’s Royal Rifle Corps in October 1907. His records are listed under Charles William Lewis. William served for eight years in Malta, India and finally on the Western Front. His service records survive, his number being 8403, and he has an entry in the pension ledger. He sustained a severe gun shot wound to the right shoulder at Ypres in May 1915 and was discharged from the Army on 28 April 1916. William appears on the 1939 England and Wales register. He’s listed as a night watchman, is single and living with his step mother Hester, and sister Elsie.
Albert is buried at St Matthew’s churchyard in Cainscross. He has a CWGC headstone with the following inscription: ‘Until the day breaks and shadows flee away’ and it bears the badge of the Devonshire Regiment.
Researched by Helen Wollington November 2020