Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
ff
13385   Sergeant William Henry Lewis
Save as PDF
Dated added: 30/12/2015   Last updated: 31/07/2021
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 7th Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers (British Army)
Died: 09/09/1916 (Killed in Action)
Age: 30
Summary      
William Lewis was the son of Henry and Annie Elizabeth Lewis. He was born about 1886 in Portadown. He lived with the family at Jervis Street, Portadown. His father was a railway worker. The 1911 census shows William as 24 years old and still single. He was working as a damask weaver. William Henry Lewis enlisted in Portadown. Private William Lewis was serving with 7th Battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers when he was killed in action on 9th September 1916. The CWGC records that he was married at the time of his death to Minnie Lewis and they lived at Bernagh, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone.
Sergeant William Henry Lewis
Further Information
William Lewis was the son of William Henry and Annie Elizabeth Lewis. He was born about 1886 in Portadown.
The 1901 census records 15 year old William Henry was working as a messenger. He was living with the family at Jervis Street, Portadown. His father was a railway worker.
Family: Henry Lewis, Anna Eliza Lewis, Thomas Lewis (born 14th April 1881), Mary Esabella Lewis (born 16th January 1883), William Henry Lewis (born about 1886), Hannah Jane Gibson nee Lewis (born 14th June 1888), Margaret Ann Lewis (born 14th December 1890), Alice Lewis (born 11th April 1893, died 21st June 1893), Herbert Lewis (born 5th June 1895), Maud Lewis (born 22nd May 1897).
The 1911 census shows William as 24 years old and still single. He was now working as a damask weaver. He was still living with the family at Jervis Street, Portadown
William Lewis married Minnie Courtney on 16th March 1912 in Craigavon. Minnie Lewis was the eldest daughter of Richard Courtney, a cattle dealer from Dungannon.
William Henry Lewis enlisted in Portadown. He was living in Dungannon at the time.
Medal card
Sergeant William Lewis was serving with the Machine Gun Section of the 7th Battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers when he was killed in action on 9th September 1916. He was 30 years old.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 22nd September 1916:
Sergeant Harry Lewis, Royal Irish Fusiliers (Machine Gun Section) who was killed in action on 10th September, was the husband of Mrs Minnie Lewis, 17 Clare Terrace, Dungannon. He formerly resided in Jervis Street, Portadown.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 28 September 1916:
Mrs Lewis, 17 Clare Terrace, Dungannon, has received news that her husband, Sergeant Harry Lewis, Irish Fusiliers (machine gun section) has been killed in action.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 30th September 1916: Sergeant Lewis
Mrs Lewis, 17 Clare Terrace, Dungannon, has received intimation through his battalion companions that her husband, Sergeant Harry Lewis, of the Machine Gun Section, Royal Irish Fusiliers, has been killed in action. Mrs Lewis is eldest daughter of Mr Richard Courtney, cattle dealer, Dungannon, and much sympathy is expressed with her in her sad bereavement.
Sergeant William Henry Lewis is buried in Delville Wood Cemetery, Longeuval.
Sergeant William Lewis is commemorated locally on Dungannon War Memorial and on the WWI Roll of Honour in St Anne's Church Of Ireland in Dungannon
William Lewis is also commemorated on Portadown War Memorial as being from Jervis Street.
The CWGC record that Sergeant William Henry Lewis was the son of William H and Annie Lewis of Hampton Terrace, Portadown, County Armagh. He is also recorded as the husband of Minnie Lewis of Bernagh, Dungannon, County Tyrone.
Read more
Relevant Dungannon Area Locations
No Location Region Location Notes Longtitude Latitude
1 Clare Terrace, Derrygortrevy Dungannon Town South Newspaper lists wife in Clare Terrace 54.500041 -6.776251
GRONI References
TYPE - B:Birth M:Marriage D:Death | GRONI | SIBLING: brother or sister | NOTES: spelling inconsistencies, etc.
Date Type Surname First name Relationship GRONI Ref Notes
19/03/1881 D Lewis Margaret Sibling D/1881/172/1021/15/424 died age 1
14/04/1881 B Lewis Thomas Sibling U/1881/176/1021/18/332 Magill
16/01/1883 B Lewis Mary Sibling U/1883/176/1021/20/361 Magill
14/06/1888 B Lewis Hannah Sibling U/1888/176/1021/25/218 Magill
14/12/1890 B Lewis Margaret Sibling U/1891/176/1021/27/225 Magill
11/04/1893 B Lewis Alice Sibling U/1893/176/1021/29/94 Magill
21/06/1893 D Lewis Alice Sibling D/1893/176/1021/17/469 died age 0
05/06/1895 B Lewis Herbert Sibling U/1895/176/1021/30/466 Magill
22/05/1897 B Lewis Maud Sibling U/1897/176/1021/32/258 Magill
16/03/1912 M Courtney Minnie Wife M/1912/S1/1193/13/56b
16/03/1912 M Lewis William Casualty M/1912/S1/1193/13/56a
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 1901 Census lists 'Courtenay' family Lists Minnie Lewis's family living in Union Place, Dungannon
2 1901 Census lists Lewis family Lists William Henry as age 15 living with the family at house 3 in Jervis Street, Portadown, Armagh
3 1911 Census lists Lewis family Lists William Henry as age 24 living with the family at house 20 in Jervis Street, Portadown, Armagh
4 FindAGrave.com Photo of Sergeant William Lewis' headstone
5 National Archives UK Medal Card can be purchased here
6 Portadown War Memorial Commemorated in Portadown War Memorial
7 War Graves Photographic Project Photo of Sergeant William Lewis' headstone can be purchased here
Dungannon District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2015-2023