Lewis, John Francis

7164 Sapper John Francis Lewis - 3rd Australian Tunnelling Company

John Francis Lewis was Born in Fremantle on the 13th March 1874 to John and Mary Lewis. He was one of several siblings with, Sarah (1866), Mary (1869), William (1871), Florence (1876), Francis (1879), Ethel (1882), Thomas (1885), Alexander (1887) and Denis (1889).

He grew up and was educated in Fremantle.

In 1902 he married Lillian Eveline Harvey and through to 1910 they were living at 177 Alexander Rd South Fremantle (later Wray Ave). At this time John was working as a Quarryman.

During this time John had seen service with the Infantry of the Citizens Military Forces and also the Australian Garrison Artillery.

They moved to 33 Bellevue Terrace Fremantle for a few years, with John also being employed as a gasfitter.

John and Lillian then moved to 35 Carnac St Fremantle.

On the 6th March 1915 John enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was accepted as fit for service with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 7 & 1/2 inches tall;

Weight - 147lbs;

Chest Measurement - 33-34 inches;

Complexion - Medium;

Eyes - Blue;

Hair - Dark Brown.

Upon his successful enlistment John was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to "C" Company of the 28th Battalion. However due to health issues John was withdrawn from this unit and returned to the Depot Training Company. He spent most of 1915 in the depot company but in November 1915 was assigned to reinforcements to the 11th Battalion but was again withdrawn for health reasons. John was then discharged as medically unfit.

On the 20th March 1916 John re-enlisted and was again accepted as fit. He was sent to the mining corps reinforcements and was transferred to Seymour Camp in Victoria.

John embarked from Melbourne with the Mining Corps reinforcements aboard the transport ship HMAT Suffolk in October 1916, but was injured aboard the transport ship and was offloaded in Fremantle when the ship pulled into port. He was treated at No.8 AGH in South Terrace Fremantle. John returned to duty in January 1917.

John was then returned to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was once again allotted to the Tunnelling Corps reinforcements. He then returned to Seymour Camp in Victoria with this group.

The training took a few months and it wasn't until the 11th May 1917 that John embarked from Melbourne with the Mining Corps Reinforcements. He boarded the HMAT Shropshire in Port Melbourne and set sail for England. John was made an Acting Corporal for the voyage and the ship arrived at Plymouth on the 19th July 1917. On arrival in England John reverted to the rank of Sapper and his group were sent to the Tunnelling Corps camp at Parkhouse.

On the 18th August 1917 John proceeded over to France and was sent to the Australian general Base Depot Camp at Rouelles. Two days later he fell ill and was sent to the 40th Stationary Hospital. He had the next month in hospital here and was then transferred to England. He was admitted to the 3rd Western General Hospital in Cardiff.

On the 14th December 1917 he was then transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield.

The medical authorities recommended that John be returned to Australia and on the 31st January 1918 he boarded the transport ship Osterley and returned to Australia, disembarking in Fremantle on the 6th April 1918.

John was discharged from the AIF on the 6th October 1918.

John returned home to Carnac Street but they soon moved to 40 Little Howard Street. He resumed his career as a gas fitter but was plagued by ill health.

John died aged 46 on the 23rd November 1921 at No.8 AGH in Fremantle. He was buried at Fremantle Cemetery plot Roman Catholic MON CC 1183. The Daily News on the 29th November 1921 published details of the funeral.

OBITUARY.
 
THE LATE MR, JOHN FRANCIS LEWIS.
The funeral of the late Mr. John Francis Lewis, of No. 40 Little Howard-street Fremantle, took place on Thursday afternoon, the 24th instant, and was attended by many friends. Tho deceased, who was 46 years of age, was born in Fremantle, and had lived in this State all his life with the exception of a period on active service abroad, when he was a corporal in the Tunnelling Corps, AIF. A widow survives him. The funeral cortege moved from the residence and proceeded to St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, thence to the cemetery, where the remains were laid to rest in the Roman Catholic portion.
The Rev. Father J. Neville, O.M.I, officiated at the graveside. The chief mourners were: — Messrs. Tom and Dennis Lewis (brothers), Mrs. J. Bebee (sister), Mr. J. Bebee (brother-in-law), Mrs. D. Lewis (sister-in-law), Mrs. A. Thompson, Mrs. E. Smith, and Miss Dot Bebee (nieces). Messrs. T. and J. Baldwin (uncles), and Messrs. G. Garvoy and & Clark (nephews).
The pall-bearers were: — Messrs. H. C. Waddell (representing the South Fremantle R.S.L.), R. Guthrie (representing Repatriation General Hospital), F. Fallon (returned soldier), J. Watson, and H. Watkins. Wreaths were placed on the grave by the South Fremantle branch of the R.S.L. Relatives, and many friends, and numerous communications expressing sympathy have been received by the bereaved widow. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs. Arthur E. Davies and Co., of Fremantle and Claremont.