Name

Roll of Individuals Entitled to the Decoration.

Description

Roll of Individuals Entitled to the Decoration granted under Army Order 20 of 1919, Royal Irish Rifles.

Life Story

Name: Samuel John Lewis.

Service Number: 2915.

Rank: Rifleman.

Battalion: 14th Battalion.

Regiment: Royal Irish Rifles.

Born: 7th May 1897, Belfast.

Died: 22nd March 1916.

Address: 28 Wimbledon Street, Belfast

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Samuel John Lewis, son of Samuel and Mary Lewis, lived at 28 Wimbledon Street, Shankill Road, Belfast.

The 1901 Ireland Census has Samuel living at 17 Matchett Street, Shankill Road, Belfast with his mother, father, occupation, Van Driver, brother James, 6 years, and 2 sisters, Sarah, 12 years, and Lizzie, 1 year.

The 1911 Ireland Census has Samuel now living at 30 Wimbledon Street, Shankill Road, Belfast with his mother, father, General Labour, four sisters, Sarah, 21 years, Shop Assistant, Lizzie, 15 years, Mary, 9 years, Eva, 5 years, and two brothers, James, 15 years, Telegraph Messenger, and David, 8 years. Samuels occupation at this time is given as Telegraph Messenger Boy.

Samuel joined the Royal Irish Rifles.

He was posted as part of the British Expeditionary Force to France on the 4th of October 1915.

Samuel John Lewis was a Rifleman within C Company, 14th Battalion (Y.C.V) Royal Irish Rifles when he Died Of Wounds received in Action on the 22nd March 1916, aged 19 years.

A local newspaper states.

Rifleman Lewis was 19 years of age, and the eldest surviving son of Mr Samuel J Lewis, 28 Wimbledon Street. He enlisted in January, 1915, and was employed at the G.P.O before enlisting. He received his training at Randalstown, and was interested in the Y.C.V movement. Rev A Gibson (Lurgan), Presbyterian chaplain, in the course of a letter of sympathy to the bereaved home, says:- Your boy was buried in a little cemetery near the field hospital, where he rests with those who have made similar sacrifices in these tragic days. I conducted the funeral service. I was speaking to him before the end, and he realised that he was going to die, and met his death resignedly. This is a sore trial, but I pray that God will strengthen you to meet and bear it in the spirit of trust, and that he will comfort you in your day of shadow and sorrow.

His Soldiers Effects were left to his father Samuel.

A Dependants Pension Form show his mother Mary, born 1866, as claimant.

He received the British War Medal, Victory Medal and 1914-1915 Star.

He is Remembered at Forceville Communal Cemetery and Extension, France.

To Remember Is To Honour

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