Source: News article Five More Men Off for Camp re. Sergeant John A. Wallace.
From We Will Remember Them – Surnames D – L, Elgin County Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society
George Frederick Lewis
53699
The St. Thomas Times-Journal, March 31, 1919 reported the return of local soldiers in “The News of Aylmer”: “Pte. Fred Lewis, after four years’ service in Flanders, has returned to Aylmer, discharged honorably and will take his old position with Frank Sanburn [sic- should be Sansburn] on the eight concession”.
He does not appear on the 1911 census in East Elgin. The St. Thomas Journal of November 2, 1914 printed a list of local men enlisting, including Fred Lewis.
An attestation paper was found for a George Frederick Lewis, #53699. He enlisted for service on November 2, 1914 in St. Thomas. He was born on May 11, 1889 in Birmingham, England. No address is given on the paper. He names his next of kin as his father, John Lewis, of 94 Sarckole Road, Hallgreen, England. He was a farmer, and was not married. He had served six years with the 5th Worcestershire Regiment.
A letter from Fred to Wyn Christie of Aylmer was printed in the Aylmer Express, July 22, 1915:
Regt. No. 53699, C. Co. 18th Batt., 2nd Contingent, London, England
June 29, 1915
Dear Friend – Just a few lines to let you know I have not forgotten you altogether, but I have been very busy and they are working us very hard at present. We expected it for we are doing the best we can and want to get to the front. Your London papers say that we have left England. We have not and are still in Kent, close to the coast. It is not so nice as in Canada, for it gets very cold nights. We are having nice weather to do our drill and our night marches, for we have those very often. Harry Green is going on very good, only he has got married, so that is his drawback, now he will have to worry over her when he is at the front. I have been home to see my people, and I found them quite well, and those silk handkerchiefs they thought were very fine. I guess you remember those I bought before Christmas, in Aylmer. I think I will have to send for two more, if you have any left. I shall be glad when it is over, so that we can come back, but not before we have had a whack at the Germans. Remember me to all the boys. I remain yours truly, G. F. Lewis.
Passenger lists show Fred returning from overseas on March 24, 1919.
There is a marker in South Park cemetery, St. Thomas for Pte. George F. Lewis, #53699, who died on December 16, 1970.
Frederick’s obituary appeared in the St. Thomas Times-Journal, December 16, 1970:
FREDERICK LEWIS DIES AT AGE OF 81
Frederick Lewis, formerly of 41 Forest Avenue, passed away at the St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital Wednesday morning, after an illness of three months. He was 81. Born in England, Mr. Lewis came to Canada from Birmingham before the First World War and moved to St. Thomas in the 1920’s. He was a retired stationery engineer, having been employed 12 years at the St. Thomas Memorial Hospital and 19 years at the St. Thomas Psychiatric Hospital. A member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Mr. Lewis served overseas in the First World War with the 18th Battalion. There are no known survivors. Resting at the L. B. Sifton Funeral Home, 118 Wellington Street, where the funeral service will be conducted on Friday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. by Rev. J. L. Petrie, padre of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 41. Interment will be made in the Soldiers’ Plot of South Park Cemetery with the officers and members of the legion conducting a graveside service. Visitation is encouraged between the hours of 2 and 4 p.m. and 7 to 9:30 p.m.
FIVE MORE MEN OFF FOR CAMP
John Wallace, James Grant[i], Fred Lewis[ii], Harry Green[iii], and Cecil Robertson[iv]
LIEUT. BEESON[v] HEARS OF HIS APPOINTMENT
St. Thomas Contingent of One Hundred Practically Complete Now.
Five more recruits went to the camp at London Thursday morning marking ninety-seven in al that have gone from this city. As Private J. Aldrich is to be returned home owing to the serious illness of his mother, four more are required and three have passed the doctor. The other man comes up for examination before the doctor this evening.
The five men who went to London on Thursday morning were: John Wallace, James Grant, Fred Lewis, Harry Green and Cecil Robertson. The former, a member of the local Dominion Bank staff, was presented with a wrist watch by the members of the staff prior to his departure to the mobilization camp.
Lt. Beeson Accepted.
Lieut. James Beeson, Collegiate Institute physical instructor, had been notified of his appointment as an officer with the second expeditionary force and had been notified to report at London Friday morning. Lieuts. W.J.Y. Hardy and J.G. Coyne have not as yet been notified to report.
The following are the names of the additional three men who have passed:
William Hill, city, aged 28, chef, no service.
Percy Hill, Tillsonburg, married, aged 37, eight years with the Third West Surries.
Robert Howse, aged 33, married, four years First Tar Hamlet Regiment.
Burt M. Haller[vi] also applied for enlistment on Thursday afternoon and he will be examined for the final man of the 100 allowed from here. He came to the city for the purpose of enlisting[vii] at noon and is eager to get away as soon as possible.
Source: St. Thomas Times-Journal. October 19, 1915.
[i] There is no record of a James Grant in the 18th Battalion April 1915 nominal roll. There is a recorded of a James Grant being a rejected volunteer. The LAC resource does not give enough information to make a definitive determination at this time.
[ii] Lewis, George Frederick: Service no. 53699 enlisted St. Thomas, Ontario November 2, 1914.
[iii] Green, Harry Arthur: Service no. 53027 (Military Medal) enlisted St. Thomas, Ontario November 2, 1914. The attestation papers indicated London, Ontario but the Nominal Roll indicated St. Thomas.
[iv] Not found.
[v] Beeson, James: Lieutenant enlisted November 4, 1914.
[vi] Haller, Bertram M.: Service no. 54023 enlisted November 5, 1914 at St. Thomas, Ontario.
[vii] Haller’s appears to be from Preston (now Cambridge), Ontario and, as stated in the news article, travelled to St. Thomas for a chance to enlist. Perhaps the allotment for Galt/Preston/Hespeler was full. My Grandfather, William Robb Dewar, reg. no. 53902, enlisted October 26, 1914 at Galt. It appears the goal to fill each town’s enlistment quota was to be done by the first week in November. The Kitchener Public Library index card for Bertram Haller indicates he enlisted in Preston and returned to Preston after this service.
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 