Lives of the First World War

At the time of his death, Lewis held the rank of Lance Corporal within D Company of the 5th Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI). He had joined the army as a Private, sometime before 1915 (he was awarded the 15 Star medal). Lewis was born between 1892 and 1894, and prior to the outbreak of war had worked at the Yorkshire Main Colliery at Edlington. On the 1911 census, he is noted as a 'Pit hand rope lad', at the age of 17. This is understood to have been a position where he would have tied the coal carts together using rope, before they were pulled from the pit. He appears to come from a very large family. In 1891 the Ackroyd family headed by William and Emma, both 37, are listed as living at 24 Lime Street, Halifax with six children and what is presumably William's brother, Arthur. William appears to be listed as a 'Painter' (although the writing is difficult to read), and only the 7 year old Annie is listed as 'scholar'; everyone else, (with the exception of 1 year old Ethel) has an (illegible) position of employment. By the 1901 census, Lewis' father William has died, and a further two children - Harold, now 10 and Lewis, now 7 have been born. Edith and Annie, Lewis' elder sisters are listed as Winders of some description, and the census curiously lists 'William' as the head, but this is scribbled out with 'Emma' being written instead. This suggests that William had only just died, or perhaps died just after the taking of the census. According to family tree information William died in 'November 1901' at the age of around 47. The family are still living at 24 Lime Street, Halifax. Lewis married May Lillian Thorpe in May 1913, and they had three girls together. May remarried in 1922 and went on to have one further son with her new husband, going on to live to the age of 83, dying in 1976. Lance Corporal was the lowest level of NCO (Non Commissioned Officer) and was until 1961 an appointment rather than a formal role. Lewis would have been second in command of the section, and possibly commander of the delta fire team.

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