SWB

[Dannemois]

Pte Bertie Lewis, 31818, SWB, Brecknockshire Bn, died 5 Jan 1919 and his name is commemorated on the Kirkee Memorial. I presume from Information available on LLT Pte Lewis was in the 1/1st Bn? Would someone have the battalion war diary, I would very much like to learn where he was on the day he died, what action did he see?

Appreciate help

[connaughtranger]

Hi

The 1/1st Brecknocks were in Mhow at the beginning of 1919.

They were a Home Service unit to begin with, but went to Aden, on to Lahej and finally to India. Someone will, I'm sure provide more detail

Regards

Martin

[clive_hughes]

Hi,

the 1/1st Brecknockshires first served overseas at Bombay in December 1914, being transferred to Aden a few days later, earning the 1914-15 Star & BWM/Victory. They took part in the Lahej expedition of July 1915 - though this was more notable for the number of heatstroke casualties than any action seen.

Following this rather disastrous event, they were transferred back to Bombay in August 1915 and basically served in a garrison role for the remainder of the war; though they would probably also have provided drafts to other units in Mesopotamia. They supplied about 300 men to serve in the Third Afghan War (May-August 1919), and these earned the Indian General Service Medal with clasp "Afghanistan NWF 1919". They left India in October 1919 for the UK.

The 2/1st and 3/1st never left the UK.

His number is not a post-1917 Territorial one, so he was a later draft to the battalion in India: something confirmed by his medal card, which only shows entitlement to a single British War Medal (NOT the Victory Medal). He therefore never served in a Theatre of War. He is more likely to have died of illness or accident than in action. If you contact the CWGC they may be able to help you locate where his original grave was, as the Kirkee Memorial in the main commemorates those whose resting-places couldn't any longer be maintained. India is seamed with old British garrison cemeteries which are losing the fight against vegetation and neglect.

LST_164

[Dannemois]

Hi,

the 1/1st Brecknockshires first served overseas at Bombay in December 1914, being transferred to Aden a few days later, earning the 1914-15 Star & BWM/Victory. They took part in the Lahej expedition of July 1915 - though this was more notable for the number of heatstroke casualties than any action seen.

Following this rather disastrous event, they were transferred back to Bombay in August 1915 and basically served in a garrison role for the remainder of the war; though they would probably also have provided drafts to other units in Mesopotamia. They supplied about 300 men to serve in the Third Afghan War (May-August 1919), and these earned the Indian General Service Medal with clasp "Afghanistan NWF 1919". They left India in October 1919 for the UK.

The 2/1st and 3/1st never left the UK.

His number is not a post-1917 Territorial one, so he was a later draft to the battalion in India: something confirmed by his medal card, which only shows entitlement to a single British War Medal (NOT the Victory Medal). He therefore never served in a Theatre of War. He is more likely to have died of illness or accident than in action. If you contact the CWGC they may be able to help you locate where his original grave was, as the Kirkee Memorial in the main commemorates those whose resting-places couldn't any longer be maintained. India is seamed with old British garrison cemeteries which are losing the fight against vegetation and neglect.

LST_164

Many thanks for such a detailed account, every bit appreciated.

Best regards, Roy

Hi

The 1/1st Brecknocks were in Mhow at the beginning of 1919.

They were a Home Service unit to begin with, but went to Aden, on to Lahej and finally to India. Someone will, I'm sure provide more detail

Regards

Martin

Thanks Martin, every bit helps.

Best Regards

Roy