May 10, 1897

Born at Scranton Pennsylvania, USA

Jul 24, 1917

Attested into the 4^th Signal Training Depot at Port Arthur Ontario 

Ø     Number 2265960

Ø     Next of kin given as Christmas Evans Lewis (father) of 227 Prospect Ave., Port Arthur Ontario

Ø     Previous occupation given as Bank Clerk

Ø     No previous military experience given

Ø     Religion given as Presbyterian

Aug 22, 1917

Will made out leaving estate to be divided between his father, Mr CE Lewis and his sister, Miss CJ Lewis, both of 227 Prospect Ave., Port Arthur Ontario

Nov 24, 1917

Embarked the SS Megantic at Halifax Nova Scotia

Dec 7, 1917

Disembarked at Liverpool England

Dec 8, 1917

TOS (Taken On Strength) the CETD (Canadian Engineers Training Depot) at Seaford

Dec 19, 1917

SOS (Struck Off Strength) the CETD on transfer to the 7^th Reserve Battalion

Feb 15, 1918

SOS 7^th Reserve Battalion on transfer to the 6^th Reserve Battalion

Apr 11, 1918

SOS 6^th Reserve Battalion on posting to PPCLI (Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry) and embarked for France

Apr 12, 1918

Arrived at 3^rd CBD (Canadian Base Depot) at Havre France and TOS the PPCLI

Apr 14, 1918

Left for CCRC (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp)

Apr 15, 1918

Arrived at CCRC

May 31, 1918

Sentenced to 10 days FP #1 (Field Punishment) for (1) not complying with an order (2) using improper language to an NCO.

Jun 5, 1918

SOS the PPCLI on posting to the 21^st Battalion

Jun 6, 1918

TOS 21^st Battalion

Jun 8, 1918

Joined the 21^st Battalion in the field 

The following is from the 21^st Battalion War Diary:

 “A draft of twenty Other Ranks arrived from the 3^rd Divisional Wing, CCRC.  These Other Ranks had been despatched from England as reinforcements for Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.” 

Aug 8, 1918

Wounded by machine gun bullet (grazing wound to forehead) and shrapnel wound to left wrist and admitted to No 1 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) then transferred to the CCS (Casualty Clearing Station)

Aug 9, 1918

Transferred to No 2 Canadian General Hospital at Le Treport

Aug 18, 1918

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Granitully Castle

Aug 19, 1918

Admitted to the Southern General Hospital, Stourbridge Section, at Birmingham 

Posted to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot)

Sep 9, 1918

Transferred to the Military Convalescent Hospital at Epsom 

Developed trouble breathing from blocked nasal passage (from prior to attestation)

Oct 10, 1918

Transferred to Westcliffe Canadian Eye and Ear Hospital at Folkestone for surgery to correct nasal obstruction

Nov 27, 1918

Discharged to duty and TOS 6^th Reserve Battalion

Dec 13, 1918

On Command to Kinmel Park pending return to Canada

Dec 21, 1918

Embarked the SS Carmania at Liverpool for Canada

Dec 22, 1918

TOS No 10 DD (District Depot) at Winnipeg

Dec 30, 1918

Disembarked at Halifax Nova Scotia

Feb 3, 1919

Admitted to Manitoba Military Hospital with tonsillitis and transferred to the Hospital Section

Mar 7, 1919

Discharged to unit and posted to the Casualty Company

Mar 24, 1919

Discharged from the CEF at Winnipeg Manitoba 

Ø     War Service Badge Class “A” issued, number 75357

Ø     Proposed address on discharge – 6^th S. Cumberland St., Port Arthur Ontario

 There is a medals card in the file, but it indicates that his British War Medal and Victory Medals were never sent to him

He resettled in Vancouver British Columbia and served as a Canada Customs Officer at various Yukon/Alaska border posts before retiring to North Vancouver and eventually to Port Coquitlam British Columbia. 

He died with shrapnel still in his wrist from the Aug 18, 1918 wounds 

Jun 10, 1976

Deceased at New Westminster British Columbia 

David Lewis was cremated and interred in the St Mary's Anglican Church Memorial Garden, Richmond BC

Post war information and Church photos supplied by grandson, Thomas Miller