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Mar 6, 1888
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Born in Barbados, British West Indies to William
and Elizabeth (nee Smith) Lewis
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Nov 18, 1908
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Married to Annie Grace Jamieson in St. George’s Cathedral,
Kingston, Ontario
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Nov 10, 1914
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Attested into the 21st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario
Ø Number 59588 (temporary number 652)
Ø Next of kin given as Mrs. A Lewis, wife, 417 Johnson St.,
Kingston, Ontario
Ø Previous occupation given as Brakeman for Grand Trunk Railroad
Ø Previous military experience given as CPASC (Canadian Permanent Army
Service Corps)
Ø Religion given as Church of England
Ø Posted to “E” Company
o This was later reorganized into “C” Company
The 21st Battalion trained in the Kingston, Ontario
area through the winter of 1914-15.
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May 6, 1915
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Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec
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May 15, 1915
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Disembarked in Devonport, England and the
battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue
training
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May 27, 1915
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Sentenced to 168 hours of detention for being AWL
(Absent Without Leave)
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Aug 3, 1915
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Forfeited 2 days pay for being absent from August
2 to August 3, 1915
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Sep 14, 1915
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Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone
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Sep 15, 1915
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Disembarked in Boulogne, France and the battalion
proceeded to St. Omer
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Oct 5, 1915
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While in the front line trenches near Messines
Belgium, Private Lewis decided to peek over the top of the trench. When he did that, he was shot in the left
arm by a German sniper and evacuated to the No. 5 CFA (Canadian Field
Ambulance) for first aid before being transported to the No. 2 CCS (Casualty
Clearing Station) near Bailleul, France
It is interesting that circumstances of his
wounding were told to doctors as above, while the letters home reported that
he had been wounded by a shell explosion.
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Oct 8, 1915
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Transported via ambulance train and admitted to
the No. 25 General Hospital in Camiers/Hardelot, France
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Oct 16, 1915
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Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship
Dieppe
On arrival in England, he was admitted to the
Norfolk War Hospital in Thorpe, Norwich
Transferred to the 39th Reserve
Battalion for pay purposes while in hospital
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Nov 8, 1915
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Surgery was performed to remove dead tissue and
repair nerve damage in his arm
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Jan 4, 1916
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Transferred to the Hillingdon House Convalescent
Hospital in Uxbridge
While outside exercising, Private Lewis suffered
severe frost bite to his left hand.
This was a result of poor circulation and lack of feeling in hand due
to the damage caused by the bullet wound and of course, cold weather
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Feb 15, 1916
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Transferred to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty
Assembly Centre) for pay purposes while in hospital
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Mar 8, 1916
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Transferred to the Duchess of Connaught Canadian
Red Cross Hospital in Cliveden, Taplow with a diagnosis that reads Frost Bite
in left hand
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Jul 1, 1916
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Transferred to the Hillingdon House Convalescent
Hospital in Uxbridge
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Aug 7, 1916
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Discharged from hospital and reported to the Canadian
Casualty Assembly Centre in Folkestone
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Aug 10, 1916
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Attached to the Canadian Discharge Depot in Bath
pending return to Canada
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Aug 11, 1916
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Pension Board in Bath recommends a pension of $32
per month for 6 months. The board also
recommended a pension for his son of $6 per month for 6 months
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Sep 1, 1916
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Embarked the SS Grampian in Liverpool
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Sep 10, 1916
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Disembarked in Montreal, Quebec and proceeded to
Kingston, Ontario where he was admitted to the Elmhurst Convalescent Home
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Dec 9, 1916
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Medical Board in Kingston notes
Ø Function of left hand almost
recovered from bullet wound to arm
Ø Some atrophy of muscle is
present
Ø Strength is not fully recovered
Ø Fit for instructional duty
only
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Jan 1, 1917
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Transferred to “D” Unit Toronto, Ontario General
Hospital to be employed as a Physical Instructor
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Feb 20, 1917
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Promoted to the rank of Sergeant
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Nov 1, 1917
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Transferred to “A” Unit, Military Hospital
Commission in Montreal, Quebec
Home address changed to 133 Metcalfe St.,
Montreal, Quebec
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Feb 14, 1918
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Medical Board in Montreal notes
Ø Slight atrophy of muscle in
left arm due to bullet wound
Ø Some loss of function of hand,
grip 40% less than normal
Ø Left hand gets cold easily
Ø Disability is noted as 50% for
at least 6 months
Ø Declared to be unfit for
service and board recommends he be discharged
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Mar 7, 1918
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Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario
Ø Rank on discharge Sergeant
Ø Entitled to War Service Badge
Class “A”
Ø Proposed residence on
discharge St. Andrew, (near Hoytes) Barbados, British West Indies
Shortly after his discharge, he embarked for
Barbados with his wife and son
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Jun 13, 1918
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Embarked the SS Caraquet in Bermuda with his wife
and son
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Jun 19, 1918
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Disembarked in Saint John, New Brunswick and
proceeded to Toronto, Ontario
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Jul 18, 1918
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Attested into the 1st Depot Battalion,
Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot in Kingston, Ontario
Ø Number 59588
Ø Next of kin given as Mrs.
Annie Lewis, wife, 417 Johnson St., Kingston, Ontario
Ø Previous occupation given as
Brakeman for the Grand Trunk Railroad
Ø Previous military service
given as 21st Battalion CEF for 11 months
Ø Religion given as Church of
England
The medical exam performed on this date records
him as being unfit for duty
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Jul 19, 1918
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Transferred to the 3rd Battalion,
Canadian Garrison Regiment
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Jul 22, 1918
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Attached to the CMP (Canadian Military Police)
for duty in Kingston
Promoted to rank of Corporal
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Sep 16, 1918
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Transferred to the No. 3 Detachment, Canadian
Military Police in Kingston for permanent duty
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Apr 14, 1919
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Admitted to the Queen’s Military Hospital in
Kingston with a diagnosis that reads Tonsilitis
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Apr 19, 1919
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Discharged to duty from hospital
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Jul 29, 1919
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Medical Board in Kingston notes
Ø Man suffers from impaired
function of left arm
Ø Has Varicose veins in both
legs
Ø 1/3rd atrophy of
muscle in left wrist
Ø 1/3rd normal
strength in left hand
Ø Cannot touch tip of thumb with
fingers of left hand and carries hand in a claw position
Ø Cannot feel pin pricks in
fingers
Ø Complains of pain in legs when
he wears puttees or when he runs
Ø Board recommends discharge
from service
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Jul 30, 1919
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Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario
Ø Rank on discharge Corporal
Ø Proposed residence on discharge
9 St. Lawrence Ave., Kingston, Ontario
Following his discharge, the 1914-15 Star,
British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 163 Queen St.,
Kingston, Ontario
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Jul 9, 1921
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Reginald Milton Lewis was killed in an automobile
accident in Tyendinaga Township near Kingston and was buried in the Cataraqui
Cemetery, Kingston
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