Dec 2, 1887

Born in Swansea, Wales to John and Kathleen Williams

Nov 5, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 60071 (temporary number 699)

Ø  Next of kin given as Mrs. W. Davies, sister, Resolven, Wales

Ø  Previous occupation given as Carpenter

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal

Ø  Posted to “C” Company Bombing Section

o   This was later reorganized into “B” Company

The battalion trained in the Kingston area through the winter with headquarters in the Kingston Armouries

Jan 13, 1915

Admitted to Kingston Hospital with a diagnosis that reads Measles

Jan 19, 1915

Discharged to duty from hospital

Feb 1, 1915

Sentenced to 5 days detention and reduced to the rank of Private for an unrecorded offence

Mar 1, 1915

Married to Maud Bettsy Phillips in Kingston, Ontario

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec

May 15, 1915

Disembarked in Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue training

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked in Boulogne, France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer

Oct 30, 1915

While operating a West Spring Gun in the front line near Voormezeele, Belgium, the gun misfired and a Bell Grenade fell from the gun.  Private Williams grabbed the live grenade and threw it over the parapet before it exploded.  He was recommended for the Military Medal for his action.  During the same action, he strained himself while moving the 300 lb gun but remained on duty without seeking medical attention.

The West Spring Gun, was actually a sling shot, based on 18^th century
siege weapons.  It was only used in the early part of the war
and was taken out of use shortly after this incident. 

Feb 28, 1916

Admitted to the No. 5 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads Sprained Right Ankle

Feb 29, 1916

Transferred to the 2^nd Division Rest Station at the No. 6 Canadian Field Ambulance to recover

Mar 7, 1916

Discharged from the rest station and rejoined the 21^st Battalion

Apr 3, 1916

Granted 9 days leave

Apr 11, 1916

Rejoined from leave

Jun 3, 1916

Awarded the Military Medal per London Gazette # 29608

Jul 3, 1916

Admitted to the No. 17 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) with a Hernia that he suffered the previous October when moving the West Spring Gun in the trenches.

Jul 6, 1916

Transferred via the No. 1 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 2 General Hospital in Hardelot, France with a diagnosis that reads Hernia

Jul 13, 1916

Discharged to the Base Details in Boulogne, France

Jul 18, 1916

Transferred to the No. 3 General Base Depot in Havre, France

Aug 4, 1916

Admitted to the No. 2 General Hospital in Havre with ongoing issues with his Hernia

Aug 5, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Marama

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the 2^nd  Birmingham War Hospital, Northfield, Birmingham and diagnosed with a double hernia

Transferred to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) for pay purposes while in hospital

Aug 9, 1916

Surgery performed to repair his double hernia

Sep 13, 1916

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital, Bearwood, Wokingham

Oct 26, 1916

Discharged from hospital and reported to the Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre in Shoreham

Oct 31, 1916

Medical Board at Shoreham recommends 3 months light duty to recover from his surgery

Nov 3, 1916

Attached to the 39^th Reserve Battalion for 12 weeks of light duty

Nov 5, 1916

Awarded the Good Conduct Badge

Jan 4, 1917

Attached to the newly formed 6^th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling.  Shortly after the formation of the battalion, it was moved to Seaford to train reinforcements for the front

Mar 10, 1917

Transferred to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot and remained attached to the 6^th Reserve Battalion

Apr 10, 1917

Transferred to the 6^th Reserve Battalion for all purposes

Apr 17, 1917

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Apr 18, 1917

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France and Taken On Strength the 21^st Battalion

May 21, 1917

After leaving the base depot, Private Williams rejoined the 21^st Battalion as part of a draft of 149 reinforcements in the reserve trench near Vimy Ridge

Sep 13, 1917

Attached to the 4^th Canadian Machine Gun Company

Oct 13, 1917

Rejoined the 21^st Battalion resting in the Suburban Camp near Villers au Bois, France

Nov 3, 1917

During the attack on Passchendaele, Belgium near Crest Farm, Lewis Williams received a shrapnel wound to his right arm and was evacuated to the No. 6 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) for first aid before being transported to the No. 44 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station). 

Nov 4, 1917

Transferred to the No. 55 General Hospital in Boulogne, France

Nov 21, 1917

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Princess Elizabeth

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the 1^st Western General Hospital in Fazakerley, Liverpool

Transferred to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) for pay purposes while in hospital

Mar 18, 1918

Transferred to the Canadian Red Cross Hospital in Buxton

May 4, 1918

Discharged from hospital and attached to the 3^rd CCD (Canadian Command Depot) for exercise and physical training

Nov 6, 1918

Ceased to be attached to the command depot and joined the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot Company in Seaford

Nov 21, 1918

Attached to the 1^st CDD (Canadian Discharge Depot) in Buxton pending return to Canada

Nov 30, 1918

Admitted to the Granville Canadian Special Hospital in Buxton with a diagnosis that reads Broncho-Pneumonia and placed on the dangerously ill list

Dec 14, 1918

Removed from the dangerously ill list

Jan 20, 1919

Transferred to the Granville Special Canadian Hospital in Buxton

Mar 14, 1919

Transferred to the No. 5 Canadian General Hospital in Kirkdale, Liverpool

Mar 31, 1919

Embarked the Hospital Ship Essequibo in Liverpool

Apr 10, 1919

Disembarked in Portland, Maine, USA and proceeded to Toronto, Ontario

Apr 12, 1919

Granted leave until April 26, 1919.  Address on leave The New Windsor Hotel, Church and Richmond Streets, Toronto, Ontario

Apr 26, 1919

Leave extended to April 28, 1919

Apr 28, 1919

On completion of leave he was admitted to the Sunnybrook Military Hospital in Toronto

May 6, 1919

Discharged from hospital and reported to the Casualty Company at the Park School Barracks

May 10, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Toronto, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge, Private

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 282764

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge the New Windsor Hotel, Church & Richmond Streets, Toronto, Ontario

Following his discharge, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 144 Merton St., Toronto, Ontario

In 1934 he married Bertha V. Wallace in Ottawa, Ontario

I could find no resolution to his previous marriage to Maud Phillips

Mar 22, 1952

Lewis James Williams, MM died while a patient of the Veterans Pavilion of the Ottawa Civic Hospital and was buried in the Beechwood Cemetery, Ottawa, Ontario