Herbert Lewis

Herbert Morice Lewis was born in Caythorpe on 29 Dec 1894, where his father Rev Edward Thomas Lewis was rector.

His father had married Margaret Rowsell in Mayfair in 1891.  She was born in Notting Hill, lived in Mayfair and came from a clerical family. Their first son was born in Cornwall (possibly Boscastle) but Vincent and Herbert (the youngest) were born in Caythorpe.  Herbert’s middle name was the surname of Thomas’ brother in law.  Rev Lewis had moved to Caythorpe from Harbridge, Hampshire in about 1893, but he had a weak heart and died in Caythorpe in Aug 1898.

By1901 the family had moved to Campden Hill Road, Kensington; taking a servant, Charlotte Stevenett from Frieston. She was still with the family in 1911 when they were living in D’Avignor Rd Hove.  

Herbert was educated at Brighton College and then Clare College, Cambridge.  In 1913 his mother re-married Walter Andrew Bowring.  They lived at The Pines, Furze Hill, Brighton.



When WW1 was declared, Herbert was in his first year at Cambridge.  He volunteered at once and joined a Public Schools Battalion in Sep 1914 (presumably 16th Middlesex (Duke of Cambridge’s Own) Regiment).  In Apr 1915 he was given a temporary commission in 15th Service Battalion.  He volunteered for service in Gallipoli in place of a married man who was due to go.  He was confirmed as a 2nd Lieutenant in 2/10th battalion Middlesex Regiment on 26th September.  The battalion had landed in Suvla Bay in August.  Herbert died on 3 or 4th November but his body was not identified.  He is commemorated on the Helles Memorial and on the reverse of his father’s memorial in Caythorpe Churchyard.