Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

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Thought the Military people on here may find this interesting.

Harry Lewis was my 2nd cousin once removed, however he was born
Harris Smolenski Liverpool Dec 1893 8b 77

At some time there must have been a Name change.
Would be a 'tad' difficult finding him

Circa 1911 he is living with his parents, father, Bernard born c1872 (he says L.pool.. more likely Russia/Poland)? & his wife Elizabeth (actually Mary Elizabeth Nee Wareing born 1872 L.pool (father Edwin Wareing 1847 L.pool
RG14 Piece 22622 at 382 Edge Lane L.pool

Harry/Harris died WW1

2/Lt Harry LEWIS was born about 1891 and was the son of Bernard and Mary Elizabeth Lewis, who lived at 41 Parkside, Wallasey, at the time of his death. Harry was a second lieutenant in the 1/7th Battalion of the King’s Liverpool Regiment and his address was listed as 382 Edge Lane. As part of the Battle of Morval (25-28 September 1916), Harry’s battalion, along with the 1/5th, carried out the successful capture of two important German trenches near the villages of Flers and Guedecourt, approximately five miles south of Bapaume and about 15 miles south of Arras. The 1/7th battalion succeeded in capturing the main trenches and their support systems on 25 September, along with a sunken road, but Harry, along with two officers of equal rank, were killed in the process. His name appears on the large Thiepval Memorial, a few miles to the west of the place where he died. He was 23 years old.

Taken from CWGC:
LEWIS, HARRY Rank:Second Lieutenant Date of Death:25/09/1916Age:25 (Actually 23 years of age)Regiment/Service:The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 1st/7th Bn. Panel Reference Pier and Face 1 D 8 B and 8 C.MemorialTHIEPVAL MEMORIALAdditional Information:Son of Bernard and Mary Elizabeth Lewis, of 41, Parkside, Wallasey, Cheshire.

Gray


Mary, not sure if this is the correct board? Wanted the military interest to see it.

Interesting story. The 7th Battalion of the King's Liverpool Regiment was a Territorial unit based at Park Street, Bootle. On mobilisation, like many others, it recruited many former and new members, and was split into two, known as 1/7th and 2/7th.
You may be able to find a record of Harry's commission as an officer in the online London Gazette, but it is a hard place to search even with unusual names.
There is more about the battalion, and vast amounts about most aspects of WW1 in the 'Long, Long Trail' website.
D

Thanks D for your interest & input.. I will certainly follow Harry Lewis /Harris Smolenski's Military career (albeit 'Very Short')

There are times when researching 'Family History' I feel humbled..to the extreme... This is one, especially when a family had to change their name.. possibly for reprisals of many sorts..

Harry Lewis/Harris Smolenski paid the ultimate for his birth country.. I am Very proudxx of him.

Gray

The Christmas Fairy has been and sorted my photo..

Many thanksxx

Gray

Hello Gray,

You may like to know that is also listed in the British Jewish Roll of Honour by Rev M Adler, Caxton 1922 and in addition you may find the following of interest which details the day he was killed.

Regards


THE BATTLE OF MORVAL: 25th 28th SEPTEMBER
THE CAPTURE OF COMBLES, LES BOEUFS AND GUEUDECOURT

Extracted from 1/7 KLR War Diary

TRENCHES

Night 23-24/9/16
Battalion relieved 5th Battalion L.N.Lancs, in Front line FLERS, ‘C’ and ‘D’ front line ‘A’ and ‘BOOTLE. Support line. Relief complete 1-0 am’

24/9/16
Improving Trenches, patrolling and preparing to attack. 2/Lt Chalmers A.L. killed

25/9/16
Attacked and gained possession of :- GOAT and GIRD TRENCH, GIRD SUPPORT, SUNKEN ROAD - GUEUDECOURT - FACTORY CORNER. Reinforced by 1 Coy 5th K.L.R. in SUNKEN ROAD at 11.15 p.m. and 8th K.L.R. in gird trench at 1. am.

26/9/16.- 2/Lts LEWIS, PATTERSON, TURNBULL, Killed in action, 2/Lts LACE P. W. Lt and Adjt TOONE, Lt-Col POTTER, C.K. Lt. NESBITT R.D, 2/Lts BELL S.J., TANNER, ROBERTS, HALSALL. A.R, Lt CRUICKSHANK. J.N. (R.A.M.C.) Wounded in action, Capt Rorer L.W., 2/Lt RAWCLIFFE WOUNDED. Shell Shock.

26/9/16
Consolidating Trenches. Relieved by 4th L.N.Lancs in GIRD Training, and by 8th K.L.R. in Sunken Road. Relief complete 1-45 am (26/27) Moved into Carlton and Savoy Trenches.


The following is taken from the Regimental History by Everard Wyrall :-

The results of the Battle of Flers-Courcelette included not only the capture of the villages of Flers, Courcelette and Martinpuich, but the advancement of our line to within assaulting distance of the strong line of defence running in front of Morval, Les Boeufs and Gueudecourt. High Wood had also fallen into our hands, and on the 18th the 6th Division had captured the Quadrilateral.
Morval, Les Boeufs and Gueudecourt were now to be attacked, while Combles was to be simultaneously surrounded by the French and British; the French were to advance on Sailly Saillisel.
The abominable weather which had marked the close of the operations between the 15th and 22nd September continued and it was not possible to launch the attacks against the above-named villages until mid-day on the 25th. On that date the British and French assaulted the enemy's line from the Somme to north of Martinpuich. On the British front the objectives were "the villages of Morval (5th Division), Les Boeufs (6th and Guards Divisions) and Gueudecourt (21st Division) and a belt of country about 1,000 yards deep curving round the north of Flers to a point mid-way between that village and Martinpuich (55th Division, New Zealand and 1st Divisions)."
"Zero" hour for the attack was 12.35 p.m.
Operation Orders issued by the XVth Corps states that the Corps (21st, 55th and New Zealand Divisions) was to capture Gird Trench as far as its junction with the Gueudecourt-Factory Corner road, and Gueudecourt village.
To the 21st Division, on the right, had been allotted portions of Gird Trench and Gird Support and the village. The 55th Division, in the centre, was to capture Gird Trench and Gird Support on its front and join up with the 1st Division at the north-west corner of Gueudecourt at the cross-roads, and with the New Zealand Divisions, on the left, at the Factory Corner cross-roads. The New Zealanders were to capture Factory Corner and establish a line thence to the spur running north-east.
The 165th Infantry Brigade was to attack the objectives allotted to the 55th Division; the 1/7th King's were to be on the right, the 1/6th King's in the centre, the 1/9th King's on the left and the 1/5th in Brigade Reserve, with two companies in Fosse Way and two in Flers Avenue. As soon as the assault had begun the 1/5th were to move up and occupy the trenches vacated by the attacking troops.
The assembly line from which the three attacking battalions were to advance was a north-west to south-east line north-east of Flers.
In addition to the creeping barrage there were to be a standing barrage and a heavy artillery barrage on fortified points, trenches, etc., the Divisional Operation Orders having the following interesting notice: "Both of these (barrages) will keep always on the enemy's side of the creeping barrage. Therefore the infantry have only to pay attention to the creeping barrage and to keep very close to it."
It will be observed that warfare was becoming more scientific; it shows itself in more-lengthy and more-closely detailed operation orders. A year previously and it would have been impossible to find in any divisional diary such comprehensive orders as were issued in September, 1916. For one thing maps were now astonishingly accurate and detailed; every day aeroplanes were busy photographing the enemy's positions and trenches; even the artillery were supplied with photographs showing the latest German strong points, trenches, defended areas, wire, etc., in order that they might be bombarded before the infantry assaulted them.
Amongst orders issued to the infantry the following were the most important: the attack was to be in four waves, the first two being the assaulting waves, the last two the consolidating waves. (Later it will be observed that this method also was changed.) Each man was to carry two bombs and two sand bags; consolidating material - spades, etc. - were to be carried by the third and fourth waves. Company bombers were to act as clearing parties. Battalion bombers were to accompany the fourth wave and be posted on the flanks of the battalions. Captured positions were to be consolidated at once and wired; strong points were to be constructed by the R.E., attached to the infantry but assisted by the latter.
During the night of the 23rd/24th the 165th Brigade relieved the 166th Infantry Brigade in the front line north of Flers.
The 1/7th King's, on the right (Lieut.-Colonel C. K. Potter commanding), took over the line from the 5th Loyal North Lancs., two companies in the front line, two in support, the relief being completed at 1a.m. on 24th. They spent the latter date in improving trenches, patrolling, and in final preparations for the attack. During the day Second-Lieut. A. L. Chalmers was killed.

The 1/6th Battalion, in the centre (Major J. B. McKaig commanding), took over Flers Avenue, Fosse Way and Switch Trench on the night of the 23rd, where they remained until 7.30 p.m. on the 24th. At the latter hour, however, they took up their battle positions in front of Flers, i.e., north-east of the village, in four lines of trenches in column of half-companies on a company front, "A" (Second-Lieut. Eastwood) on the right, "B" (Capt. Herschell) on the left, "C" (Lieut. Ronald), and "D" (Lieut. Rome) in close support, forming the consolidating waves. The battalion bombers were in the centre of the first assaulting wave, while Major McKaig had his battalion headquarters at the eastern end of Fosse Way. Three other ranks of the 1/6th were killed and nineteen wounded during the assembly operations.
The 1/9th King's (Major H. K. S. Woodhouse) moved up to their assembly trenches (on the left of the 1/6th Battalion) during the night of 23rd. They disposed in four lines, "A" Company on the right and "B" on the left, "C" and "D" being in support. Battalion Headquarters were at the four cross-roads east of Flers. The 24th was a fine day and comparatively quiet, only a few casualties being suffered from shell-fire.
The 1/5th Battalion (Lieut.-Colonel J. J. Shute commanding) moved on the evening of the 23rd to Green Trench. At 8 p.m. on the 24th they went forward to support trenches, "A" and "B" Companies occupying Fosse Way, "C" Company and the Battalion bombers Flers Trench, and "D" Company Switch Trench; Battalion Headquarters were also in Flers Trench.
The preliminary bombardment began early on the morning of the 24th September, and aeroplane photographs of Flers and Gueudecourt and the country between these two villages, or rather remains of villages, show an extraordinary spectacle. The whole area is pock-marked with thousands of shell-holes, so close together as to break up the cohesion of any infantry advance, to say nothing of trenches and roads to be crossed and negotiated. The villages themselves appear to be in a terrible condition; nothing in the nature of a roof to any single house or cottage remains; indeed, there are scarcely any walls left standing. Desolation is everywhere - the poor remains of places in which men, women and little children once lived.
There is no mistaking the powerful nature of the two trenches which the division had partly to capture, i.e., Gird Trench and Gird Support! The photographs show them to be well dug and protected in places by broad bands of wire entanglements. But our guns had dealt with the latter, and by the time the assaulting troops of the 165th Brigade were due to advance on the 25th, the two trenches had been terribly knocked about and had lost much of their defensive properties.
Our barrage fell at 12.35 p.m. and the enemy's barrage followed soon after, chiefly on Fosse Way and north of Flers. At once the assaulting troops began to move forward.
The Brigade Narrative states that the first phase of the attack, i.e., the capture of Gird and Gird Support trenches, to where they joined the Gueudecourt road, thence along the road to Factory Corner cross-roads, was successful in the anticipated time, and red flares were seen indicating that the first objective had been captured.
Turning to the narratives of the attacking battalions: that of the 1/7th King's is disappointing: "Attacked and gained possession of Goat and Gird Trenches, Gird Support, Sunken Road - Gueudecourt Factory Corner. Reinforced by one company 5th K.L.R. in sunken road at 11.15 p.m. and 8th K.L.R. in Gird Trench at 1a.m. 26/9/16. Second-Lieuts. Lewis, Patterson, Turnbull killed in action. Lieut.-Colonel C. K. Potter, Lieut. And Adjutant Toone, Lieut. Nesbitt and Second-Lieuts. Lace, Bell, Tanner, Roberts, Halsall, Lieut. J. N. Cruickshank (R.A.M.C.) wounded in action. Capt. Roper and Second-Lieut. Rawcliffe wounded, shell shock."(The losses of the 1/7th in other ranks are given on 27th September as 43 killed, 197 wounded, 3 shell shock and 21 missing.)
The 1/7th then set to work to consolidate their position. "A" Company of the 1/5th King's moved up into the sunken road at 11.15 p.m., and at 1a.m. (26th) the 1/8th Battalion began to arrive in Gird Trench to relieve the 1/7th. The relief was completed by 1.45 a.m. and the latter battalion moved back to Canton and Savoy Trenches.

Promenade...

Am overcome.. with your post..just amazed at the detail I think..

Don't know what to say really.. Am not known for being 'Lost for words'.. Very Angry for our men 'Then & Now'... I love a 'Soldier' always have being a Ex Army Nurse !!

Have nursed the 'The Best'xx

Grayx

Gray
Promenade is probably,or almost certainly THE expert on the King's Regiment having studied its history and particularly its men for years.
D

Just shows what you get for posting a name and a little bit of information, even without a request for help our friends do what they can. Well done everyone, thanks.

Daggers,

Appreciate your comments but you are too kind sir - Thankyou!

It is true that I have been collecting information, for more years than I care to remember, on the officers and men who served with the KLR in the Great War. When I started the internet was in its infancy and research was time-consuming and gruelling. Although born and bred in Liverpool, unemployment in the city in the 70's forced me south, and I began my research with the local Gloucestershire Regt. However inevitably my focus drifted to my home city Regiment, the KLR, about 20 years ago and I made contact with the Regiment and with Liverpool Museums soon after - I have worked in association with both ever since. Over the years I have answered literally 1000s of queries and in a lot of cases have located photos of relatives, however I now live and work in the US and my time is severly limited to continue this service. In partnership with the Museum of Liverpool a copy of my database (albeit over a year out of date now but still containing almost 78,000 records) is available to the public via touch screen in the newly opened museum. So if you are in the new musuem (which I think is excellent by the way) have a look at the database, you never know you may find some snippet of interest on a relative.

Initially there was very little interest in the Great War but this interest has increased exponentially as more and more documentation has been released on line and will probably peak with the 100th anniversary of the start of the war in 2014.

If I could end by indulging myself on an issue that always bemuses me, that of paying for information on the internet. This came up recently in an email sent to me by someone bemoaning the fact that they had to pay for information that they had already paid for as a UK taxpayer.

Prior to the military content provided on line by the likes of Ancestry and FMP etc being made available for a fee the the same data was still available to the general public, and for free. The problem was that it was often lodged in London and was not indexed. If you were not from London this entailed expensive trips to the likes of the Public Record Office (now the National Archives) at Kew, and a time consuming day(s) trying to find the information you wanted by visually scouring through documents, sometimes having to wait up to an hour for that document to be delivered, and then paying through the nose for photocopies (no digital cameras then!). Think what we have now i.e information on demand (although the indexing may not be perfect in the greater scheme of things it is unbelievable in my eyes) at a cost which when compared with the old days is staggeringly low. Many times has a single research trip to London cost me almost £200 with an overnight stay, just think how many on-line subscriptions that would pay for and what is now made available from the comfort of your own computer and from your own home (indeed if you go to your local library access will be free!). I can remember scanning the local newspapers in Liverpool, for days on end, trying to find information about KLR men, peering at very scratched microfilm until my eyes and head ached (the tedium was often relieved by meeting fellow reseachers who would often accost me with the likes of 'think me uncle, Jimmy Smith, was in the war do you know him'! - I met (face-to-face) some really interesting, amusing, thought provoking and knowledgable people in those days (contrary to the comparatively anonymous world of the internet). I was recently thrilled to find that pristine copies of the Echo have now been made available on line and searchable too, not only that, I can access them from the comfort of my own computer in the USA!

Anyway if I could end by saying that 'us' researchers have never had it so good!

Promenade