Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Lewin, a frame work knitter, born 1845 in Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire and his wife Sarah Lewin (nee Hatton, married in the 4th quarter of 1868 in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district), born 1847 in Barrow upon Soar. Thomas, a schoolboy, was born in the 4th quarter of 1884 in Barrow upon Soar, and was baptised on the 6th May 1888 at Barrow upon Soar, his siblings were, Elizabeth, a cotton trade worker, born 1875, Joseph, a cotton trade lint weaver, born 1877, John Henry, a schoolboy, born 1883, Ernest, a schoolboy, born 1887 and Lancelot, born 1890, all his siblings were born in Barrow upon Soar, in April 1891 the family home was at North Street, Barrow upon Soar. In March 1901 Thomas was employed as a limestone trade labourer and was residing in the family home at The Nook, Barrow upon Soar, together with his father, a frame work knitter, his mother and siblings, John, a limestone trade worker, Ernest, a hosiery trade warehouse worker and Lancelot, also residing in the family home was Thomas’s widowed paternal Grandfather, John Lewin, a frame work knitter, born 1819 in Barrow upon Soar. On the 26th December 1907 Thomas married Sarah Jane Smith in Barrow upon Soar. In April 1911 Thomas was employed as a concrete paving worker and was residing in the family home at Industry Street, Barrow upon Soar, together with his wife Sarah Jane Lewin, a Griswold knitter, born 1887 in Barrow upon Soar and their daughter Agnes May, born 1909 in Barrow upon Soar. Thomas had the following older siblings, Rose, born 1869, Annie, born 1871 and George, born 1872, all these siblings were born in Barrow upon Soar.
On Friday December 1st 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. – BARROW SOLDIER’S SUICIDE. – FOUND HANGING AT THE CEMETERY. An inquiry was held on Friday afternoon at the Bishop Blain Inn, Barrow on Soar, by Mr. J. J. Webb, Deputy Coroner, into the death of Thomas Lewin, a private in the Leicester’s, attached to the A.S.C., stationed at Ripon, who was found hanging at the cemetery the previous day. George Lewin, labourer, Industry-street, Barrow, said the deceased was his brother, and was 33 years of age. On November 6th deceased came to his mother’s home and said he had got leave till the following Tuesday to see his wife, who was an inpatient at the Leicester Infirmary. He went away on the following Tuesday. Witness saw him again on November 11th, when deceased told him he had not been back to his regiment. He went away again on the 12th. Witness saw him on the 20th, and asked him to return that night, and he promised to go next morning. Witness noticed his brother was very worried. A letter produced, which was found on him, was in his brother’s handwriting. Mary Agnes Smith, wife of Edward Smith of Barrow, said deceased was her son in law, she had seen him on two or three occasions at week-ends since November 4th, and thought he was on leave. About 9.30 on Wednesday night he came to her house. She told him the police were after him. He stayed at her house that night, leaving about six the following morning, and he then appeared all right. Henry Mee cemetery keeper, said on Thursday he had occasion to go to an out-house there, when he saw a soldier hanging, and gave information to the police. P.C. Johnson said from what the last witness told him he went to the cemetery, and there found deceased hanging. The rope produced was round his neck, fastened to a beam about 8 ft high. Witness cut him down, and the body being quite warm he tried artificial respiration for some time. On Tuesday witness received a communication from the officer commanding Lewin’s company saying Lewin was an absentee, and asking him for his arrest. – In answer to the Coroner, witness said he had not seen Lewin since November 4th. The letter produced was found on deceased. Dr. Gordon Gray, of Sileby, said he was called to the cemetery, and examined the body. He found a deep constriction round the neck, probably caused by the rope produced. The body was quite warm excepting the head. The man had been dead certainly not more than three hours. The cause of death was due to suffocation by hanging. The jury returned a verdict of suicide during temporary insanity.