Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday June 29th, 1917

It is interesting to note that four old boys of the Coalville Belvoir Road Council School have brought honour to their old school and the town as well as to themselves by winning the military medal for bravery on the battlefield. They are Tom Wood, Walter Lewis, William Walker and Victor Woolley.

Coalville Times article - Friday April 19th, 1918.

LOCAL CASUALTIES

Mr and Mrs H. Lewis, of 74, Crescent Road, Hugglescote, have received a telegram from the War Office, stating that their son, Sergt. Walter Lewis, of the Machine Gun Corps, Leicestershire Regiment, died of wounds in hospital in France, on March 26th. He was 25 years of age and the older of their two sons, both of whom have now been lost in the war. Mr and Mrs Lewis had received news only a day previously that their younger son, Pte. Harry Lewis, of the Notts and Derby Regiment, was killed in action between March 21st and 23rd. He was 19 years of age. Both were old boys of the Belvoir Road School, Coalville. Sergeant W. Lewis enlisted two years last February and had been awarded the Military Medal and a bar to the same for bravery in the field, besides being commended by his commanding officer. Pte. Harry Lewis joined the Army only five months ago.

After he gained the bar to his Military Medal, Sergt. W. Lewis, received an encouraging letter from his commanding officer offering congratulations. He wrote, “As I told Sergt. Bartlett, I know you will have congratulations from everyone, and I hope you will accept mine, as I was in a position to know how well earned it really was. . . Many thanks for your splendid services in the past, and wishing you the best of luck” etc. Before joining the army, Sergt. Lewis was in the employ of Mr J. Palmer, butcher, Belvoir Road, Coalville.

THANKS

Mr and Mrs Lewis, 74, Crescent Road, Hugglescote, sincerely thank all friends for kind letters and expressions of sympathy with them on the death of their two sons, Sergeant W. Lewis and Pte. H. Lewis.

Coalville Times article - Friday November 29th, 1918

MEMORIAL SERVICE

On Sunday evening a memorial service was held at the Coalville Wesleyan Chapel for four men formerly connected with the church who have fallen in action – Sergeant Cecil Bradshaw, Corporal A. E. Johnson, Sergeant Walter Lewis, M.M., and Private Henry Lewis (brothers). Mr W. Hall preached an appropriate sermon and the choir sang, “What are these?” Mrs Stocking nicely rendered the solo, “O rest in the Lord,” and Mr T. Frith read the Roll of Honour.

Coalville Times article - Friday February 14th, 1919

PROPOSED MEMORIAL AND THANKSGIVING FUND

Meetings are being held throughout the Ashby Wesleyan Circuit, to consider the inauguration of a war memorial and thanksgiving fund, and there was a gathering for this purpose in the Coalville Wesleyan Chapel on Saturday night, when Mr C. H. March presided over a fairly good attendance.

The details of the scheme are set forth in a circular which is being issued, and of which the following is a copy.

“To celebrate the end of the ‘great war’ and the coming of ‘peace’ the quarterly meeting of the Circuit decided by a unanimous vote to inaugurate a great ‘Memorial and Thanksgiving Fund.’ The nation in the hours of danger has not counted any sacrifice of blood or treasure too great to hasten the time when all that we hold dear should be made secure from an unscrupulous foe. That end has been achieved. The victory is ours. In token of our gratitude to Almighty God, we desire to raise this ‘Memorial and Thanksgiving Fund’ to enable the churches in this Circuit more efficiently to carry on, and extend the Kingdom of God. We suggest that contributions may be given as a thank-offering for loved ones spared, or in memory of dear ones who have laid down their lives for us. There are also large numbers in the Circuit, who, because of the importance of their work, have escaped the horrors of the battlefield, and will be able to give substantially in thankful recognition of their privileges. Everyone, indeed, has received great blessing through the ministry of our church, and the debt we owe to our beloved Methodism is greater than we can tell. Therefore, we earnestly appeal to all our people to give hearty and generous support to the ‘Memorial and Thanksgiving Fund’. The first claim upon the income of the fund will be the clearing of the debt upon the Circuit houses, which amounts to £1,000, thus saving £44 per year in interest. The remainder of the income will be held at the disposal of the Circuit quarterly meeting for the benefit of the work of God in the Circuit. – William Hooper, William H. Wardle, B.A., and William Solomon (ministers), J. P. Adcock, J. P. (treasurer); W. J. Plowright and C. H. March (secretaries).”

During the meeting, Mr T. Frith read the Roll of Honour, which contained 99 names formerly connected with the church and Sunday School. Two have won the D.C.M. – Harry Beard and Edwin Collier – and four the Military Medal, these being Tom Palmer, Tom Wood, George Wildgoose and Walter Lewis.

Twenty had made the supreme sacrifice – Cecil A. Bradshaw, Ernest Batho, Geo. Beale, Sydney Dodds, Walter Fantom, John Hall, Horace Hall, Jess Jones, Wilfred Jones, Fred Hart, Arthur Johnson, Walter Lewis, M.M., Harry Lewis, William Setchell, Sam Smith, Tom Usherwood, Willie Wells, Alf Wood, Albert Essex and Tom Wild.

Coalville Times article - Friday March 21st, 1919

IN MEMORIAM

In affectionate and everlasting remembrance of our two dear boys, Sergeant Walter Lewis, M.M. and Bar, Machine Gun Corps, died of wounds in Galley Hospital, France, March 26th, 1918; and Pte. Harry Lewis, Notts and Derby Regiment, killed in France, March 21st, 1918.

“Grief too deep to be expressed.”

From their sorrowing Father and Mother, Sisters and Brother-in-law.

Coalville Times article - Friday March 26th, 1920

IN MEMORIAM

Lewis – In loving remembrance of our two sons, Private Harry Lewis and Sergeant Walter Lewis and Sergeant Walter Lewis, M.M., and Bar, who were killed in action in France, March 21st and March 25th, 1918.

From Father, Mother, Sisters and Brother-in-law.
Crescent Road, Hugglescote.

Coalville Times article – Friday April 2nd, 1920

WAR MEMORIAL AT HUGGLESCOTE CHURCH

UNVEILED BY COL. R. E. MARTIN

A tablet which has been placed in Hugglescote Parish Church, to the memory of men from the parish who fell in the war, was unveiled by Lt.-Colonel R. E. Martin, C.M.G., on Saturday afternoon in the presence of a large congregation.

The tablet is of excellent design, in keeping with the handsome edifice, and is of a permanent character, the names of 101 men being inscribed on Swithland slate, set in a frame of Ketton stone, surmounted by a cross and crown encircled in a carved laurel wreath, with similar carvings on either side. The inscription runs as follows:

“Their name liveth for evermore.”

“To the Glory of God, and in imperishable memory of the men of the parish who fell in the great war, 1914 – 1918.”

The names of the men inscribed on the tablet are as follows:-

H. A. Attwood, C. T. Beadman, J. Brooks, W. Baker, J. E. Briggs, H. G. Blackham, J. T. Bishop, J. Barrs, G. Barrs, R. Beadman, E. Bonser, G. Beale, J. G. Bennett, E. S. Boot, W. Berrisford, F. J. Betteridge, F. P. Benistone, J. W. Cawley, F. Chamberlain, J. A. Crookes, R. A. Cross, L. Cross, J. Cox, P. Cliff, J. W. F. Collier, C. Drewett, H. B. Drewett, S. Dodds, A. Elkin, H. C. Elkin, J. Farn, H. Fletcher, H. Finch, L. Finch, G. Firban, G. Gadsby, A. Gamble, S. F. Gamble, W. Gray, W. O. Hoden, O. Hallam, B. Hatter, J. Haywood, W. Hill, F. Hill, J. E. Hibbert, G. Hart, G. H. Highfield, E. Harper, J. W. Harper, H. Hall, J. E. Holmes, J. Jones, W. Jones, F. J. Kirby, I. V. Kelham, H. Lewis, W. Lewis, W. Massey, H. O. Moseley, T. Marriott, G. Martin, J. A. Moult, J. Maunders, J. Moon, I. Mycroft, W. Newbold, O. H. Pratt, J. A. Pegg, F. Pink, E. H. Palmer, W. Riley, A. T. Richardson, W. Rogers, C. Simmons, E. A. Stinchcombe, J. Summers, S. Summers, C. Shilton, G. Slatter, J. Smith, J. C. Shaw, S. Smith, G. Spencer, S. C. Smith, J. W. Setchell, W. Statham, A. G. Tovell, S. T. Timson, J. Tebbatt, F. Whitmore, E. Willett, B. Walker, H. Watson, C. H. Walker, J. Woods, T. Willett, A. Wright, A. Wood, J. Young and W. Young.

As the congregation passed into the church, members of the Hugglescote Church Lads’ Brigade, with the ex-Sergt.-Major W. Hill in charge, lined up on either side of the entrance and two of the Brigade with bowed heads and leaning on reversed rifles, stood by the memorial, covered with the Union Jack.

The service, which was very impressive, was conducted by the Rev. Canon Broughton (vicar) and opened with the hymn, “Stand up for Jesus.” Then followed prayers and collects. Psalm 130, and a lesson read by the Rev. J. C. Wallace, after which the clergy and choir proceeded to the memorial, led by the churchwardens, Messrs. W. E. Canner and J. W. Fletcher.

In unveiling the tablet, Colonel Martin said “To the glory of God and in imperishable memory of the men of this parish who fell in the great war 1914 – 1918, I unveil this tablet, which has been erected by their fellow parishioners in grateful recognition of their self-sacrifice.”

The “Last Post” having been sounded by buglers of the Church Lads’ Brigade, the choir and clergy returned to their places and Colonel Martin gave an address from the chancel steps.

He spoke of the memorable days in August 1914, when the principles on which our national life is based were being assailed, and it was the part of every true man to stand in defence of them. They had tangible proof that the spirit which was then evoked in the nation was the same spirit as that shown by their forefathers who went out to fight country’s enemies. He would never forget the day about the end of August, 1914, when the North Midland Territorial Division, which had been mobilised about three weeks, was told to fill up its ranks for service abroad. It fell to him, among others, to come back into Leicestershire to try and explain to the people what they were up against, and he remembered what a splendid response they gave. In the North Midland Division, between 80 and 90 per cent of the men said they were prepared to go anywhere, though many of them were married men who had never experienced Army service before. Many things have happened since – much self-seeking, a desire to get rich quickly, many apparent inequalities of justice and self-sacrifice – but he was sure they could all take comfort from the fact that there was tangible proof given in those days that the nation was sound at heart and could be trusted to do the right thing when the crisis really arose. And what happened when the armies got overseas and began their real work? He ventured to say that no one had the privilege of serving in a better battalion. The men from that district – Coalville men they always called them – were a splendid lot of men filled with genuine enthusiasm for fitting themselves for the part which they had to play, and who on getting across the water, proved themselves as good as the best. He went on to speak of evidences of practical Christianity displayed by the men, and of deeds of heroism which came to his notice. One instance he recalled was when they were between Hill 60 and Ypres. When the Brigadier realised that he had in the ranks men accustomed to mining, he formed a number of Coalville men into a mining section, whose duty it was to construct projecting galleries in front of the trenches, to find out if the Germans were under-mining. One day a member of the party came across a German mine filled with German explosives in large quantities, and it would have been a very natural thing for him to want to get away from it as soon as possible, but instead of that, he crawled over the top and disconnected the mine and came back and reported it to his commanding officer. This man, whose name was Starbuck, had no thought for his own safety, but first took steps to safeguard his comrades.

Proceeding, Col. Martin said his services came to an end in October, 1915, but he had always felt ever since then that the war had been worth while, if for nothing else than for the fine spirit it brought out, and if the same spirit could be shown in regard to present day problems, it would go a long way towards reaching a solution. He was not one of those who said this country ought to have stood aside and have taken advantage of the trade while other countries were fighting. The people, who said that, he thought, were wrong. He thought that what the people of this country did when they found what they were up against should be an example and pattern to them now. If the war had done nothing else, with all the misery, self-sacrifice and sorrow, he believed they were worth while because they afforded the opportunity which was taken by so many of showing a truly Christian spirit. He believed that experience had not been lost, but would help them to get through present day difficulties with credit to themselves.

The closing hymn was 11, “For all the saints,” and a collection was taken for St. Dunstan’s Hostel for Blind Soldiers and Sailors. As the congregation were leaving the church, Mr F. Baxter (organist) played, “O, rest in the Lord.” Before and after the service, peals were rung with the bells half-muffled.

Research undertaken and submitted (including photograph from Coalville Times) by Andy Murby 17/11/2017