Discharged on Medical Grounds

On the 16^th May 1916, Alfred Walter Reed Lewis, my Great Grandfather in Law, was discharged from the army on medical grounds as being no longer physically fit for War service.

Alfred had enlisted with the Army Service Corps (ASC) on the 1^st May 1915 at Holloway, North London and served in A Company of the 41^st Field Butchery. He had been posted as part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force to Salonika, Greece in Oct 1915, but had returned home in January 1916 suffering from heart problems and shortage of breath following heavy exertion.

He had been hospitalised since his return to England and on the 16^th March 1916 the medical board reported that he was suffering from Valvurian Disease of the Heart (Mitral), which had originated 12 years ago in London, in civilian life. It was not caused by or aggravated by active service however it recommended that he be discharged with permanent disability capacity as on enlistment as per Kings Regulations.

Alfred was aged 29 years 177 days old and was 5ft 6 inches tall, with dark hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. He was discharged from the ASC discharge depot, Catterick, Yorkshire. His discharge papers indicated a good military character and that he was a good butcher. He had served for 1 year and 17 days and had spent the last three months in hospital.

Alfred returned home to Kelvin Road, Highbury Park, North London and his wife Alice May, his daughter Doris (Dolly) aged 4 ½ years and son Alfred aged 3 ½.

Al Barnes Tango Band

Alfred Walter Reed Lewis pictured with the Al Barnes tango band in 1931. 

Back from Salonkia

Alfred Walter Reed Lewis (my Great Grandfather in Law,) serving with A company of the 41^st Field Butchery in the Army Service Corps, had been stationed in Salonkia, Greece since October 1915.

In December 1915 the British element fought a battle at Kosturino, north of Lake Doiran,

However, the intervention came too late to save Serbia and after a brief winter campaign in severe weather conditions on the Serbian frontier, the Anglo-French forces found themselves back at Salonika.

At this point the British advised that the troops be withdrawn. However, the French - with Russian, Italian and Serbian backing - still believed something of strategic importance could be gained in the Balkans and started preparing the port of Salonika for defence.

Alfred had suffered with heart trouble since he was 16, often becoming short of breath during periods of physical exertion and whilst doing heavy work at Salonkia in November his heart began to trouble him again.

He was posted back to England arriving on home shores on the 30^th January 1915, 100 years ago today. He was hospitalised and diagnosed with Valvular Heart Disease (Mitral).

Landing in Salonika

In October 1915 a combined Franco-British force of some two large brigades was landed at Salonika (today called Thessalonika) at the request of the Greek Prime Minister. The objective was to help the Serbs in their fight against Bulgarian aggression.

Arriving with them was Pte. Alfred Walter Read Lewis, a butcher from Hackney, serving with A Company of the Army Service Corps. He had been assigned to the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force since 22nd July 1915

His youngest daughter Jessie Lily Lewis who had been born in April 1915 and was just one month old when Alfred enlisted with the Army Service Corps on the 1st May, had passed away between May and June 1915.

The expedition however arrived too late, the Serbs having been beaten before they landed. It was decided to keep the force in place for future operations.

Joining up from Hackney

On the 1^st May 1915 Alfred Walter Read Lewis (my Great Grandfather in law) enlisted with the Army Service Corps at Holloway, North London.

He was 28 years old, 5 foot 6 inches tall, with blue eyes and dark hair and a tattoo on his left forearm. He lived at 3 Kelvin Road, Highbury Park, North London with his wife May (nee Alice May Adams) and their 3 children Doris Mary (aged 4), Alfred Weymouth (aged 3) and Jessie Lily who was only 1 month old.

Alfred was born on the 21^st November 1889 in Spitalfields, Whitechapel. One of ten children, he had six sisters and three brothers. His parents were Harry Bertram and Emily Rebecca Lewis (nee Read) and Alfred like his father was a butcher by trade. The family had moved from Spitalfields to Hackney in 1901, but Alfred was away at the Ardwick Green Industrial School, Ardwick, South Manchester.

By 1911, the Lewis family were living at 91, Windus Road, Stamford Hill. Hackney but on the night of the census Alfred was listed as a visitor with Weymouth & Elizabeth Adams and family, including his future wife Alice May Adams at 129, Packington St, Islington. Alfred married Alice, a dress maker on the 10^th October 1911 at Islington Register Office.

Alfred was tested by the Army Service Corps Butchery section and proved himself to be a fair butcher, but was not tested at slaughtering, he was assigned as a butcher to A company of the Army Service Corps Depot.