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Ernest William Lewer. Died 1919
Ernest was the 3rd child of William and Eliza Lewer; he was born in Reading in 1882. In June of 1898 at the age of 15, Ernest joined the Army, the Royal Fusiliers, 4th Battalion. His Attestation Papers describe him as being 5′ 5″ tall with grey eyes and light brown hair.
He served 12 years with the Royal Fusiliers reaching the rank of Lance Corporal and served in garrisons across the world; Malta, Gibraltar, Eygpt, Bermuda and South Africa. After he was discharged in June 1910, he worked as a labourer living back at home with his parents on the Easthampstead Road.
According to the Reading Mercury 23rd June 1917 Ernest ‘s family were still living at 31 Easthampstead Road and was awarded the Military Medal (notice of this award appeared in that paper). The article tells that he was in the reserve at the commencement of the war and served in both Gallipoli and France. As follows: ‘MILITARY MEDAL FOR MR. LEWER. Mr. E. Lewer, of Easthampstead Road, Wokingham, has received intimation that he has been awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field. Mr. Lewer is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Lewer, of 31, Easthampstead Road, and was on the Reserve at the commencement of the war, having served 21 years in the army. Since joining up again he has served with the Colours both at the Dardanelles and in France. He is now a stoker in the Navy’.
As stated, the war saw him also enlist in the Royal Navy and served on HMS Tiger. Although we have little detail of his naval career, we know this ship was involved in many actions during the war including the Battle of Jutland. An article in the Reading Mercury in March 1919 tells us of his death and of his service. According to the paper he was an Old Contemptible and was awarded the Mons star after the retreat from Mons in 1914. He then served in the Dardenelles where he was awarded the Military Medal, was wounded and invalided home. It was after this that he joined the Royal Navy.
Ernest came home and died on 18th March 1919, he died of pneumonia, possibly as a complication from Flu, and he is buried in All Saints Churchyard, Wokingham. From the Reading Mercury, as follows: ‘DEATH FROM PNEUMONIA. Much sympathy is felt with Mr. and Mrs. W. Lewer, of Easthampstead Road, Wokingham, in the loss of their son, Ernest. Deceased who was in the Royal Navy, died on March 19th in hospital at Plymouth of influenza and double pneumonia, and was buried at All Saints’, Wokingham, on Saturday, with military honours. The coffin was borne by soldiers from the Depot, Reading Barracks. Two buglers were also in attendance and the Deceased Military Medal was attached to the coffin.
A detachment of the County Police were present, deceased having been on the Special Police Reserve.
The deceased had passed an honourable career in his country’s service, in all close upon 21 years. He first enlisted in the Royal Berks Regiment, at the early age of 15 years, and played in the band of the County Militia before Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle in 1898. Later he transferred to the 4th Royal Fusiliers, and was in that regiment for about 17½ years. In the late war he went out in 1914 (one of the “Old Contemptibles,”) and was in the Mons retreat, gaining the Mons Star, which his parents are waiting to receive. He was blown up by a shell and narrowly escaped death.
Recovering after hospital treatment, he was sent to the Dardanelles, where he gained the Military Medal. He was invalided home and later discharged. He then joined the Royal Navy, in which he has served for the last two years on H.M.S. Tiger.
He was unmarried’.
Name: LEWER Ernest
Rank: Stoker 1st Class
Regiment/Service: Royal Navy
Unit Text: H.M.S. “Tiger.”
Age: 37
Date of Death: 18/03/1919
Service No: K/38640
Grave/Memorial Reference: C. 901. Cemetery: WOKINGHAM (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD
31 (or 21) Homleigh Villas, Easthampstead Road, Wokingham.
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