Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Coulthard Lewis, one of 4 siblings was the eldest, of 2 sons and had 2 elder sisters, his father Jonathan Lewis was born in 1860 at Rhosllanerchrigog, Wales.
After the death of Jonathan’s father, Moses, his mother, Elizabeth Lewes nee Griffiths, remarried to Henry Hughes who brought the family from Wales to County Durham, where they settled at Tow Law. In 1891 aged 31 years Jonathan, just prior to his marriage, was still living with his mother and step-father at Prince Row, both he and Henry Hughes were employed as coal miners, living with them was Elizabeth’s grandson, Moses Lewes, her eldest son Joseph’s child.
Jonathan Lewes was married at Weardale in 1891 to Isabella Coulthard born 1898 at Cornsay, County Durham and with whom he had 4 children, Elizabeth born September 17th 1892, Margaret Jane 1895, William April 4th 1897 and Moses Henry in 1902. He supported his wife and children working below ground at the colliery as a labourer, in 1901 they were living at Dan’s Castle Street, however, by 1911 they had moved to 6, Hope Terrace, Tow Law. William aged 13 was a scholar.
When war was declared in 1914 William was 17 years of age, employed as a grocer’s assistant, too young to enlist. Once he turned 18 he enlisted August 10th 1915 and was assigned as Able Seaman Tyneside Z/7263 Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Training completed and having reached the legal age of 19 years for service overseas, he was mobilised July 30th 1916 and posted to the 188th Brigade Machine Gun Company departing with the British Expeditionary Force, August 1st 1916. He served with the 188th Brigade on the Western Front until May 17th 1917 when he was sent to the Machine Gun Base Depot at Camiers where he joined the 190th Machine Gun Company until August 6th 1917 when he was posted to the 223rd M. G. Battalion. The Battalion transferred to the 63rd Machine Gun Battalion, March 1st 1918.
Able Seaman Tyneside Z/7263 William Coulthard Lewes Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve was killed in action, April 2nd 1918, two days before his 21st birthday and interred at Englebelmer Communal Cemetery, Somme, France, grave II. B. 10.
His father Jonathan of 24, Dan’s Castle, Tow Law, County Durham, received all monies due to him and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
William’s eldest sister Elizabeth married in 1919 to Thomas W Haygarth. In 1939 they were living at Gladstone Terrace, Sunniside, where Thomas was working as a coal miner/hewer. Elizabeth Haygarth nee Lewes died in the district of Cleveland in 1984 aged 92 years.
Details as regards Margaret Jane Lewes, unknown.
Moses Henry married in the district of Bishop Auckland in 1926 to Florrie Mawson. He died December 24th 1965 aged 63 years leaving the sum of £4456 to his widow of 191, Leeds Road, Heckmondwike, Yorkshire.
Isabella Lewes nee Coulthard and Jonathan Lewes died within 9 months of each other during 1929 aged 65 and 71 years respectively, registered in the district of Weardale.
It should be noted census documents and some marriage entries use the correct Welsh spelling of this surname as Lewes other entries as Lewis including that of the CWGC.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William Coulthard Lewes is remembered at Cornsay as W.C. Lewis on C116.01
