lewes

From the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website:

Name:LEWES, FREDERICK HENRY MEREDITH
Initials:F H M
Nationality:United Kingdom
Rank:Captain
Regiment/Service:Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
Unit Text:Adjt. 5th Bn.
Age:29
Date of Death:01/07/1916
Additional information:Son of Col. H. A. Lewes, and Mrs. L. J. P. Lewes of "Rothsay", Camelsdale, Haslemere, Surrey.
Casualty Type:Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference:Pier and Face 10 C 10 D and 11 A.
Memorial:THIEPVAL MEMORIAL

5th Battalion Sherwood Foresters were in 139th Brigade, committed to the ill fated 'diversionary attack' at Gommecourt on 1 Jul 1916. The full story of this episode, and its aftermath, is told in "A Lack of Offensive Spirit: The 46th Midland Division at Gommecourt" by Alan MacDonald. This attack was used as a Leadership Study by Majors at the Joint Service Command and Staff College 2007-2010.

“Capt Frederick Henry Meredith Lewes was born on 28th July 1887 and was married to Mrs A Lewes. They lived at 3 Oak Hill Road, Surbiton Hill, Surrey. The son of Col. H. A. Lewes and Lucy Julia Perfect Lewes of Rothsay, Camelsdale, Haslemere, Surrey, he was educated at Haileybury and was a civil engineer. He moved to Derby and worked in the Coaching Section of the Midland Railway. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lt in the Territorial Force on 11th April 1911. He had previously been in the Electrical Engineers, R.E. between 1905 and 1908 and the 4th North Midland Howitzer Brigade from 1908 to 1911. He contracted trench fever in September 1915 and rejoined the battalion on 29th November 1915. He died of wounds on 2nd July 1916. In spite of his body being buried by the Germans it was subsequently lost.”
(p393 A Lack of Offensive Spirit? The 46th (North Midland) Division at Gommecourt By Alan MacDonald)

It appears from posts on the Great War Forum that Capt Lewes, and members of his unit were the only men of their Brigade to reach the German 3rd line, where they were cut off and never seen again. It is likely that they fought in that position until over run, hence the German burial of Lewes's body.

Help piece together the Life Stories of more than 8 million men and women who made a contribution during the First World War at www.livesofthefirstworldwar.org/

Congratulation for your beautiful Album.

One possibility is that this is June 18th 1917, when Dev "arrived back in Dublin on board the SS Munster" when the 1916 prisoners were released.

If my theory is correct then we've visited the same occasion before, just a bit later, when the ex-prisoners were on their way to Westland Row:

Thanks Sharon Corbet - That seems eminently plausible. Though I might hold off on ringing any bells until at least one other contributor chimes in. (Where is everyone today BTW? Is there a party we weren't invited to?) Also while the catalogue notes suggest that this was a "male only crowd" (many of whom seem very aware of the photographer), there seems to be at least one person bucking the gender trend (bottom right). With evidence of other "female" hattage close by....

If June 1917 is the right occasion, there are several Trove articles with contemporary reports. It seems no-one knew what boat the released prisoners would be on, hence a relatively low-key welcome at Kingstown - the main welcome and demonstration happened at Westland Row. trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/152182969?searchTerm=d... trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/106088528?searchTerm=d... trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/212684784?searchTerm=d... - which includes ... ... As the men paced the deck [on the Holyhead Dublin mail boat] they looked cheerful, but it was quite evident that they had gone through a trying time. The faces of many presented, a sickly appearance, but others of more robust constitution looked quite well under the circumstances. All were clad in new suits of. a poor quality, and wore creaking boots. Beneath their collars and ties the striped prison shirt was noticeable. White straw hats in most instances— caps in others — completed their outfit. Unrecognisable. Their intimate relations would hardly recognise some of the men at first sight. Eoin MacNeill, for instance, stripped of his beard and with a closely cropped head, was quite unrecognisable. Thomas Ashe, minus his curly locks and moustache, did not look himself, though he appeared to be as strong as ever. De Valera, towering above most of his comrades, was a remarkably striking figure. ... ... ... ... Welcome at Kingstown. A small force of police were on duty on Carlisle Pier, and on the arrival of the boat, at about 7.50 a.m., a crowd of about 100 congregated, including Ald. Corrigan, Mrs. and the Misses Cor- rigan, Ald. T. Kelly, Messrs F. J. Allen, T. J. Cullen, M. C. Collins, etc. As the vessel approached the pier handkerchiefs and hats were waved from those on shore, and a cheer was raised as the salute was returned from the boat. When the steamer drew alongside enthusiastic greetings were exchanged between the released men and their friends, and the former, gathered together on the third-class deck, sang "A Soldier's Song" and "God Save Ireland." There was. much hand-shaking and cheering as the men disembarked, and when the last man had come ashore they formed up, under the command of De Valera, who marched them two deep, to the Dublin portion of the train. General Sir Bryan Mahon was one of those who witnessed the arrival of the amnestied prisoners. ... ...