Lewis is listed as being killed in action on 18 Apr 1918. The Battalion war diary for that day is transcribed below.

 

Festubert 1918 - Apr 18th: The Bn held the line from Le Plantin running due N to Cailloux at which point a defensive flank was thrown back in a westerly direction towards Route A Keep. A gap existed between Route A and the left of the Bn thus the enemy was enabled to make his attack on three sides.

 

4am - Enemy opened an intense bombardment on our battery positions and back areas. Enormous quantities of gas (Yellow X) were used.

 

6.30am - Hostile artillery opened on our line. Our trenches did not suffer a great deal with the exception of the Keep at Festubert East which was blown to pieces. Eight survivors escaped from the ruins of these 2nd Lt Hudson and Sgt Ferris were killed later on in the day. A serious breach occurred in A Coy line, a patrolled gap of 80 yds on either side of Willow Road was enlarged by shell fire to some 200 yds

 

8.15am - Infantry attacked commenced with small groups of light machine gunners coming over the slight rise some 500 to 600 yards east of Festubert. Advancing over the open with no cover beyond shell holes the enemy suffered enormous lossed. B & D Coys with their Lewis Guns assisted by seven Vickers guns beat off all attacks and nowhere did the Hun get with 100 yds. One platoon of B Coy with Lewis Gun commenced with 175 rounds per man and in addition fire over eight boxes. Strenght of platoon 1 Off and 228 OR.

 

Along the Willow Road the enemy could not be shot down fast enough and they penetrated through an existing gap into the houses and plantation around Le Plantin. Capt Handford OC A Coy with 2 platoons was left on the right of the gap 2nd Lt Hall with the remaining two platoons and one of C Coy on the left. As soon as the enemy penetrated 2nd Lt Hall extended one of his platoons back to as to form a defensive flank on his right. Meanwhile the remainded of the Coy closing up on either side of the gap prevented all attempts of the enemy to reinforce his advanced troops.

 

In the meantime the enemy bringing up his Field Guns brought direct fire to bear on our line. The fighting in this part of the line (facing east) remained the same till late in the afternoon. On the north the state of affairs was extremely critical. Following close up under a very efficient barrage the enemy came straight through to Route A (ISWB) over ran the garrison and worked forward immediately south of the Keep. At this stage they were finally held by the Tuning Fork Line. Baulked at this point numbers of them attempted to work eastward into the rear of D Coy while a heavy machine gun fire was directed on our very exposed Bn Hd Qrs. Casualties to officers at this time being eight either killed or wounded.

 

11am - As this threat was developing CSM Biddle of D Coy made a plucky and succesful attempt to get through to BN Hd Qrs to ask for assistance to check the advance. Capt K A R Smith MC OC of C Coy Cmdg the 3 reserve platoons which by this time heaving engaged volunteered top check this movement. Getting together a party of 12 (all that could be spared) consisting of CSM Biddles, Sgt Coles, Signalling Sgt Cook and orderlies etc he made his way up the west side and Festubert and promptly checked the advance.

 

12 Noon - By now the enemy had been checked on all sides and were pinned down by our rifle fire.

 

2pm - Captain Sheldon OC D Coy reported bodies of the enemy retiring along Bethune-Neuve Chapelle Road

 

3pm - The enemy attempted to retire from all along our front (except those in Le Plantin) but the situation was hopeless. They attempted to crawl back from shell hole to shell hole while our men stood up on the parapets and shot them in scores

 

4pm - It was now considered that the menace from the direction of Route A no longer existed to Lt Gosling with one platoon of the Reserve was ordered to proceed to Le Plantin get into touch with Lt Hall clear the enemy out of Le Plantin and close and hold the gap until such time as reinforcements arrived. These two young officers behaved with great pluck and showed much dash and skill. Lt Gosling with his party at once attacked from the West got well into the houses and plantation shooting 25 to 30 Germans. They rushed a crater full of the enemy and bombed them taking seven prisoners. The remainder breaking back had to run the gauntlet of A Coy.

 

Night - On night of 18th/19th the Battalion was relieved by the 2 Welch Regiment. END