Name
Lewis (poss Louis) Titmuss
11 September 1889
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/09/1917
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
35615
Essex Regiment
9th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
MONCHY BRITISH CEMETERY, MONCHY-LE-PREUX
I. M. 6.
France
Headstone Inscription
FROM HIS LOVING WIFE AND DAUGHTER REST IN PEACE
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin, Not on the Ickleford memorials
Pre War
Lewis was born in Ickleford on 11 September 1889 to James Lewis and Martha Ann Titmuss and baptised at St Katherine's, Ickleford on 10 November 1899. He was one of fifteen children, although five had died by 1911.
On the 1891 Census the family were living at Cadwell, Holwell, nr Hitchin where his father was working as a bricklayer's labourer. They remained there in 1901 and 1911, at which time Lewis (Louis) was working as a Bricklayer.
He married Bertha Underwood in 1912 and they lived with their daughter Sylvia (born 1916) at 17 Dacre Rd, Hitchin.
Wartime Service
Lewis enlisted in Hitchin in February 1917 and was in France by April 1917. He served with the 9th Battalion of the Essex Regiment (reg. no. 35615). The Battalion was part of the 35th Brigade of the 12th Division.
He fought on the Somme and was killed in action at Arras by shellfire during a bombardment. He is buried in the Monchy British Cemetery, France.
Additional Information
N.B. His registered name is Lewis but his father wrote Louis on the 1911 Census.
A private inscription chosen by his on the stone reads "FROM HIS LOVING WIFE AND DAUGHTER REST IN PEACE".
Brother to Arthur John Titmuss and brother in law to Frederick Underwood who both served with the Bedfordshire Regiment and died in 1916.
His widow Bertha received a war gratuity of £3 and pay owing of £1 6s 6d. She also received a pension of 18s 9d a week.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Brenda Palmer, Jonty Wild
