Name
Archibald Lewin
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/04/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
20356
Bedfordshire Regiment
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
AUBIGNY COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
II. E. 40.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Harpenden Town Memorial, The Church of St Nicholas Memorial, Harpenden, Batford Methodist Church Memorial, Batford
Pre War
Archibald was born in 1887 in Harpenden. On the 1891 Census, aged 4 he lived in Cold Harbour, Harpenden, with his parents Joseph Lewin and Emma (nee Weston) together with eight siblings.
His parents had married in 1875 in the Luton district. Joseph died 6 October 1907 aged 57; Emma died 28 February 1909 aged 63; both in Harpenden, Herts.
On the 1901 he still lived in Harpenden, with his parents and he was employed as a nurseryman's labourer at Peters Green. He later lived with his unmarried sister Gertrude at The Haven, Station Road, Harpenden.
Wartime Service
Archibald volunteered in November 1914, enlisting in the Bedfordshire Regiment as Private 20356 in 4th Battalion.
He took part in the Operations on the Ancre (1917) and at Arras. A reconnaissance in force at Gavrelle resulted insignificant casualties (55 ORs wounded). Archibald may have one them, dying from his wounds on 16 April 1917.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £9 and arrears of £ 6 6s 1d paid to Sister Gertrude.After his death, a contact, Mr. E. Lewin (brother Edgar or Ernest), was recorded as living at 37 Hampton Road, Luton. His brothers Horace and Ralph also served. Horace dying 1 Jul 1916 and Ralph 15 Sep 1915. War Gratuity of £9 and arrears of £ 6 6s 1d paid to Sister Gertrude.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Mary Skinner, Harpenden & District Local History Society (www.harpenden-history.org.uk), Jonty Wild
