The AIF Project

Ernest Vivian LEWIS

Regimental number1925
Place of birthNathalia, Victoria
SchoolWellington Road Public School, Adelaide, South Australia
Other trainingHoward's College, South Australia
ReligionMethodist
OccupationTanner
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation25.8
Height5' 9"
Weight161 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs Charlotte Lewis, Wellington Road, Payneham, South Australia
Previous military serviceServed for 2 years in the Royal Australian Garrison Artillery (Voluntary); resigned on leaving the State.
Enlistment date20 January 1915
Place of enlistmentOaklands, South Australia
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name16th Battalion, 5th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/33/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A20 Hororata on 20 April 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll16th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 8 August 1915
Place of death or woundingGallipoli, Turkey
Date of death8 August 1915
Age at death26
Age at death from cemetery records26
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsThe Lone Pine Memorial (Panel 51), Gallipoli, Turkey

The Lone Pine Memorial, situated in the Lone Pine Cemetery at Anzac, is the main Australian Memorial on Gallipoli, and one of four memorials to men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Designed by Sir John Burnet, the principal architect of the Gallipoli cemeteries, it is a thick tapering pylon 14.3 metres high on a square base 12.98 metres wide. It is constructed from limestone mined at Ilgardere in Turkey.

The Memorial commemorates the 3268 Australians and 456 New Zealanders who have no known grave and the 960 Australians and 252 New Zealanders who were buried at sea after evacuation through wounds or disease. The names of New Zealanders commemorated are inscribed on stone panels mounted on the south and north sides of the pylon, while those of the Australians are listed on a long wall of panels in front of the pylon and to either side. Names are arranged by unit and rank.

The Memorial stands over the centre of the Turkish trenches and tunnels which were the scene of heavy fighting during the August offensive. Most cemeteries on Gallipoli contain relatively few marked graves, and the majority of Australians killed on Gallipoli are commemorated here.

Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
80
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Archibald and Charlotte LEWIS. Native of Nathalia, Victoria
Family/military connectionsCousins: 795 Sergeant Arthur Ernest FRANCIS, 31st Bn, killed in action, 21 July 1916; 634 Pte Ernest MINCHINGTON, 5th Bn, killed in action, 10 May 1917.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli

Taken on strength, 16th Bn, Gallipoli, 13 July 1915.

Appointed Lance Corporal, 12 July 1915; reverted to Private same day.

Reported wounded in action, 7 August 1915.

Court of Enquiry, Serapeum, 6-8-20 April 1916, concluded: 'Killed in action, 8 August 1915.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, LEWIS Ernest Vivian

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