835443 Pte. Austin Lewis was born on August 27th, 1885, in Olden Township, Frontenac County, Ontario.
The son of George and Margaret Lewis, of Mountain Grove, Ontario, Austin was a farmer by occupation when he attested into the 146th (Frontenac) Battalion, on January 17th, 1916, at Sharbot Lake, Ontario.
His younger brother, Pte. Ernest Percival Lewis attested into the same regiment 11 days later.
The 146th BN supplied 276 men to the 4th CMR through the course of 1916, and subsequently Austin found himself in the field with the 4th CMR on December 1st of that year.
The regiment was in the front line at Mericourt, having relieved the 1st CMR on June 2nd, 1917. The War Diary records work parties and reconnoitring and the preparation of jumping off points in readiness for the coming action in the area.
Alas, through the desultory, attritional shelling seen by both sides, Austin received shrapnel wounds to his right arm and chest and despite the efforts of medical staff at No.22 Casualty Clearing Station, he died of his wounds on June 4th, 1917.
Private Austin Lewis and is buried in Bruay Communal Cemetery Extension. Bruay is a large village in the Department of the Pas-de-Calais, 6 kilometres south-west of Bethune and 26 kilometres north-west of Arras, France. He was 31 years of age.
Sadly younger brother, Ernest, earlier also lost his life, in the 4th CMR's opening action at Vimy Ridge on April 9th, 1917.
Biography credit: Linda Heffernan, with thanks.
Image supplied by Linda Heffernan, with source and credit to Veterans Affairs Canada and their Canadian Virtual War Memorial.