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 christened at Ickleford on 10 November 1899.
In 1901 the family were living in Cadwell, near Holwell, near Hitchin. Present were both parents: James (40) and Martha (39), with James and working as a brickmaker’s labourer. Their children were: Herbert T (17), Emily A (16), Louis (11), Arthur John (7), Minnie (5), Eva M (2) and Lilian (1).
In 1911 the family were still in Cadwell, , Herts. Present were both parents, x now working as farm labourer . The census recorded they had been married for 30 years with 15 children, of whom 5 had died. Others present were Herbert, Emily (now Emily Day), her husband Charles Day (39) a farm labourer, Louis, now 21 and a bricklayer, Ella an art needle worker, Arthur, now 17 and a coach painter Minnie, also an art needle worker, Eva, Lilian and Beatrice (8).
Married Bertha Underwood (b 18/8/1888) in 1912 and they had a daughter Silvia Bertha in 1916.
Officially he was recorded as born in Ickleford and was living in Hitchin when he enlisted there.
Wartime Service
Lewis has an entry in the National Roll of the Great War – these were normally placed by family members using what they knew and are not always 100% correct. This recorded that he enlisted in February 1917, so it is likely that he was conscripted. “he served with his unit in various parts of the line and fought in several engagements.
It has been suggested that he was in France by April 1917, while possible, with only 2 or 3 months training, this would have been unusual. He was in the 9th Battalion of the Regiment with the Regimental Number 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. (There is no mention in the official records of any unusual activity at Arras during this period).
He was buried in Plot 1, Row M, Grave 6 in the Monchy British Cemetery in France. A private inscription on the stone reads "From his loving wife and daughter. Rest in peace".
Additional Information
N.B. His registered name is Lewis but his father wrote Louis on the 1911 Census.
Brother to Arthur John Titmuss and brother in law to Frederick Underwood who both served with the Bedfordshire Regiment and died in 1916.
After his death £1 6s 6d pay owing was authorised to go to his widow, Bertha, on 16 March 1918. Later, a war gratuity of £3 was authorised to be paid to her on 6 November 1919.
His pension cards record Bertha as his widow and his dependant, living at 17 Dacre Road, Hitchin. It also names their child as Silvia Bertha (b 8/8/1916). Bertha was awarded a grant of £5 on 12 November 1917 and then a pension of 18s 9d a week from 8 April 1918.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Brenda Palmer, Jonty Wild
