PRIVATE LEWIS ALBERT HEEDS

Lewis is one of the 49 men who served for their country and was killed in Action in the First World War, whose name is listed on St Mark’s Church Cenotaph in Mosbrough. Lewis was born In Ridgeway, Derbyshire in the Parish of Eckington in 1894 to William and Emily Heeds.

According to 1901 Census, Lewis aged 7 years lived with his parents and siblings Eve E, age 16 yrs, Gerturde M, age 14 yrs, and Charles E Heeds age 12 years old. They lived at Station Road, Mosborough in the Sub-registration District of Eckington and Registration District of Chesterfield. Vessel no 22, Piece no 3258, Folio 180 Page No 17 and Household Schedule No 114.

1911 Census stated that Lewis lived at High Street, Mosbro with his parents and brother Charles.

He worked as an Under Ground Colliery Worker in the Coal Mines. Registration District No 438, Vessel 8. Piece 21138

Lewis Albert Heeds joined the Notts and Derby (Sherwood Foresters) Regiment 11^th Battalion. His Regimental Number was 16120. Private Lewis military year’s were 1914 – 1915. He would have probably served in the following battles, Lewis’s Theatre of War first served in France, his date of entry was 27th August 1915.

11th (Service) Battalion
03.10.1914 Formed at Derby as part of the Third New Army (K3) and then moved to Frensham to join the 70th Brigade of the 23rd Division., Dec 1914 Moved to Stanhope Lines, Aldershot, Feb 1915 Moved to Shorncliffe Moved to Shorncliffe area and then to Bordon.

27.08.1915 Mobilised for war and landed in France where the 70th Brigade was transferred to the 8th Division which engaged in various actions on the Western Front including; 1915 The Battle of Neuve Chapelle, The Battle of Aubers, The action of Bois Grenier.

Lewis died on 19 October 1915 at France and Flanders and was Buried at WHITE CITY CEMETERY, BOIS GRENIER Nord, France Cemetery,

The Inscription on his grave stone says:

Memorial reference: A. 8. “GONE FROM OUR HOME BUT NOT FROM OUR HEARTS”

Lewis was awarded the three medals below: The 1914/15 Star Medal, The Victory Medal, The British War Medal and the Death Penny.

The first a family would know of the death of family member was the arrival of a telegram from the War Office. This would be followed by the World War One Death Plaque and any medals the serviceman would have earned serving his country.