39780 L/Cpl Lewis Losh, 1st Bn, York and Lancaster Regt

39780 Lance-Corporal Lewis Losh of the 1st Battalion, York and Lancaster Regt, died of wounds on the 30th October 1916. He was 24 years old and the son of Lewis and Margaret Losh of 25, Athol Street, Earlestown, Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire.

Lewis was born at St. Helens, Lancashire and enlisted at Earlestown. Soldiers Died in The Great War indicates that he had formerly served with the Lancashire Hussars and had the number 732. Fortunately, papers from Lewis's service record survive at the National Archives, and the following information is taken from these.

Lewis joined the Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry on the 6th December 1911. He was 20 years and five months old, and working as a labourer. The address he gave is the one mentioned above. He was embodied on the 5th August 1914 and appointed paid lance-corporal on the 6th May 1916.

On the 3rd September 1916, Lewis was transferred to the 3rd Battalion of the Liverpool Regiment (and given the new number 55578) and then, 13 days later, posted to the base depot of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force. On the 22nd October 1916 he was transferred to the 1st Battalion, York and Lancs Regiment. Eight days later he died of wounds.

Lewis's service record is quite badly water-damaged and difficult to read in places. His name is mis-recorded as Lawrence Losh in places and there is also a note from his commanding officer (dated 21st December 1916) that he was killed in action and buried in the cemetery at Haznatar in what was then Salonica, but is now Greece.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission notes that Lewis is now buried in Struma Military Cemetery in Greece and that:

"In the autumn of 1916, the 40th Casualty Clearing Station was established not far from the road near the 71 Kilometre stone and the cemetery made for it was originally called Kilo 71 Military Cemetery. The original plot, Plot I, was set too close to a ravine and the graves in it were moved after the Armistice to the present plots VIII and IX. The remainder of the cemetery consists almost entirely of graves brought in from the battlefields, from the churchyards at Homondos, Haznatar and Kalendra, and from small front line cemeteries established by field ambulances or fighting units. The most significant of these were Ormanli, Dolab Wood and Big Tree Well. Struma Military Cemetery contains 947 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, 51 of them unidentified. There are also 15 war graves of other nationalities."

My italics and bold.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC, WO363)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission