John Stuart Lewis

Private John Stuart Lewis – Welsh Regiment, 7^th Battalion

Private John Stuart Lewis did not serve for long after enlisting in August 1918 at Cardiff, joining the Welsh Regiment, 7^th Battalion. His brief service came during the final months of the First World War, when the influenza pandemic and the closing phase of the conflict claimed many young lives far from the front line.

Early Life and Family Background

John Stuart Lewis was born in 1889 at Morriston, Swansea, the youngest son of Lewis Bisley Lewis and Mary Emma Davies, who were married in 1879 at Hereford.

1891 Census

According to the 1891 Census, the Lewis family were living at Springfield Terrace, Morriston. Lewis, aged 44, was born in Llanllawddog, Carmarthenshire, and worked as a Draper, while Mary, aged 38, was from Herefordshire. Their children were Julia M. (10), Arthur D. (8), and Harold (6), all attending school, along with John, the youngest, aged 2. Also present in the household were two servants — Richard Moses (22) and Maria Lewis (20) — and a visitor, John Moses (12).

1901 Census

By the 1901 Census, the family were still residing at 43 Springfield Terrace, Morriston. Lewis, aged 51, continued his trade as a Draper, and Mary, aged 47, managed the household. Their children were Julia M. (20), Harold G. (16), and John S. (12). Also recorded were two nephews: John D. Williams (22), a student for the Church of England ministry, and Lewis Lewis (14), a Draper’s Assistant.

Military Service and Death

Attestation Papers

John Stuart Lewis’s Attestation Papers have survived and record that he enlisted in August 1918 at Cardiff, joining the Welsh Regiment, 7^th Battalion.

At the time of his enlistment, the 7^th Battalion, Welsh Regiment was serving within the United Kingdom as part of the Territorial Force. The battalion had been originally formed in Swansea, drawing much of its strength from the local area, and remained closely associated with the region throughout the war. During this late stage of the conflict, its duties centred on home defence, recruit training, and supplying drafts to front-line units of the Welsh Regiment serving overseas. Following heavy losses earlier in the war, such home-based battalions were essential for maintaining manpower across the regiment. By mid-1918, the 7th Battalion had been attached to the 160th (Welsh Border) Brigade and remained focused on training new recruits rather than taking part in active operations abroad. Many men who enlisted in the summer and autumn of 1918, including John, underwent only a brief period of service before the war ended or before illness overtook them — a reflection of the immense strain placed upon Britain’s home garrisons during the final months of the conflict.

He died on 14^th October 1918 at the Military Non-Dieted Hospital, Middlesbrough, a facility used for soldiers suffering from illness rather than battlefield wounds.

Military Non-Dieted Hospital, Middlesbrough

During the First World War, Middlesbrough became a regional centre for the treatment of soldiers evacuated from home service camps and training depots in northern England. The Military Non-Dieted Hospital, established within the North Riding Infirmary complex, was specifically designated for the care of men suffering from non-surgical conditions — such as pneumonia, influenza, or other infectious diseases.

In 1918, the hospital was overwhelmed by the Spanish influenza pandemic, which swept through Britain and the military in devastating waves. Many soldiers who had only recently enlisted — like John — fell ill before they could even be sent overseas. The “non-dieted” designation referred to hospitals that treated patients who required standard diets rather than the restricted “special diet” or surgical wards. Facilities like Middlesbrough’s hospital played a vital role in maintaining the health of the home forces, though they also became tragic centres of loss as the influenza epidemic reached its peak in the autumn of 1918.

Burial and Legacy

Lewis family grave
Oystermouth Cemetery
credit - findagrave

Following his death, John’s body was brought home to Swansea, where he was buried with honour at Oystermouth Cemetery.

Though his period of service was brief, Private John Stuart Lewis represents the many men who answered the call to serve even in the final months of the Great War, only to be taken by the combined toll of war and disease. His grave at Oystermouth Cemetery stands among those of others whose lives were cut short not on the battlefield, but through the harsh conditions of wartime service at home.