Lewis Halford, Age 27

Private, 16646, 8th Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry.

K.S.L.I Regiment Cap Badge.

Lewis was the son of William and Betty Halford of 6 Field Houses, Bank Road, Dawley.

Before enlisting he was a miner at the Lawley Colliery and also a member of the Dawley Baptist brotherhood. Lewis's cousin James also served and was captured, serving some time as a Prisoner of War according to the Dawley News.

Lewis himself had taken time to write to the Dawley News saying "I am sorry to hear of so many Dawley boys being lost, but they have died hero's deaths. I think Dawley boys have done a very good share in this war and if some of them who are still at home would put their hand to the wheel things would be much brighter, What about us boys who answered the call as war broke out - we felt it was no good lingering if our country was going to win".

In January 1918 the 8th KSLI were working on 2nd Line reserve trenches on the Salonika front and came under regular shellfire and adding to their hardships the weather was bitterly cold with heavy snow. Lewis was killed during this time, on the 13th of January 1918 and his body lies in the Doiran military Cemetery Ref: VI.J.22

There is a final 'twist’ with Lewis and that is, A few years ago I was given Lewis's 14-15 star by a local man who had dug it up in an old back garden many years previously. Whether his family had buried the medal or it had been lost we will probably never know.

A photo from the journal of Lewis and his headstone in the Doiran Military cemetery.

Inscription added to head stone by: Mr. William Halford, 6, Field Houses, Dawley, Salop.

Gone But Not Forgotten

WWI Medal Rolls Index Card

Commonwealth War Graves
Buried Doiran Military Cemetery

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Victory Medal	British War Medal	1914-15 Star Medal