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The memories of our father, John Stanley Lewis are those of a quiet, rather serious and sad man. Though highly intelligent, he never achieved the potential that he deserved, very possibly due to the traumas of the Great War. It is likely that he suffered from posttraumatic stress disorder having been captured and held, for the last six months, as a prisoner in Graudenz Prisoner of War Camp on the border of Germany and Poland - the effects of those appalling hostilities. Despite this he was very proud of his son John and his daughter Siriol. He only enjoyed one year of retirement before he died of a massive heart attack.
Our father was born in the Posting House, The Falcon Hotel, Lamma Street, Carmarthen on February 25, 1891. His father, John Lewis, who was the Publican, had been born, probably the only son, in the farm, Rhyd y Bont, Tre Vaughan and his mother Margaret nee Phillips of whom he was very fond came from 29, Woods Row, Carmarthen. They were married in the Tabernacle Chapel according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Baptists on December 2nd 1876. The Philips family in the 1881 census were living in Lanelly and David Phillips, the head of the household was a refiner at the Tin Works (Vistualer). Margaret had at least 5 siblings, Mary, Daniel, John, James, and David. One of the boys became a Baptist minister and the other a doctor. One daughter married an Evans who lived in Cardiff. John Stanley's grandfather was also called John and his grandmother was Anne. They farmed at Rhyd y Bont and appeared to have no other children as there is no mention of any uncles or aunts.
Our father, when he was born had four sisters; Annie who was the mother of cousin, Mai, Dr Mai Adcock and of Beryl Lewis, a teacher, who never married. There was also a Mary Jane who must have died in childhood, Margaretta who died on Christmas day in the Queens Hotel in Brecon in either 1917 or 17. Later Uncle Gordon was born. Margaret, his mother died in 1912 and his father lived to be about 84 dying about 1927 in Carmarthen. John Lewis Senior, and Margaret, his wife lived apart for many years. It was he said did not like work particularly. She was very religious and lived in Ferryside in her later days.
I know little about our father’s childhood, but I do know he took a Chemistry degree at the College of Aberystwyth, University of Wales and must have graduated in 1913. He was allowed back to take his finals after being rusticated and the account of this follows below:
MOCK FUNERAL, two articles from the Cambrian News: The Cambrian News and Welsh Farmer’s Gazette. 22 March, 1912 Publicly Ragging a Student. At mid-day on Monday, when there was a large number of country people in the town, a procession of students of the University College of Wales marched through the main streets of the town and on the Marine Terrace with one of the fellow students seated on a boat carriage covered with confetti. The incident appears to have arisen out of the report of an inter-collegiate Rugby football match between Aberystwyth and Cardiff, it being alleged that one of the students had supplied the local paper with a report signed “referee”, adversely criticising the tactics and play of the Aberystwyth College team. The report didn’t appear in the Cambrian News, the paper instead publishing a report supplied by its regular football correspondent. Rightly or wrongly – some say wrongly – students interested in football attributed the writing of the letter to a fellow-student, and as he would not apologise the students determined to show their resentment of the criticism. The pair of wheels with an axle between, with which boats are taken from the boathouse down to the sea, was got in readiness, and on the student coming out of the College he was laid hold of, larded with treacle and pelted with confetti, placed on the boat carriage, and then taken through the principal streets of the town, headed and followed by about 100 students. The boat carriage was drawn by a rope, and an attempt was made to make it go straight by a rope attached to the back, but it wobbled about in an erratic fashion. The procession passed down Great Darkgate-street, in front of the Police Station, and the police say that if the student called out or shown any sign that he was not a willing participator in the show they would have interfered. He passed in silence, with head down, and the police thought it was one of the numerous processions of students and allowed it to proceed. The procession then went through Terrace Road and on to the Marine Promenade, where it is said, there was a suggestion of ducking in the sea, but the suggestion was abandoned on the advice of some of the milder students, for fear the victim might “get a cold”. After going down towards the Women’s` Hostel, the student was allowed to depart to his lodgings. It was said that a further demonstration was to be made in the evening, but evidently counsels prevailed. 29 March, 1912 The Ragging Incident. The public ragging of one of the students at the University College for adverse criticism of certain players in the Rugby team of the College, alleged to have been written by him, formed the subject of enquiring by the Senate on Thursday, a letter having been written by Mr A.J. Hughes, town clerk, on behalf of the ragged student, and he also appeared before the Senate. The result of the enquiry was that six students have been sent down. This is described as the most drastic disciplinary measure yet taken by the College authorities. One student was sent down for the remainder of the session and the whole of next session – four terms in all. The other five were sent down for the remaining term of the present session but it is understood they will be allowed to come back for two days for examination in June in connection with the Welsh University. Three of the students left the town on Friday presumably for their homes. Their departure was made the subject of remarkable demonstrations on the part of their fellow-students. The first student left by the one o’clock train on the Cambrian and had an enthusiastic send off, the station being crowded. There was a repetition on a larger scale when two other students left by the three o’clock train on the Great Western. A procession was formed outside the College and a box, representing a coffin, covered with black gown and bearing two college caps, was borne to the Railway Station by six students. The procession was by way of Pier-street, and Terrace Road and was followed by crowd of under-graduates, nearly 200 in number. They marched at funeral pace and sang funeral hymns in a doleful tone. “Ton y Botel” was the favourite. Unlike an ordinary funeral, however many of the students wearing cap and gown were smoking, but their faces were impressively sad and imaginary tears were wiped away. The route of procession was lined by crowds of interested and amused spectators and for a time business was suspended. Women students also gathered in full force at the Railway Station. The “coffin” was placed with mock reference in a reserved compartment and the rusticated students were carried shoulder high. On appearing on the platform, they were given a rousing reception and were evidently regarded as martyrs. Popular songs were sung, interspersed by “Farewell” and the College yell. The deporting students made speeches, complaining bitterly of the Senate’s decrees; but were apparently unrepentant. One, however, was so overcome by tears that he could not speak. There was another enthusiastic demonstration at the Railway Station on Saturday morning when the three others students left. The excitement which prevailed at the beginning of the week on account of Monday regrettable incident gave place to considerable indignation and sorrow on the part of the students generally when the extent of the punishment was made known on Thursday night. The severity of the sentence was unexpected. If the affair had been confined to the precincts of the College, probably the public would have heard nothing further of it, but as the ragging took place unfortunately in public the townspeople were greatly interested in the result. The general body of students naturally sympathised with those who were expelled, especially in the case of the one who received the severest punishment, as he would terminate his course at the end of next term and intended qualifying for the honours degree in physics. A largely signed petition is being prepared for Submission to the Senate urging that the sentence upon him should be reduced. It is stated that the adverse criticism, which was the subject of the ragging, was intended to influence the election of captains of the athletic teams next week. The student who has been rusticated for four terms was the retiring captain of the Rugby team and the one elected to succeed him is also one of those sent down. Another petition is being largely signed by the students urging the Senate to re-consider their decision on the ground that the ragged student has, it is understood intimated his intension of commencing proceedings to claim damage. Commenting on the affair on Saturday, a South Wales daily paper, said: “-The Senate of the University College at Aberystwyth have taken the drastic course of rusticating six of the students alleged to be implicated in the disgraceful ragging incident on Monday. Drastic action was needed, not alone because of student of the college had suffered injury at the hands of his fellows, but because the disciplinary of the College had to be vindicated and public order maintained. No doubt those who witnessed the mock funeral scenes enacted at the departure of the rusticated students Friday feel that some disciplinary action would be advantageous in respect of that incident also. Last week scenes were in grossly bad taste, and they also implied a mutinous attitude towards the college authorities and condemnation of wrong-doing. It is a pity that these students do not realise that incidents of this character tend to bring into contempt an institution to which they are indebted and of whose honour they should be jealous. Monday’s incident was the infliction of a barbarous outrage upon a student; that of Friday was an outrage upon public decency. It is humiliating to those patriotic Welshmen, who have made great sacrifices on behalf of this, the premier national College of Wales, to think that the mischief began in a paltry football squabble. The serious work of University Education must not be subordinated to pastimes, and to squabbles arising there from, and the honour and dignity of the College are not to be sacrificed in a vulgar pantomime.”
The Mock Funeral of the Six Rusticated Students with the coffin.
John Stanley Lewis Captain of U.C.W. Rugby 1912-1913 as Captain of the Rugby. John Stanley was rusticated. At sometime our father took part in a play entitled It’s a Lie with A.V.Jones and he must have been called Stan as he has signed with an S.
It's a Lie
Students Representative Council 1912-1913 John Stanley is in the centre third row back. Our father was a keen Rugby and Cricket player and it was said that the fact he was sent down from College was because he was a captain of the Rugby Team that year. U.C.W. Rugby Team 1910-11
John Stanley Lewis seated to left of the captain
John Stanley fourth for left, back row.
Cricket team U.C.W. at Aberystwyth 1911
2nd Lieut. John Stanley Lewis I know little about our father’s service in the Great War as he never spoke his dreadful experiences. He, I remember, slept with a sheet over his head merely showing his nose to breath. When I asked him why, he said "the rats” which were in the trenches of the battlefields. He did say that on Christmas Day, 1914 fighting was discontinued for the day and the British and Germans greeted each other and played Football together only for hostilities to recommence the following day. He always made sure I ate all my food incase there was another War. Now I understand why. Six months before the end of the War our father was captured in La Bassee-Armentieres area. It appears to have been on April 12th 1918. The town, Merville was in considerable danger as the Germans were close to it, despite the gallant efforts of the Fiftieth Division of the South Wales Borderers who had been thrown in to close the gap created by the collapse of the Portuguese. Practically the whole of battalion became casualties. These mounted and at 8.30 am less than 20 were left to fight. Soon after 9 o’clock the Germans overpowered the eight survivors. Our father’s story was that that his battalion were going on leave and that only six were left from the battle. He was captured by the Germans and spent the rest of the war in the Prison Camp, Graudenz. He returned to Britain having lost a lot weight being only six stone; a considerable loss considering I remember him as a tall man weighing 15 stone. I believe the prisoners were had to eat rats and food parcels were looked upon with great envy. The Germany was starving as well’
Graudenz Prisoner of War Camp
Graudenz Town
Cash Book of 2nd Lieut. Lewis, John Stanley.
Following his discharge from the Prisoner of War Camp he received a letter from King George V welcoming him home and his release from captivity .
It took our father, a year to recover having lost weight. I am not certain when he became lecturer in Chemistry at the Royal Naval College but he was certainly there in 1921 when the Naval College team won the Kent cup. He always said he would have played for Wales in Rugby had he not been so ill after coming home from Germany. He played for the Welsh Division during the War. I remember going to watch him referee the college matches as a child in Greenwich Park.
Daddy with a gentleman who may have been his father and in the Chemistry laboratories.
Royal Naval College
The Royal Naval College holding the Kent Cup. Daddy is to the left of the captain.
Dr John Stanley Lewis D,Sc. In 1933 John Stanley Lewis gained his D.Sc .from Aberystwyth, College, The University of Wales. To quote his Thesis was on ”Vapour pressures of binary and ternary fuel mixtures. Parts I and II.- Low temperature oxidation of hydrocarbons. General, Parts I, II and III.- The reduction of copper oxide by hydrogen.- Miscellaneous papers, including: (a) The reduction of copper oxide by hydrocarbons. (b) Dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons with special reference to the detonation characteristics of petrols / John Stanley Lewis, Aberystwyth, 1933, Thesis (D.Sc.) - University of Wales. On July 26th 1924 John Stanly married Eirian Vaughan Jones in Barry, South Wales. Our father was seven years older than our mother and I believe met at the Army Camp on Barry Island. Eirian’s father, Major Edgar was Commandant of the Glamorgan Fortress. Though headmaster of Barry County School for Boys. Her Mother Was Annie Gwen Jones always known as Mrs. Edgar Jones, according to the convention of the day. She became a magistrate during the Second World War, an honour in those days. They lived in Brandram Road ,Lee Green for the first three years of married life where I was born, and then moved to a flat at 70 Lee Road. Both houses were bombed in the Second World War. I remember my father telling me wonderful stories about Peter Pan and fairies at the bottom of the garden. I remember him waking me to look out of the window to see the flames of Crystal pace alight, which was some distance away from the house. The garden was shared and we had the bottom half where there was a sand pit and a swing which John and I loved. After a year at Crathie Road, we moved to 88 Lee Road. It was purchased for £500 as the lease was short. The garden had a huge pear tree which was wonderfully in blossom in the spring and bore abundant fruit. During the Second World War our father sold the pears possibly a ton in weight earning at least £30 for this fruit which was hard to get in war times. My mother remained in the house until coming to Nottingham in 1973. She said she would never leave the house until the pear tree died which it did just before she left During the inter war years our father continued at the Royal Naval College. I remember they had the most wonderful parties there at Christmas time when the Naval Officers dressed up as Pirates and there were slides and all sorts of entertainments including having to get a shilling out of water where there was a mild electric current. We had car first car in 1935 . I think it was a Morris Oxford with a dashboard and a small square window which opened in the roof of the car. We would get up at 4 o’clock to beat the London traffic to get to my grandparents in Barry. Our father continued at the naval College until he retired. He eventually became assistant professor. His senior, Professor Ruddock would not release him for a better job during the Second World War much to his disappointment. He always said that he gave advice on the de-gauzing of ships to avoid the magnetic mines. As well he promoted the theory of heavy water but the famous scientist Ernest Rutherford scorned his theory, only to have it confirmed later. He was a disappointed man no doubt affected by his wartime experiences and there were times when he became very depressed.
John and his father in Cold Knap, Barry; Daddy, Siriol and John and Daddy and Siriol.
Our father spent his time in the Second World War in London sleeping in the damp and cold Anderson Shelter in the next door garden to avoid the bombing and my mother wrote a Professor Andrews in America on a number of occasions. “My home in London has had its several very bad shakings and one land mine (there were three in back of gardens near) finished off all the glass. Ceilings are now down - roof partly off and chimney pots down and doors blown in, cracks in walls 6in wide; Londoners go home from work, have a meal, then prepare for the night; make a thermos of coffee or milk, and hot water bottle and get their oil lamp or stove ready and settle down early in shelter. … My husband comes here for a rest every fortnight. He sleeps most of the time he is here. In spite of severe damage to my district I am surprised that fruit and vegetables are half the price in our London shopping centre (market stalls run by cockneys) and yet in this quiet seaside and country town tomatoes are 2/ and only 1/ in London though ruined shops are all around and transport can not be as easy as it is here. My husband gets his milk, bread and paper delivered as usual daily, and gas, water, and electric lights are still on, though for a few days he had to turn the electric heater on its back and boil a kettle and fry bacon that way—but all the services were all right in a few days after that first bombardment. (He has boarded up the kitchen and one room.) My husband complains of the loneliness of London now; he was the only one living in our road until this week and he says after work he only sees the baker and the milkman who call daily. Most of his colleagues have evacuated. ‘… He was going to write to you but spent the whole weekend “digging for victory” and was so tired and stiff he wasn’t in the mood for letter writing.
Our father in Porthcawl and in front of the shed at 88, Lee Road.
Our father took pleasure in his children John and Siriol and was delighted when they both became medical doctors - probably what he would like to have achieved. John Stanley died at the age of 66 just after Christmas in 1958. He had only been retired for one year but lived to see two of his grandsons, Graham and Richard.
Grandfather Lewis with Graham.
Grandfather and grandmother Lewis with Graham
Daddy with Graham and Richard with the Pear Tree in the background.
To see for Eirian Lewis’s War Time letters turn to
www.margaretcolley.co.uk/Eirain_horse%202.htm
And to a part of an article about the South Wales Borderers
www.margaretcolley.co.uk/regiment.htm
http://swanseabattalion.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1844&Itemid=66
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