Lance Corporal Tobias Lewis was born in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, the third of the eight children of Mendel Lewis (1855-1924) who was born in Russia and Miriam Lewis (b.1866) who was born in East Prussia (now Germany). His birth was registered in the 1st quarter of 1884 in the Yarmouth registration district.
In the 1891 census he is shown as living at 130 King Street, Great Yarmouth with his parents and four siblings: Flora Lewis, Sarah Lewis, Rachel Lewis and Morris Lewis. In the 1901 census he is recorded as an art student residing at 20 King Street, Great Yarmouth with his parents and seven siblings: Sarah Lewis, Florrie Lewis, Rachel Lewis, Morris Lewis, Henry Lewis, Nellie Lewis and Alkin Lewis. His father was now shown as an antiques dealer.
He trained at the Regent Street Polytechnic where he won a gold medal in the National Competition of Art Schools in 1905 and is listed on a board of prize winners located in the front hall of the college in Upper Regent Street, a building which now forms part of the University of Westminster. He obtained an exhibition scholarship at the Royal College of Art where he won a silver medal. He subsequently attended the Royal Academy as a student from 26 January 1909 to January 1914 where he won a gold medal and the J M W Turner Prize for a painting that was purchased by Yarmouth Corporation.
The 1911 census shows him as a painter (artist) living at the home of his sister Sarah Lewis at 50 Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, His sister was recorded as a dealer in antiques and also residing there were his brothers, Maurice Lewis, a journalist and Henry Lewis, a toy manufacturers agent.
Kelly's Great Yarmouth 1912 Directory lists him as an artist at 30 Regent Street, Great Yarmouth, however electoral registers for 1913-14 and 1914-15 show him qualifying to vote as occupying 31 Regent Street, Great Yarmouth, but also records his place of abode as 12 St George's Road, Great Yarmouth.
He produced many paintings and several works and in July 1915 he joined the 23rd (Service) Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers (1st Sportsman's), service number Spts/4073 and entered France on 16 November 1915. He was killed in action, aged 32 years, on 5 October 1916 and was buried in Plot 2, Row O, Grave 5, in the Euston Road Cemetery, Colincamps, Somme, France. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission inaccurately claim he was aged 29 years.
On 4 April 1917 his army effects totalling £8-0s-2d were sent to his father who was living at 74 Sutherland Avenue, Maida Hill and on 17 October 1919 his £8-10s-0d war gratuity was also sent to his father. He was posthumously awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
