Born: 1887, Bradford
Died: 27 November 1917
Buried:
Address: 70 Undercliffe Street
Parents: Sam & Clara, nee Horsfield
Spouse: Mary Elizabeth, nee Ingham
Siblings: John, Alfred, Frank
Occupation: Bradford Co=op
Organisations/clubs:
Military
Rank: Pte
Medals/awards:
Rolls of Honour: Cambria Memorial
Children: Alice, John, Douglas
Regiment: Duke of Wellington’s
Lewis Ratcliffe
Lewis Ratcliffe was born in 1887 in
Bradford the oldest of four sons of
Sam and Clara, nee Horsfield.
In 1901 Lewis at the age of 15
years was working as a grocer’s
assistant.
In 1910 he married Mary Elizabeth
Ingham in Bradford and they went
to live at 70 Undercliffe Street
where three children were born,
Alice in 1911, John in 1915 and
Douglas in 1917. When Lewis
enlisted he was employed by the
Bradford Co-op Stores.
He enlisted in October 1916 as
Private 3037594 in the 2/7th
Battalion of the Duke of Wellington
West Riding Regiment.
His Regiment landed in France in
January 1917 and took part in the
Operations on the Ancre 11th
January to 13th March 1917.
There followed the German retreat
to the Hindenburg Line 14th March
to 5th of April 1917 and the Arras
Offensive 5th April to 9th June
1917.
His Regiment appears to have been
resting during the Ypres Offensive
but were in action again in the
Cambrai Operations in the capture
of Bourlon Wood when Lewis was
killed in action on the 27th
November 1917. He was 30 years
of age.
Lewis is remembered on the
Cambrai Memorial which stands on
an elevated terrace at Louverval. It
commemorates more than 7,000
servicemen from Britain and South
Africa who died in the Battle of
Cambrai whose graves are not
known.
He left his effects to his widow
Mary Elizabeth who received
£3.17.5d on the 7th September
1918 and a War Gratuity of £4.0.0d
on the 13th December 1919.
Researched and written by Jean
Britteon, to whom many thanks
