Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

LEWIS James Brook MB BS (Melb)

1877-1966

James Brook Lewis was born on 11th August 1877 in Kooringa, near Burra, South Australia. He was the eldest of six children of the Honourable John Lewis and Martha Ann, nee Brook. His mother died in 1894 and his father later remarried. His grandparents were early settlers having arrived in South Australia in 1836 on the Rapid. His father who was born in South Australia was pastoralist, explorer, miner and politician. A younger brother was Essington Lewis noted General Manager of BHP.  Lewis was educated at Whinham College and St Peter’s College. He studied medicine at the University of Adelaide and later at Melbourne University as a result of the ‘Adelaide Hospital Row’, graduating in 1901. After graduation he went to live in Menzies, Western Australia where he was District Medical Officer and Public Vaccinator. Lewis married Nancy Phillips prior to enlisting in the AIF and his address was Narrogin, Western Australia.

Lewis was appointed a captain in the AAMC on 16th June 1911. He enlisted in the AIF on 12th July 1915. He was 5ft 8ins tall, weighed 182lbs, of dark complexion with brown eyes and hair. His wife was named as his next of kin. He embarked from Fremantle on the Karoola on 11th November 1915 with the rank of temporary major while second in command of a hospital ship. He disembarked in Suez on 20th March 1916. He relinquished the rank of major on 4th July 1917 after his duty on Karoola was terminated. He proceeded overseas to France on 12th July 1917 and on 18th July was posted temporarily to 14th British General Hospital and later returning to 2 AGH.  He was promoted to major on 24th August 1917. He was posted to 10 FdAmb on 16th October 1917. He returned to England on 13th March 1918. He was granted leave without pay from 2nd November 1919 until he was demobilised in England on 18th May 1920 “for business purposes” which was to study ophthalmology. His wife and children joined him in England. He was reported as having no disability at discharge. He was issued with the 1914-15 Star, but later return of the medal was requested, the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

After the WWI Lewis worked at Moorfields Hospital, London and in Madras, India. He returned to Adelaide in 1922 and continued his practice as an eye specialist. There followed a number of honorary appointments at the Adelaide Hospital. He became a shareholder and Director of John Lewis and Company in 1925. In 1937 he was appointed as consulting ophthalmologist to the Adelaide Hospital. In WW2 he was appointed in the AAMC as a medical officer for the Artillery Militia with the rank of major in 1940. His son John Lewis, a private soldier in WW2, was killed in action in December 1942.  James Brook Lewis died on 22nd September 1966.

Source

Blood, Sweat and Fears: Medical Practitioners and Medical Students of South Australia, who Served in World War 1. 

Verco, Summers, Swain, Jelly. Open Books Howden, Adelaide 2014. 

Uploaded by Annette Summers AO RFD

Medical Officer of the 4th Garrison Battalion.