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Somme soldier Thomas Lewis's medal at Cardiff Castle Museum | Somme soldier Thomas Lewis's medal at Cardiff Castle Museum |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A soldier honoured for gallantry and devotion at the Battle of the Somme during World War I will have his medal put on display in Cardiff. | A soldier honoured for gallantry and devotion at the Battle of the Somme during World War I will have his medal put on display in Cardiff. |
Rhondda-born Pte Thomas Lewis received the Distinguished Conduct medal for risking his life in 1916. | Rhondda-born Pte Thomas Lewis received the Distinguished Conduct medal for risking his life in 1916. |
The former miner came under heavy fire to save a fellow soldier who had lay dying in no man's land for days. | The former miner came under heavy fire to save a fellow soldier who had lay dying in no man's land for days. |
Pte Lewis's family will present the medal to Cardiff Castle Museum of the Welsh Soldier later on Thursday. | Pte Lewis's family will present the medal to Cardiff Castle Museum of the Welsh Soldier later on Thursday. |
The Battle of the Somme in 1916 lasted more than four months and claimed about 420,000 British lives including 20,000 on the first day alone. | |
Former miner Pte Lewis, then 38, was a volunteer with the 2nd Battalion of the Welsh Regiment. | Former miner Pte Lewis, then 38, was a volunteer with the 2nd Battalion of the Welsh Regiment. |
He was involved in the main assault at High Wood. | He was involved in the main assault at High Wood. |
Enemy snipers | Enemy snipers |
It was there that a soldier who was thought to have been from the South Wales Borderers had been wounded and left to die for four days. | It was there that a soldier who was thought to have been from the South Wales Borderers had been wounded and left to die for four days. |
To reach him, Pte Lewis had to keep moving as he dodged enemy fire. | To reach him, Pte Lewis had to keep moving as he dodged enemy fire. |
The London Gazette reported that Pte Lewis rescued the man from 100 yards over the front line while "under observation of numerous enemy snipers". | The London Gazette reported that Pte Lewis rescued the man from 100 yards over the front line while "under observation of numerous enemy snipers". |
It read: "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion in voluntarily going out 100 yards in front of a line and bringing in a wounded man" | It read: "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion in voluntarily going out 100 yards in front of a line and bringing in a wounded man" |
It went on: "Pte Lewis was heavily fired on the whole time." | It went on: "Pte Lewis was heavily fired on the whole time." |
Pte Lewis was born in 1878 in Pentre, Rhondda. He was one of six children and the son of an iron moulder. | Pte Lewis was born in 1878 in Pentre, Rhondda. He was one of six children and the son of an iron moulder. |
He and wife Mary moved to the Rhymney Valley and had five children. | He and wife Mary moved to the Rhymney Valley and had five children. |
He worked at the Elliott Collieries, New Tredegar, as a haulier, colliery ripper and coal miner, and died in June 1944. | He worked at the Elliott Collieries, New Tredegar, as a haulier, colliery ripper and coal miner, and died in June 1944. |