William Henry Thomas Lewell (also Lewelln) was born in Ballarat and was a Labourer buy trade when he enlisted in the 5th Battalion, 21st Reinforcement on 8 September 1916 at the age of 23. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A71 Nestor on 2 October 1916. He reached Plymouth in mid-November but in mid-January 1917 he was admitted to the Fargo Hospital suffering from appendicitis. Shortly after his release from hospital he recorded the first of a number of æabsent without leave' charges which were to be prominent during his period of service. In October 1917 he joined the 5th Battalion in France where, on September 28th 1918 he was wounded in action. He suffered a gunshot wound to his left forearm and was evacuated to the Bath War Hospital in England. He did not return to the Front, but in January 1919 he commenced a period of detention at the Lewes Detention Camp for having refused treatment while in the Bulford Hospital. He returned to Australia on the Medic, disembarking at Melbourne on May 31st 1919.
Tree No. 2516