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Lewis James Dunbar - Information

Lewis belonged to a family from Werombi near Camden. He was born in Werombi on the 1st of October 1884. Lewis served in the rifle club and worked as a gardener. At the age of 32, he enlisted in the AIF at the Royal Showground Camp on the 13th of October 1916. He commenced his training at the Engineer Depot in Moore Park, becoming a Sapper with the Tunnelling Company. He then sailed out of Sydney Harbour on the 17th of January 1917 onboard the RMS Omrah.

The Omrah made berth in England, and Lewis was taken to Perham Downs in late March. A couple weeks later, he was transported to France. However, on the 28th of April, he reported sick with bronchitis. The infection grew worse, and he was eventually evacuated to England on the 4th of June, to Middlesex War Hospital. He was taken back to France in August, and by the end of October, was attached to the 1st Tunnelling Company. Constructing tunnels deep underneath No Man’s Land was gruelling and strenuous work. As a result, Lewis developed a hernia, reporting to hospital on the 10th of December. In early January 1918, he was invalided to England, for his return trip to Australia. On the 1st of February 1918, he embarked England on the HT Balmoral Castle for a medical discharge. Lewis then returned to his family and civilian life in Werombi. Here, in May, he was greeted with grateful family and friends at a welcome home social at Foresters’ Hall.