Top Navigation

Lewis VARLEY

Main CPGW Record

Surname: VARLEY

Forename(s): Lewis

Place of Birth: Kelbrook, Yorkshire

Service No: 45211

Rank: Rifleman

Regiment / Corps / Service: London Regiment

Battalion / Unit: 1/5th (City of London) Battalion. (London Rifle Brigade)

Division: 56th (1/1st London) Division

Age: 27

Date of Death: 1918-11-06

Awards: ---

CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: I. A. 5.

CWGC Cemetery: ANGREAU COMMUNAL CEMETERY

CWGC Memorial: ---

Non-CWGC Burial: ---

Local War Memorial: EARBY, YORKSHIRE

Additional Information:

Lewis Varley was the son of Thomas and Mary Ann Varley, née Townend. Thomas was born at Clitheroe, Lancashire and Mary at Kelbrook, Yorkshire. Lewis was the nephew, through marriage, of Private Richard Henry Foxcroft (15580) (q.v.).

1901 Earby, Yorkshire Census: 1, Colne Road - Lewis Varley. Aged 9 years, born Kelbrook, Yorkshire, son of Thomas and Mary A. Varley.

1911 Earby, Yorkshire Census: 6, Lincoln Road: Lewis Varley, aged 19 years, born Kelbrook, Yorkshire. [Lewis was living with his uncle and aunt, Richard Henry and Emily Foxcroft, née Townend.]

British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte Lewis Varley, 45211, Rifle Brigade.

British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Pte Lewis Varley, 45211, Rifle Brigade. Att: 1/5th Lond. R.

See also:
‘Earby in the First World War’ by Stephanie Carter, published by Earby & District Local History Society (2014).
‘Our Finest Crop’ by Steven Marshall, published by Earby & District Local History Society (2020).

Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry

View Entry in CPGW Book

Entry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:

EARBY

VARLEY, Rifleman Lewis, aged 27, London Rifle Brigade, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Varley, 9, Victoria Road, killed in action, France, Nov. 16 [sic], 1918.

---

Click the thumbnail below to view a larger image.

Rifleman Lewis VARLEY

Rifleman Lewis VARLEY

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: London Regiment

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: London Regiment

Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 56th (1/1st London) Division

Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 56th (1/1st London) Division

Data from Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 - 1919 Records

Soldiers Died Data for Soldier Records

Surname: VARLEY

Forename(s): Lewis

Born: Kelbrook, Yorks

Residence: Earby, Yorks

Enlisted: Keighley, Yorks

Number: 45211

Rank: Rifleman

Regiment: Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own)

Battalion: 1/5th London Regiment

Decorations:

Died Date: 06/11/18

Died How: Killed in action

Theatre of War: France & Flanders

Notes: Formerly 351188, Durham L. I.

Data from Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records

CWGC Data for Soldier Records

Surname: VARLEY

Forename(s): Lewis

Country of Service: United Kingdom

Service Number: 45211

Rank: Rifleman

Regiment: Rifle Brigade posted to London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade)

Unit:

Age: 27

Awards:

Died Date: 06/11/1918

Additional Information: Son of Thomas and Mary Ann Varley, of 9, Victoria Rd., Earby, Colne. (CWGC Headstone Personal Inscription: GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN)

---

---

View Craven Herald Articles

View Craven Herald Articles

Craven Herald and Wensleydale Standard Logo

27 December 1918

EARBY SOLDIER’S HEROIC DEATH

The uncertainty resulting from a confusion of dates in regard to the death of Rifleman Lewis Varley (London Rifle Brigade) has been cleared up by the receipt of a letter from an officer. The first news received by his parents (Mr. and Mrs. Amos [sic] Varley, 9 Victoria Road, Earby) was an official intimation to the effect that their son had been killed in action on November 16th. This, it now appears, should have been November 6th. In the letter referred to, Second Lieutenant J. W. Terry writes:– “It is with my own very deepest sympathy that I have to convey this terrible news to you. Lewis was a very good lad, and I had a very high opinion of him. He was killed under most heroic circumstances. He was surrounded by the enemy when it became necessary for us to withdraw, and was killed fighting hard - a fine soldier’s death. He was buried on the 9th November in the village cemetery at Angreau, between Valenciennes and Mons.”

Rifleman Varley was 27 years of age.

---

Submit a Correction

    Name (required)

    Email Address (required)

    Telephone (required)

    Soldier Reference - Name:

    Soldier Reference - URL:

    Details of the correction to be made (required)

    Comment on this Soldier Record

    You can leave comments on this soldier record. Please note all comments will be manually approved before they appear on the website.

    No comments yet.

    Leave a Reply

    Pin It on Pinterest

    Share This