Marriage · Family life · Holidays · Hobbies

Abstract

It was in 1914, soon after his 33rd birthday that Lewis first met his future wife, Alice Lorna Treharne James. She was born in 1889 in the small mining town of Merthyr Tydfil, 20 miles north of Cardiff, being one of four children. Her father, Frank Treharne James, was a solicitor and one time Mayor. He was the son of Frank James, also a solicitor. Her mother was Agnes Mary Powell. The family belonged to the Unitarian Church and this led to her attending the famous boarding school at Roedean which had been founded by Unitarians and at which her aunt had been a founder pupil. It obviously suited her well and she became the head girl of her house. On returning home she became a keen volunteer nurse, taking part in public demonstrations of first aid in Wales. (Fig. 16.1) At the outbreak of war she became a member of the Voluntary Aid Detachment of nurses and served in France at a convent hospital in Saumur.