Prior to the war, Lewis was an agent for the Prudential Assurance Company. He enlisted on the 31st August 1916 and was on his way to join the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (M.T.T. Re-enforcements) onboard the Troop Ship "Transylvania", when it was struck by a torpedo, two and a half miles south of Cape Vado in the Gulf of Genoa. Lewis was the husband of Annie Marsland and the father of William Lewis Marsland of 14 Nelson Street, Hyde; He was the eldest of six brothers - the son of William and Edith Marsland of 12 Durban Street, Ashton-upon-Lyne. His younger brother Heywood Marsland, a Lance Corporal in the 1st Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers died on the 11th August 1915 age 23 whilst serving in the Dardanelles. [Information sources: CWGC, Soldiers Died and Lewis's family.