Henry Lewis
Lance Serjeant Henry Lewis – Royal Engineers
Early Life
Henry Lewis was born in Cardiff in 1907, the
younger son of Nathan Lewis and Kezia Campbell, who had married
in 1892.
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| 1911 Census |
The 1911 Census records the family living at 44 Stoughton Street, Cardiff. Nathan, then 38, was employed as a marine fireman, while Kezia, aged 39, kept the household. Their children were Mary L. (16), employed as a sugar boiler; Gladys (13); George (10); Annie Maud (8); Henry (4); and Lucy (1). All of the older children were attending school at the time. Also present on census night was Frederick Markland, a 24-year-old seaman, who boarded with the family.
There does not appear to be a surviving 1921 census entry
for the family.
Marriage
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| Henry Lewis and Lucy Jane Dyer marriage certificate All Saints Church, Kilvey |
The next clear record of Henry is his marriage certificate. On 2nd June 1928, he married Lucy Jane Dyer at All Saints Church, Kilvey. At the time of the marriage, Henry’s address was given as 2 Kilvey Hill.
By the outbreak of the Second World War, Henry and Lucy were
living at Robert Owen Gardens, Swansea. However, only Lucy appears on
the 1939 Register, suggesting Henry was already serving in the army.
Military Service
Henry served with the Royal Engineers, where he rose
to the rank of Lance Serjeant. The Royal Engineers were heavily engaged
in Britain’s defence during 1940, carrying out vital work such as constructing
and repairing airfields, bomb disposal, and laying or clearing minefields — all
tasks that carried considerable danger.
Death
On 12th November 1940, Lance Serjeant
Henry Lewis lost his life while serving with the Royal Engineers. He was
just 33 years old.
Burial
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| Henry Lewis Danygraig Cemetery credit - findagrave |
Legacy
Although the details of his service are scarce, Henry
Lewis’s sacrifice places him among the many Royal Engineers whose dangerous
work underpinned Britain’s survival during the early years of the Second World
War. His burial at Danygraig connects him to Swansea’s wartime story and
ensures that his name endures alongside those of his fellow servicemen. His
grave serves as a reminder that the war touched every community, claiming not
only young recruits but also men in their thirties who left behind families,
livelihoods, and futures.
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