A studio photograph of George Medal winner Richard John
Lewis, taken during his time on Malta, and his gallantry
medal.
Gallantry medal returns home
One of the first George Medals awarded in the last war
has returned ‘home’ to Pembroke Dock.
It has been entrusted to the town’s Sunderland Trust by
the Pembroke Castle Trust which was originally given the
medal in 2008.
The George Medal - which recognises conspicuous
gallantry by civilians - was awarded in 1940 to a former
Pembroke Dockyard engineer, Mr Richard John Lewis, who
at the time was Chargehand of Fitters at Malta Dockyard.
During the war the island of
Malta was subjected to sustained bombing by Italian and
German aircraft. The medal award followed raids by
Italian aircraft in June 1940 when John Lewis and a
colleague, Frank Mallia, ‘displayed outstanding courage
and coolness’ in the face of repeated attacks. They and
their teams worked tirelessly for ten days in the face
of great danger to erect protection screens for gun
crews.
In a contemporary report The Times of Malta noted that
this was everyone’s first experience of active service
and there were many air raids.
“They never stopped working although bombs dropped
occasionally within 100 yards. Their only request was
that their men would like to be provided with steel
helmets to protect them from splinters”, the report
added.
At the time Mr Lewis’ wife and daughter were living at
Ardwyn, Cwm, St Dogmaels. When at Pembroke Dockyard Mr
Lewis worked in the Engineering Department, and his
grandfather, Captain Childs, was at one time owner of
the Hobbs Point-Neyland ferry service.
Although the award of George Medals to Mr Lewis and Mr
Mallia was announced in December 1940 it was nearly
three years later when the medal was actually presented
to the Pembrokeshire man, by a Royal Navy Admiral.
Mr Lewis was also signalled out for high praise in March
1941 for his work on repairing the aircraft carrier HMS
Illustrious which was badly damaged in air attacks in
the Mediterranean.
The George Medal, a photograph of John Lewis and other
items belonging to Mr Lewis’ daughter, the late Mrs B.
G. M. Douglass, were presented in 2008 to Pembroke
Castle for museum display.
Jon Williams, Manager at Pembroke Castle, said: “We were
honoured to have such historic and important items given
to us but have not been able to display them. We felt it
important that they should be returned to Pembroke Dock
and we are delighted that the Sunderland Trust has taken
them and plans to display them in due course.”
The Sunderland Trust hopes to find out more about John
Lewis and his family. It is known that Mr Lewis died in
March 1963 and that his wife and family lived at
Limekilns in Fife, Scotland, at the time.
John Evans, of the Sunderland Trust, added: “We do hope
that publicity will result in us finding out more about
Mr Lewis and his family.”
The Sunderland Trust can be contacted on 01646 623425 or
by e-mailing
enquiries@sunderlandtrust.org.uk
Captions:
Major Ivor Ramsden (left) and Jon Williams (right) of
Pembroke Castle Trust show the George Medal and other
items from the R. J. Lewis Collection. With them is John
Evans of the Pembroke Dock Sunderland Trust.
PICTURE: Martin Cavaney Photography.
A studio photograph of George Medal winner Richard John
Lewis, taken during his time on Malta, and his gallantry
medal.
From: John Evans, Pembroke Dock Sunderland Trust, 01646
623425