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