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| Name: |
George Edmund LEWIS |
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| Casualty No.: |
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Ranks: |
Lance Sergeant |
Initials: |
G E |
Service No.: |
4466511 |
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| Date of Birth : |
- |
Place of Birth : |
Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan, South Wales. |
Age at Death: |
33 |
|
| Unit: |
8th Bn Durham Light Infantry. |
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| Place Enlisted: |
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| Place of Residence: |
Clara vale, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham. |
| Home Address: |
21 Maryside Place, Clara Vale, Ryton on Tyne. Co. Durham. |
| Previous Address: |
|
| Civilian Employment: |
Probably a miner at Clara Vale Colliery. |
| How Died: |
Killed in action |
| Date of Death: |
Saturday 17th July 1943 |
| Place of Death: |
Primosole Bridge, Sicily, Italy. |
| Battle/Campaign: |
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| Locally Commemorated: |
Ryton War Memorial, Station Bank, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham.
Clara Vale Colliery War Memorial, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham.
St John's Church, Roll of Honour, Greenside, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham.
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| UK Commemorated: |
- |
| Overseas Commemorated: |
- |
| Buried: |
Catania War Cemetery, Sicily. Italy. |
| Decoration and Medals: |
1939-45 Star. Italy Star. War Medal. |
| Photographs: |
0 |
| Service Records: |
No |
| Death Notice/Obituary: |
|
| Family Details: |
Son of Margaret Maude Lewis.
Nephew of Mr. and Mrs. D. Irving, of 21 Maryside Place, Clara Vale, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham.
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| Notes : |
George is one of only two names that are commemorated on the Clara Vale Colliery Memorial for World War 2, the other being John Navin. Presumably George resided with his aunt and uncle and worked at Clara Vale Colliery.
Primosole Bridge was on the Sicilian coast near Mount Etna. The British desperately needed the bridge intact to continue their advance along the coast.
Elements of the Airborne Division failed to secure the Northern approaches to the bridge, due to lack of numbers.
On the 16th July, the 6th Bn, 8th Bn and 9th Bn of the Durham Light Infantry (151st Brigade), attacked to secure the bridge, managing to capture the North side. Hand to hand fighting took place for the rest of the day, with many casualties.
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| Sources Used: |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Debt of Honour Register.
Army Roll of Honour, 1939-45.
Blaydon Courier, 3rd September 1943.
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