The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Captain F H Lewin


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Captain Francis Harold LEWIN,  7th  Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, killed in action, PoelcappelleVillage, France, 12th October 1917, age 22.

Born 16th March 1895, Bromley, Kent, second Son of Harold Chaloner Lewin and Frances Elizabeth Lewin, (daughter of James Brown Alston), of Birchdale, Bromley, Kent.


1901 Census - 13 Oaklands Road, Bromley, Kent - Harold C Lewin, head, married, age 41, Solicitor, born Wanstead, Essex; Frances E Lewin, wife, married, age 36, born Bromley, Kent; Edward C Lewin, son, single, age 7, born Bromley, Kent; Francis H Lewin, son, single, age 6, born Bromley, Kent; Kenneth A Lewin, son, single, age 5, born Bromley, Kent; Mary H Lewin, daughter, single, age 6 months, born Bromley, Kent; Florence Hanyon, servant, single, age 27, domestic, born Little Stukeley, Huntingdonshire; Lily Hanyon, servant, single, age 20, domestic, born Little Stukeley, Huntingdonshire; Elizabeth Cock, servant, single, age 29, domestic, born Little Bromey, Essex.

1911 Census - The College Marlborough, Wiltshire - Francis Lewin, Pupil, age 16, student, born Bromley, Kent. 


Educated at Hazelhurst, Frant, Sussex; Marlborough College; was entered at Oriel College, Oxford.

On the outbreak of war, he offered his services, but was rejected owing to defective eyesight, whereupon he underwent an operation, and again submitted himself , being accepted and Gazetted 2nd Lieutenant, in the Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, 25th November 1914; was promoted Lieutenant and Captain in February 1917; served with the Expeditionary Force France & Flanders from July 1915; was twice wounded.

His Commanding Officer wrote:" I always considered your boy to be my best Company Commander; he was always so keen about his work, and so cool and cheery under the hottest fire. His loss leaves a great blank in our ranks which we can never fill. He fell doing his duty like a gallant soldier and gentleman he has always proved himself to be."

Unmarried.

30th November 1917, Probate - Francis Harold Lewin of Birchdale, Bromley Kent. M.C. Captain H.M. Army died 12th October 1917, in Flanders. Administration London 30th November to Harold Chaloner Lewin, Solicitor. Effects £428 8s 2d.

His brother Lieut. E.C. Lewin also fell.

Buried at Bard Cottage Cemetery, V. A. 40., Belgium.  Commemorated Bromley War Memorial.

AWARDS: M.C., Twice Mentioned in Despatches


London Gazette 15th September 1916.

Royal West Kent Regiment.  - Temporary 2nd  Lieutenant F. H. Lewin to be temporary Lieutenant -  4 July 1916.

London Gazette 20th October 1916.

His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to confer the Military Cross on the under mentioned Officers and Warrant Officers in recognition of their gallantry and devotion to duty in the Field :

Temporary 2nd  Lieutenant Francis Harold Lewin, Royal West Kent Regiment.

For conspicuous gallantry in action. He laid telephone wires under heavy fire, and maintained communications both forward and backward throughout the day and during the night. He used the enemy's wire when his own was finished, and frequently repaired his wires under heavy shell fire.

London Gazette 5th April 1917.

Royal West Kent Regiment. - The under mentioned temp. Lieutenants to be temporary Captains.: 

F .H. Lewin, M.C. 15 February 1917.

London Gazette 17th April 1917

Royal West Kent Regiment. - The under mentioned temporary Lieutenants to be acting Captains whilst commanding  a Company:

F. H. Lewin, M.C. 3 December 1916 to 28 January 1917.

London Gazette 21st December 1917.

War Office, 21st December 1917.

The following is a Continuation of Sir Douglas Haig's Despatch of the 7th November, submitting names deserving special mention, published in a Supplement to the London Gazette of Tuesday, 18th, December, 1917 :

ROYAL WEST KENT REGIMENT. - Lewin, Temporary Captain F. H., M.C.


This page was last updated on 21-Jul-2020.

Copyright   © 2008 Janet & Richard Mason