Allan Leonard Lewis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Allan Leonard Lewis
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| Born | 28 February 1895 Whitney-on-Wye, Herefordshire |
| Died | 21 September 1918 (aged 23) Rossnoy, near Lempire, France |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Rank | Lance Corporal |
| Unit | The Northamptonshire Regiment |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
Allan Leonard Lewis VC (born February 28, 1895 – died September 21, 1918) was a very brave English soldier. He received the Victoria Cross, which is the highest and most important award for courage. This special medal is given to soldiers from the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries for showing amazing bravery against the enemy.
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A Hero's Story
Allan Lewis was born in Herefordshire, England. Later, he moved to South Wales to find work. Before World War I started, he worked as a bus driver for the Great Western Railway in Neath.
In March 1915, Allan joined the British Army. By September 1918, he was 23 years old. He was a Lance Corporal in the 6th Battalion of The Northamptonshire Regiment.
Incredible Bravery in France
On September 18, 1918, near Lempire, France, Lance Corporal Lewis showed amazing courage. He was leading his group of soldiers during an attack. They were stopped by very heavy machine-gun fire.
Allan saw two enemy machine guns firing from the side, hitting his soldiers. He bravely crawled forward by himself. He threw bombs at the machine guns and then used his rifle to make the whole enemy team surrender.
Just a few days later, on September 21, Allan quickly led his company through enemy gunfire. Sadly, he was killed while trying to get his men to safety from heavy machine-gun fire.
Remembering Allan Lewis
Lance Corporal Lewis does not have a known grave. He is remembered on the Vis-en-Artois memorial near Vis-en-Artois British Cemetery, Haucourt.
The Victoria Cross Medal
Allan's Victoria Cross medal was given to his elder brother, Frank, by their mother. She made Frank promise that the medal would never be sold. She felt that selling it would be like profiting from her son's death.
Frank kept the medal safe until he passed away. His children agreed that Allan's last living brother could keep the medal for his lifetime. After that, it was supposed to go to a museum, either the regimental museum or a local one in Hereford. However, when this brother died, the medal was kept by the person who inherited his belongings. Despite requests from Frank's family, the medal was not returned for a museum.
Honoring a Hero
Many events took place to honor Allan Lewis on the 100th anniversary of his brave actions.
On September 18, 2018, two special plaques were put up at Neath Station. One was in English and one in Welsh. Allan's great-niece, Dawn Lewis, unveiled them. The Railway Heritage Trust helped pay for these plaques.
On September 21, 2018, exactly 100 years after his death, a bronze statue of Allan Lewis was unveiled. It is in Hereford's Old Market Shopping Centre. The statue was designed by Jemma Pearson. It was unveiled by Her Majesty's Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire, The Dowager Countess of Darnley. The money for the statue came from the A L Lewis VC Memorial Fund, which Dawn Lewis leads. Also, a memorial plaque for Allan was placed in the Lady Arbour at Hereford Cathedral.
Around the same time, the modern Great Western Railway named one of its new trains after Allan Lewis. This was a way to recognize him, even though the company before them had not done so.
