Lewis, Clive, son of John Thomas Lewis of Cape Town and Lilian Blanche, d. of Charles Street of Hadley Wood, Herts; b. 18 Apr. 1914; adm. May 1928 (H); left Dec. 1932; Pemb. Coll. Camb., matric. 1933, BA 1936; Scots Guards 1940-3 (Lieut.); m. 15 July 1939 Anne Allison, d. of J. Douglas Stewart of Woking; killed in action (N. Africa) Apr. 1943.
Clive Lewis was born in South Africa on the 18th of April 1914 the only son of John Thomas Lewis and Lilian Blanche (nee Street) Lewis of Southern Rhodesia and of 24, Campden House Chambers, Kensington in London. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Homeboarders from May 1928 to December 1932. He was a member of the Officer Training Corps and was promoted to Lance Corporal in September 1931. He was a member of the 2nd Rowing VIII in 1931, where he rowed at No. 3 and of the 1st Rowing VIII in 1932 where he rowed at No. 2. The Elizabethan wrote the following on his 1932 season: - “One of the most improved oars of the crew, and very quick at learning anything suggested to him. Next year he should aim at a longer draw.”
He matriculated for Pembroke College, Cambridge in 1933 and graduated with a BA in 1936. He received a Trial Eights Cap for rowing in 1935.
He was married at Worplesdon Surrey on the 15th of July 1939 to Anne Allison (nee Stewart) of Hook’s Heath, Woking, Surrey and they honeymooned in the South of France. They had a daughter, Gillian, born on the 14th of May 1941.
He attended an Officer Cadet Training Unit before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Scots Guards on the 21st of September 1940.
On the 26th of February 1943, the 1st Battalion, Scots Guards embarked on board the passenger liner RMS Samaria at Gourock in Scotland bound for North Africa. They set sail from the Clyde on the 1st of March and landed at Algiers on the 9th of March.
At 10pm on the night of the 22nd of April 1943, the 1st Battalion, Scots Guards marched forward from a wadi behind Grenadier Hill in preparation for an attack the following morning. Their objective was the capture and clearance of a series of enemy strong points to the south of the Gab-Gab gap in Tunisia. These were known as Points 150, 145, 151 and 187 and their capture was part of a wider assault to break through the German front lines which ran from Grich el Oued on the banks of the Mejerda River.
At 3.30am on the 23rd of April 1943, 550 guns opened fire in support of the attack and at dawn the Left Flank Company attacked what they thought to be Point 150. In fact they had attacked Point 156, but had strayed to their right in the darkness. In spite of heavy casualties and assisted by the Right Flank Company, they carried the enemy position after heavy fighting and were eventually relieved by C Company later in the day. The Right Flank Company then disengaged and made for the objective which they occupied without loss. This too was the wrong position and they were overlooked by Point 168, which was still held by the enemy. At around noon Clive Lewis was killed. The Regimental history records: - “A grievous loss. He had given excellent service during the night march and had served the Brigade well in passing back vital information.
He is buried at Massicault War Cemetery Plot IV, Row B, Grave 18.
