Christ College Remembers…Major C H Lewis

Cecil Hallowes Lewis joined Christ College in 1881. He was the son of Reverend David Phillips, Rector of Llandrinio in Montgomeryshire. Like his older brother, C E Ll Lewis (School House 1879-1884), he was an excellent sportsman and both brothers achieved their colours in the 1^st Cricket XI.

After leaving school Cecil joined the Army. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant into the South Wales Borderers in 1888 and into the Dorsetshire Regiment in 1891. Later promoted to Lieutenant, he transferred to the Army Service Corps and was seconded to the Uganda Rifles as Company Transport Officer. While serving in East Africa he was awarded the medal for the Nandi Expedition in 1900. In 1904 Cecil was promoted to Major and continued to serve in Africa.

At the outbreak of the First World War Major Cecil Lewis was part of the 1^st Division Train of the Army Service Corps, one of the first British formations to move to France. His ‘train’ consisted of 26 officers, 402 other ranks, 378 horses, 17 carts, 125 wagons and 30 bicycles. Deployed to the dangerous duty of supplying front line units, the division was involved in most of the major battles in the early part of the war – the Battle of Mons, the Battle of Marne, the Battle of the Aisne and the First Battle of Ypres.

Major Cecil Hallowes Lewis was killed on 28^th May 1915. He is buried at St Sever Cemetery, Rouen and is remembered on the War Memorial in Christ College.