The Best Type
Regimental Sergeant Major Reginald Samuel Lewis Royal Artillery
The Man Reginald Samuel Lewis was born on Tuesday 14th July 1903, son of Frederick James Lewis a Colour Sergeant Major in the Royal Artillery and Rachel Thornton nee Billington who had married in 1890. The 1901 census shows Frederick and his family living at 11 Station Road, Gosport and it is likely Reginald was born here.
Frederick died in1906 aged just 41 when Reginald was three and in 1910 Rachel re-married to Albert Alfred Hitchcott in Hampshire. Reginald was the youngest of six siblings, Gordon Frederick Henry Lewis born in 1892, Percy Victor W Lewis 1897, Alfred John Ingram Lewis 1900 Edward Lewis 1904, and following his Mother’s second marriage in 1910, Eric Albert James Hitchcott 1911 (who later served in WWII and became a Japanese PoW). He also had two step siblings, Harry Hitchcott born in 1912 and Doris Rachel Hitchcott 1917.In 1911 the new family were living at 11 Station Road, Gosport.
Following his education and on 19th July 1917, aged just 14, Reginald enlisted as a ‘Boy’ at Fort Brockhurst, Gosport into the Regular Army Royal Artillery. He was too young to see service in World War I but remained in the Army making it his career.
Reginald served at home until 6th February 1933, a total of 15 years 203 days when he was posted to India rising to the rank of Sergeant and with service number 1412570. In 1935, on the Occasion of the Silver Jubilee of HM King George V, Reginald was awarded the Silver Jubilee Medal 1935 the notification appearing in the India Rolls for the medal. The following year in Army Order 81 of 1936 he was awarded the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal for 18 years regular service.
During the second quarter of 1938 Reginald married Lilian Eugene Gingell in Southampton, presumably whilst on leave and they had a son Neville Humphrey Lewis born in 1938. He did however return to the UK more permanently on 24th December 1938 having served in India for over five years. On 2nd September 1939, the day before World War II began, he was posted to St Helena, as part of the Garrison built up on the island to defence it against possible German invasion. The 1939 census shows Lilian living at 28 Wharncliffe Road, Southampton with her 73-year-old mother Kathleen M Gingell.
Frederick died in1906 aged just 41 when Reginald was three and in 1910 Rachel re-married to Albert Alfred Hitchcott in Hampshire. Reginald was the youngest of six siblings, Gordon Frederick Henry Lewis born in 1892, Percy Victor W Lewis 1897, Alfred John Ingram Lewis 1900 Edward Lewis 1904, and following his Mother’s second marriage in 1910, Eric Albert James Hitchcott 1911 (who later served in WWII and became a Japanese PoW). He also had two step siblings, Harry Hitchcott born in 1912 and Doris Rachel Hitchcott 1917.In 1911 the new family were living at 11 Station Road, Gosport.
Following his education and on 19th July 1917, aged just 14, Reginald enlisted as a ‘Boy’ at Fort Brockhurst, Gosport into the Regular Army Royal Artillery. He was too young to see service in World War I but remained in the Army making it his career.
Reginald served at home until 6th February 1933, a total of 15 years 203 days when he was posted to India rising to the rank of Sergeant and with service number 1412570. In 1935, on the Occasion of the Silver Jubilee of HM King George V, Reginald was awarded the Silver Jubilee Medal 1935 the notification appearing in the India Rolls for the medal. The following year in Army Order 81 of 1936 he was awarded the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal for 18 years regular service.
During the second quarter of 1938 Reginald married Lilian Eugene Gingell in Southampton, presumably whilst on leave and they had a son Neville Humphrey Lewis born in 1938. He did however return to the UK more permanently on 24th December 1938 having served in India for over five years. On 2nd September 1939, the day before World War II began, he was posted to St Helena, as part of the Garrison built up on the island to defence it against possible German invasion. The 1939 census shows Lilian living at 28 Wharncliffe Road, Southampton with her 73-year-old mother Kathleen M Gingell.
On 10th December 1940 he sailed back to the UK from Suez via East and South Africa Ports aboard the Athlone Castle, part of the Union Castle Mail Steamship Company, by now he had been promoted to Battalion Sergeant Major and his address given as Barnstaple in Devon.
Samuel served the rest of the War at home working at the Coast Artillery School, based in Llandudno, Wales. At the end of the War he was awarded the Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45.
On 12th October 1945 he retired from the Army aged 42 as Regimental Sergeant Major and his military conduct was given as Exemplary. The Commandant of the Coast Artillery School, a Brigadier, said of Samuel:
“An example of the best type the Regular Army produces. Has worked his way from Boy to R.S.M (Was top of his class). Possessed of tact, drive, personality and will power and will give of his best to any job he undertakes”.
Samuel transferred to the Reserve until his release on 22nd August 1952 aged 49. His final testimonial said:
“An outstanding Warrant Officer who has rendered long and dutiful service having worked his way up from “Boy to W.O. Class I”. Possessed of tact, drive and personality he is well fitted in any position which calls for integrity and self-reliance. Absolutely honest and sober he has been a Credit to the military profession”.
Samuel and Lilian divorced and during the first quarter of 1959 aged 56, he re-married to Carol M Lewis in Wokingham and by 1962 they were living at 28 Commons Road, Berkshire and he died in the first quarter of 1982 aged 78.
Samuel served the rest of the War at home working at the Coast Artillery School, based in Llandudno, Wales. At the end of the War he was awarded the Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45.
On 12th October 1945 he retired from the Army aged 42 as Regimental Sergeant Major and his military conduct was given as Exemplary. The Commandant of the Coast Artillery School, a Brigadier, said of Samuel:
“An example of the best type the Regular Army produces. Has worked his way from Boy to R.S.M (Was top of his class). Possessed of tact, drive, personality and will power and will give of his best to any job he undertakes”.
Samuel transferred to the Reserve until his release on 22nd August 1952 aged 49. His final testimonial said:
“An outstanding Warrant Officer who has rendered long and dutiful service having worked his way up from “Boy to W.O. Class I”. Possessed of tact, drive and personality he is well fitted in any position which calls for integrity and self-reliance. Absolutely honest and sober he has been a Credit to the military profession”.
Samuel and Lilian divorced and during the first quarter of 1959 aged 56, he re-married to Carol M Lewis in Wokingham and by 1962 they were living at 28 Commons Road, Berkshire and he died in the first quarter of 1982 aged 78.
The Story The medals awarded to Reginald Samuel Lewis were acquired from e-bay on 6th April 2021 and of interest because of the simplicity of the group and the paperwork that came with them.
The documents and a search of Ancestry.UK allowed a quite detailed biography to be pieced together and it was a bonus to find a photograph of Reginald on a family tree.
Interestingly Reginald’s full medal entitlement seem not to be recorded in one place! His final Certificate of Service on leaving the Army, completed in 1952 state only the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and War Medal 1939-45.
The 1935 (India Office) Roll confirms the award of the Silver Jubilee Medal 1935 and the Ministry of Defence Medal Office only the Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45 and Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
So, piecing all the different confirmations together Reginald’s full entitlement is the Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45, Silver Jubilee Medal 1935 and Army Long Service and Good conduct Medal.
Proving once again that the only certainty in the award of medals, is the uncertainty!
The documents and a search of Ancestry.UK allowed a quite detailed biography to be pieced together and it was a bonus to find a photograph of Reginald on a family tree.
Interestingly Reginald’s full medal entitlement seem not to be recorded in one place! His final Certificate of Service on leaving the Army, completed in 1952 state only the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and War Medal 1939-45.
The 1935 (India Office) Roll confirms the award of the Silver Jubilee Medal 1935 and the Ministry of Defence Medal Office only the Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45 and Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
So, piecing all the different confirmations together Reginald’s full entitlement is the Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45, Silver Jubilee Medal 1935 and Army Long Service and Good conduct Medal.
Proving once again that the only certainty in the award of medals, is the uncertainty!
Medal Details:
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Silver Jubilee Medal 1935 1412750 SGT. LEWIS. R.S. 1935
- Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal: 1412570 SJT. R.S.LEWIS. R.A.
This page last updated 19 May 22
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