LEWIS, Anthony David
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Known as:
Tony
Rank:
Lieutenant Colonel
Unit / Base:
4 Commando
6 Commando
Regiment/Corps:
Dorsetshire Regiment
Service:
Army
Number:
95626
Honours & Awards:
Born:
Saturday, April 3, 1920
Died :
Friday, January 21, 2000
Operations:
Officer Commanding No 6 Commando from June 1944 onwards.
Commissioned Second Lieutenant in 1939 he served in France as part of the British Expeditionary Force. A veteran of Dunkirk, he was promoted Lieutenant 3rd January 1941. After a brief spell with No 4 Commando, he rejoined the Dorsets to take part in Operation Torch. He joined No 6 Commando whilst out in North Africa.
When Brig Derek Mills Roberts took command of the 1st Special Service Brigade at Normandy after Lord Lovat's wounding, he chose Tony Lewis to replace him as Commanding Officer of No 6 Commando. His original choice, Major Courtenay Coade, 2i/c No.6 Commando, had also been wounded on D Day.
Aged just 24 the then (Temp) Lt. Col. Lewis, whom Field Marshall Montgomery used to refer to as his "boy colonel", led No 6 Commando in France until 8 August 1944 when Lt. Col. Coade returned from injury, and again from January 1945 throughout the remainder of the war. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for "gallant and distinguished services in NW Europe." The French Government later awarded him the Croix de Guerre with palm.
- 3 July 1952 (Captain) (Dorsetshire Regiment) promoted Major.
- 1 June 1953 appointed MBE (Military Division) for setting up the Kenya National Service scheme.
- 2 November 1960 promoted Lieutenant Colonel.
- 3 April 1975 retired with the rank of Colonel.
Additional Sources:
DSO: LG 37138, page 3231 MBE: LG 39863, page 2950 Maj: LG 39588, page 3631. Lt Col: LG 42293, page 1717Photo of Commando in Gallery:
Yes
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