A fascinating and well documented India North West Frontier operations against the Fakir of Ipi, Second World War North Africa and Italy operations and Regular Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal group to Mention in Despatches recipient and later Military Advisor to the High Commissioner of Malaya Private W.J. Lewis, South Wales Borderers who would later see service with the Royal Army Service Corps and the Indian Army Corps of Clerks, he would be present in the operations on the North West Frontier against the Fakir of Ipi between 1936 and 1939 before later seeing service in North Africa and Italy. He would be mentioned in despatches in the London Gazette of 24th June 1945 for his service with the Indian Army Corps of Clerks and would receive his Long Service and Good Conduct Group as a Warrant Officer Class 1. Having been discharged in 1955, he would immediately re-enlist with the Royal Army Service Corps subsequently acting as the Military Advisor to the High Commissioner of Malaya. Included is a large amount of original paperwork including a fascinating photograph album containing many aerial shots of forts on the North West Frontier during the late 1930s.
Group of 7: India General Service Medal 1936-1939, 2 Clasps: North West Frontier 1936-37, North West Frontier 1937-39; bars held together with thin wire, (4074932 PTE. W.J. LEWIS. SOUTH WALES BORD.) 1939-1945 Star; Africa Star clasp 8th Army; Italy Star; Defence Medal; War Medal with Mention in Despatches oakleaf emblem; Regular Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, EIIR Br:Omn bust; (S/4074932 W.O.CL.1. W.J. LEWIS. R.A.S.C.) Mounted loose for wear.
Condition: mounted loose for wear, first and last dark toned, Good Very Fine
Along with:
Original Mention in Despatches certificate dated 24th June 1945 to ‘Corporal (T/Sergeant) W.J. Lewis, Indian Army Corps of Clerks in its original OHMS envelope.
Regular Army Certificate of Service to William John Lewis who enlisted at Brecon on 13th May 1933
Regular Army Certificate of Service to William John Lewis who enlisted in Egypt on 13th May 1955
Collection of various individual ribbon bars
5 Small buttons with GRJ cypher
8 Large buttons with GRJ cypher
Pair of Indian Army Corps of Clerks shoulder titles.
9 various cloth badges.
Photograph Album containing 71 images pasted in and 14 loose images. Many of the images are annotated and include aerial images of the Tochi Scouts Post at Chariom in 1938, Tandola Fort manned by South Waziristan Scouts, Alexandra Picquet the highest position in the British Empire at 11,600ft ASL, Sarwekai Fort in 1938, Saidei Post, North Waziristan, Shargai Fort in the Khyber Pass in 1935, Khajuri Fort in 1937, Ladha Post 1938, Dhatta Khel Post nr Razmak, Bain Post near Quetta, Spinwam Fort near Miranshah, Bahardur Camp in 1937, Camp-site at Asman Manzr, Biche-Kash-Kai, Kareshta Algad, Waziristan, Boya Mountains in Waziristan, the Grim North West Frontier, Razmak, 3000ft above sea level, Motor Transport and Camel Convoys, Oli Narai near Razmak, Kareshta Algad, Northern Waziristan 1937, Motor Transport Convoy near Razmak 1937, Tribal Watch Tower in Waziristan, Mami Rogha which was bombed in 1937, a Rock formation on the frontier, an image through the clouds flying at 6,000ft, Ghorishta Valley in Waziristan, Asman Manza Village, Kam Sham Plain, Roberts Barracks Rawalpindi, Cambridge Barracks Rawalpindi, R.A.F. Lincs at Chaklala, Rawalpindi City, Peshawar Cantonment
Later in the album there are some other images of Waziristan including tanks and of tribesmen who had been killed during the campaign and of several of his colleagues. There also images of Vickers Valentia aircraft, Westland Wapiti aircraft and several images of the wildfire of the Indian subcontinent including snakes, elephants and a performing black bear.
3rd Carpathian Rifles Cap Badge and certificate to 4074932 William John Lewis, R.A.S.C.
British Military Identity Document
French 10 Franc note dated 1944.
Photograph of Lewis in uniform signed ‘Best Love, Billy’
Army Certificate of Education Third Class to 4074932 Private W. Lewis, South Wales Borderers dated 17th July 1933.
Army Certificate of Education Second Class to 4074932 Private W. Lewis, South Wales Borderers dated 4th October 1933.
Birth certificate for Lewis’ son dated 2nd May 1941.
Personal Message from the C-in-C of 21st Army Group dated March 1945 to be read out to all troops detailing the progress the Allies had made in Germany
Certificate from 21st Army group thanking him for his service.
Certificate from the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force at the end of the Second World War.
Army Certificate of Education to S/4074932 Warrant Officer, Class I William John Lewis dated 22nd March 1951.
Note from the War Office date February 1957 confirming the award of a pension after 25 years service.
Official Letter from the Military Advisor to the High Commissioner for the Federation of Malaya stating his delight that he accepted the appointment of the role as Personal Assistant in the Military Department of the High Commission.
Invite to a reception held to Lieutenant Colonel Khalid Yassin and Mrs Khalid at the High Commissioner for the Federation of Malaya and Tunku Maimunah.
Invite from the Military Adviser to the High Commissioner for the Federation of Malaya dated 9th October 1959
Invite from the Military Adviser to the High Commissioner for the Federation of Malaya dated 9th November 1959.
Invite to cocktails hosted by Major Zain Hashim, Federation Armoured Car Regiment and Major Mazlan Yunus, Royal Malay Regiment on 20th November 1959
Copy birth certificate of William James Lewis dated 9th May 1966.
Christmas card sent to Mr. W.J. Lewis at the Malaysian High Commission, 45 Belgrave Square, London.
Wedding invitation from 1972 from Tan Sri Abdul Aziz bin Yeop and Puan Sri Hamidah bte, Haji Jamaluddin requesting the company of Mr and Mrs W.J. Lewis at the marriage of their daughter Luraini to Enche Zahar bin Mohamed Shariff on Saturday 20th May 1972.
William John Lewis was born in Brecon in 1914 and would join the South Wales Borderers at Brecon on 13th May 1933, subsequently serving as a Private (No. 4074932) with the South Wales Borderers, initially at home until 5th January 1934 when he travelled to Hong Kong. He would remain there for just under a year until on 28th November 1934 he would travel to India where he would serve on the North West Frontier during the operations in Waziristan against the Fakir of Ipi during 1936 to 1939, included with the group is a fascinating photograph album which as noted above includes numerous images of forts on the North West Frontier and in Waziristan.
There is then a discrepancy in his two Red Books, the first of which states he never left India during the Second World War, but the later book confirming all of his awards indicating he must have at some stage seen service in both North Africa and Italy during the war.
He would be awarded a Mention in Despatches from the Indian Army Corps of Clerks in the London Gazette of 24th June 1945, and would return to the UK (from India according to his first certificate of service) on 23rd May 1946 where he would remain until 20th March 1954 when he is noted as serving with the Middle East Land Forces from 21st March 1953 until 12th May 1955 when he was discharged, he immediately re-enlisted the following day serving with the Middle East Land Forces from 13th May to 3rd December 1955 and then at home in the UK from 4th December 1955 to 12th May 1958 seeing service as Military Advisor to the High Commissioner for the Federation of Malaya in London and later being invited to the wedding of Luraini the daughter of Tan Sri Abdul Aziz bin Yeop and Puan Sri Hamidah bte, Haji Jamaluddin.
His testimonial on his release gives his military conduct as exemplary and states: ‘WO1 Lewis has completed 28 years good and faithful service and has proved to be an extremely capable and experienced Chief Clerk. He has good organising ability and a wide knowledge of office procedure. Thoroughly loyal and trustworthy and will be an asset to a future civilian employer.
