Hubert William Lewis

Kept fighting while wounded and carried a comrade to safety.

Hubert William Lewis was born at Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, on 1 May 1896. Known as Stokey, he left school at thirteen and packed fish at the local market. In September 1914 he joined the 11th Battalion of the Welsh Regiment, the Cardiff Pals. After training and a short period in France, the battalion went to Salonika in November 1915.

During a raid at Macukovo on the night of 22-23 October 1916, Lewis was wounded but continued into the enemy positions. Refusing treatment, he searched dugouts and attacked three opponents, taking them prisoner. During the withdrawal he returned for a wounded man and brought him clear of shell and rifle fire before collapsing.

King George V presented the Victoria Cross at Buckingham Palace on 5 February 1917. Lewis returned to the Balkan front later that month and served until the end of the war. Demobilised in 1919, he worked in the Milford Haven fish trade. A business with his cousin failed, but he later found lasting work with an ice company and became a foreman.

He married Edith Etherington in 1920 and they had three sons. During the Second World War he served in the Home Guard. His son Vernon died on operations with the Royal Air Force in 1943; Lewis received Vernon's posthumous Distinguished Flying Medal from the King in 1946.

Lewis continued attending veterans' events and remained closely associated with Milford Haven. He died there on 22 February 1977 and was buried beside his wife at St Katherine's.

Official citation:

For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty during a raid. On reaching the enemy trenches Private Lewis was twice wounded, but refused to be attended to, and showed great gallantry in searching enemy dug-outs. He was again wounded and again refused attendance. At this point three of the enemy were observed to be approaching, and Private Lewis immediately attacked them single-handed, capturing all. Subsequently, during the retirement, he went to the assistance of a wounded man, and under heavy shell and rifle fire brought him to our lines, on reaching which he collapsed. Private Lewis showed throughout a brilliant example of courage, endurance and devotion to duty.