Search for relatives of doodlebug victim Henry Lewis

AN APPEAL has been launched to find family of a Shaw serviceman killed during World War Two.

Corporal Henry Lewis and 10 others were mortally wounded when a German V1 doodlebug hit the Kent village of Marden.

Corporal Lewis of the Royal Army Service Corps was 33 when he died on July 3, 1944.

The gravestone of Henry Lewis

He was the son of Henry and Sarah Lewis from Shaw and the husband of Doris Lewis.

Now, the Marden Historical Society are planning to honour the servicemen who lost their lives when their billet was struck by the deadly doodlebug.

Spokesman Colin Whittle contacted the Correspondent seeking help to discover any relatives of Corporal Lewis.

He said: “We are a small (but nationally award-winning) group in Marden, Kent, dedicated to preserving the history of our village.

“In this regard, we are about to honour the memory of 11 servicemen who lost their lives when their billet was hit by a V1 doodlebug on July 3, 1944.

“We have prepared a plaque with all of their names which will shortly be erected at the location of the disaster.

“If possible, we would like to contact any descendants of the men to invite them to Marden for a short ceremony and to demonstrate that their sacrifice will not ever be forgotten.

“If your publication could enquire whether anyone still in the area has any knowledge of Private Lewis’s surviving family members or friends, this would be extremely helpful to our History Group.

 

Marden Cemetery

“We realise this event happened almost three quarters of a century ago but we feel we must make every effort to contact any surviving relations.”

So, can you help? Anyone with information can email: colin.whittle9@gmail.com or write to Chairman: David McFarland, Selby Oast, Howland Road, Marden, Tonbridge, Kent. TN12 9DH.

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