They made the Ultimate Sacrifice

 

William Erskine Lewis

 

Able Seaman Anti-Aircraft Rating 3rd Class, V1595, RCNVR

 

Born: 04 Jul 1917, Alberton, Prince Edward Island

 

Died: 06 Feb 1943 at sea

 

Book of Remembrance

 

LEWIS, William Erskine, AB, V1595, RCNVR, MPK - 06 Feb 1943, HMCS LOUISBURG - Son of Wansley and Gertrude Lewis, of Conway, Prince Edward Island; husband of Florence J. Lewis, of New Wiltshire, Prince Edward Island.

 

AB Lewis died when his ship, HMCS LOUISBURG, which was on convoy duty in the Mediterranean, was sunk by bombs and torpedoes from Italian aircraft.

 

Able Seaman William Erskine Lewis joined the R.C.N.V.R in July 1941, at Charlottetown, P.E.I. He was in the service six months going overseas in July 1942; he served on the high seas and took part in the African invasion. He was a member of the crew of H.M.C.S. Louisburg which was sunk in the Mediterranean on February 05, 1943, by enemy action, reported missing and presumed killed. William was a fisherman before he enlisted and was born in Alberton, Prince Edward Island. He attended Conway School in P.E.I. His hobbies were fishing, swimming and music. On March 12, 1942, he married Florence J. Coles of New Wiltshire, P.E.I. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wansley Lewis; two sisters Marie, and Mrs. Leonard Mattatall and a brother Mark serving in the R.C.N.V.R. also survive.

 

William's brother, Mark Howard Lewis, was serving in HMCS SUDBURY when William died.

 

Ships served in:

CHARLOTTETOWN DIVISION RCNVR - Enlisted 14 Jul 1941. Commenced Active Service 07 Aug 1941

HMCS STADACONA - Drafted to STADACONA 02 Jan 1942 as an OS, RCNVR

HMCS LOUISBURG - Drafted to LOUISBURG 29 Apr 1942 as an OS, RCNVR

* Rated AB 07 Aug 1942

* Rated AA III 05 Dec 1942

 

Wl01

WL02

(WL01) Documents from the Service File of William Lewis

(WLl02) Article on AB Lewis Reported Missing - from The Gaurdian, Charlottetown, PEI

 


 

Second World War Casualty Index

 

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