Born in Bethnal Green in 1868, working from the age of eleven in the book trade. He became involved with Oxford House, which was established in 1884 by Keble College and the University of Oxford to provide a centre of religious, social and educational work among the poor of East London. He became secretary of the University Club Debating Society and a trade union organiser and Liberal Party election agent.[1]
A member of Bethnal Green Borough Council, Lewis served as Mayor of Bethnal Green for six consecutive terms 1913-19. This included the entire First World War, and he was commanding officer of 5th County of London Volunteer Regiment (Bethnal Green), with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. The unit was part of the Volunteer Training Corps, a civilian home-defence force similar to the Home Guard of the Second World War. He was awarded the OBE in April 1920 for "services in connection with war".
A medal associated with the ending of WWI, issued by the borough, ended up in the West Midlands [1].
Mentioned here
For the journalist born 1969 see [2]
References[]
- ↑ Bethnal Green: Local Government. A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 11: Stepney, Bethnal Green (1998).