In memory of Arthur Glynne Lewis

photo of Arthur Glynne LewisIn memory of Arthur Glynne Lewis

Arthur was the eldest son of Sir Henry and Lady Lewis, of Pendyffryn, Upper Bangor. He had six siblings. Sir Henry, knighted in 1911, was a prominent Calvinistic Methodist in North Wales and played an important role in securing the site in Bangor for the University College of North Wales.

Arthur attended Friars School in Bangor and Bala Grammar School, before training at HMS Conway on Merseyside. This training school was based for most of its existence in an old wooden warship. In the Second World War the ship, formerly HMS Nile, was moved to the Menai Strait, a short distance west of Garth Pier, Bangor, to evade the expected German aerial bombing.

Arthur became a Master in the Merchant Service. During his eventful seafaring career he survived shipwreck three times and became involved in the 1898-1902 war in the Philippines between the USA and Spain. He was also involved in the Boer War of 1899-1902, between Britain and the Boer republics.

In 1904 he happened to be in Baltimore, USA, when fire destroyed much of the city. The flames took more than 24 hours to extinguish. Arthur took part in the desperate attempts to fight the fire.

When the First World War began, he joined the Seinde horse regiment and travelled to India in 1914. He returned to Europe the following year to fight in France with the 30th Lancers, Indian Expeditionary Force. His globetrotting was still not over, for in 1916 he travelled again to India. He was posted to Baghdad in 1917 as a Lieutenant with the Indian Army Reserve of Officers, attached to the 13th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers (Watson's Horse). He was wounded there in May 1917, and died on 10 July 1917. He is buried at Baghdad (North Gate) Cemetery.

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