Norfolk Second World War veteran dies at Dereham care home

Reginald Lewis, who lived at Quebec Hall care home in Dereham, served in France and Germany during the war and was later stationed in Italy, Egypt and the Middle East. 

His son Graham Lewis said: "Up until the past few weeks he was very alert and he often went out into the local area by taxi.

"His last trip was for a ride on the Mid Norfolk railway, which was very appropriate as he worked for the railways as a signal engineer in the London area."

Second World War veteran Reginald Lewis with great-granddaughter Elodie on his 100th birthday in Dereham. (Image: Supplied)

It was witnessing the Blitz in 1941, when Reginald was working on the Old Kent Road in London, which prompted him to join the army. 

He went to Southend recruiting office and in April 1942 became a soldier in the 70th Young Soldiers Battalion, the Essex Regiment.

He was transferred to the Royal Corps of Signals and was based at Wimbledon Common, where he met his wife Nora - they married in 1944.

Mr Lewis on service in Palestine in 1946. (Image: Supplied)

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Following D-Day on June 6 of that year, he was posted to the Allied headquarters in Reims, France, and, after the German surrender, to Frankfurt. 

After further deployments to Italy, Egypt and Palestine, Reginald finally made it back home for Christmas in 1946.

Within a few years he had started a career with British Railways, eventually overseeing the signal and telegraph department for the southern region. 

Dereham mayor Hugh King, right, congratulates Reginald Lewis on his 100th birthday. (Image: Supplied)

During this time he also volunteered for the ‘Army Emergency Reserve’ in the railway signalling squadron, and was asked to write up a report on the requirements of a modern signalling system for future army deployments.

After living in several places across the country, Reginald moved from Uttoxeter in Staffordshire to Dereham in 2020, where his son Graham already lived. 

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Reginald Lewis, one of the few remaining Second World War veterans in Norfolk, died on April 24. (Image: Supplied)

Graham said: "He passed away peacefully on Friday, April 26 at Quebec Hall care home.

"He was very happy here and the staff looked after him with real care and attention."