Bertie Lewis
Hubert "Bertie" Lewis (22 July 1920 – 21 December 2010) was a World War II RAF airman who went on to become a peace campaigner in the UK. Bertie Lewis became well known for his opposition to nuclear weapons and the wars in which his adopted and his native country were engaged.
Early life
Born Hubert Lewis on 22 July 1920 in
After the war he married in
FBI and MI5 surveillance
During the McCarthy era, the FBI kept a constant watch on his movements due to his political views and compiled a large file on him.
Political activism
In 1982 he was expelled by his local branch of the British Legion after he laid a wreath bearing the
He was a member of Ex-Services CND and always took part in their August vigil in memory of the victims of the atomic bombing of
He attended many protests during his life including the famous 1968 demonstration against the Vietnam War that ended in
violence outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square, London.
In 1990 he was involved in a scuffle with another guest on the TV show UpFront whilst discussing the war in the Balkans.
In 2010 aged 90 there was controversy after he was knocked down by riot police at a demo against the English Defence League.[10]
Lewis died on 21 December 2010 following a hip replacement operation in the Royal Bolton Hospital.[11][12]
A flagstone laid as a lasting tribute to Bertie was unveiled by the mayor of Bolton on 1 August 2015. At the ceremony Lewis was described as "a true internationalist who made his home in our town". The plaque reads "Bertie Lewis – Fighter for Peace and Social Justice". [13]
Personal life
Lewis married his first wife, Britain-born Mary Crausby, in 1945 and had three children Edward, Denzil, and John. From his first marriage he also had six grandchildren, Alan, Garry, Ady, Mark, Lindsey and Jodie. He also had six great-grandchildren, Abigail, Jack, Dylan, Georgia, Robin, Ava and Max. He married Austria-born Amalia Toth in 1961 and had two more boys Roger and David.[3]
See also
Notes
- ^ a b Bolton News: "Campaigner Bertie, 81, battles on," 8 July 2002
- ^ Bolton News: "Peace fighter Berties's war plane reunion," 29 July 2004
- ^ a b Bolton News: "American RAF man committed to English roots," 12 January 2007
- ^ FBI document
- ^ Bolton News: "Bertie earned right to peaceful protest," 11 January 2011
- ^ Bolton News: "Bertie was a warrior in the fight to stop more bloodshed," 13 January 2011
- ^ Bolton Socialist Club
- ^ BBC: "1968: Anti-Vietnam demo turns violent," On This Day 17 March
- ^ Morning Star: "War families to barrack Brown," 20 December 2009 Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Manchester Evening News: "War of words between UAF and GMP over Bolton demo," 22 March 2010 Archived 12 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Bolton News: "Anti-war Bertie dies, aged 90," 27 December 2010
- ^ Bolton News: "Farewell to war protester and ex-RAF bomber, Bertie," 14 January 2011
- ^ Bolton News: "Flagstone laid in lasting tribute to passionate peace campaigner and true Bolton character" 2 August 2015
External links
