Cecil Arthur Lewis
| Cecil Arthur Lewis | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
29 March 1898 Birkenhead, England |
| Died | 27 January 1997 (aged 98) London, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1915–1919 1939–1945 |
| Rank | Squadron Leader |
| Unit | |
| Battles/wars |
World War I World War II |
| Awards | Military Cross |
Cecil Arthur Lewis MC (29 March 1898 – 27 January 1997) was a British fighter pilot who flew in World War I. He went on to co-found the British Broadcasting Company and enjoy a long career as a writer, notably of the aviation classic Sagittarius Rising (some scenes from which were represented in the film Aces High).
Educated at Oundle School, Lewis joined the Royal Flying Corps in 1915 after lying about his age and learned to fly at Brooklands. In 1916, he flew the Morane Parasol in combat with No. 3 Squadron and was awarded the Military Cross for his actions during the Battle of the Somme. Flying over the battlefield on the First day on the Somme (1 July 1916) to report back on British troop movements, Lewis witnessed the blowing of the mines at La Boiselle. He later described the early morning scene in his book "Sagittarius Rising": "We were to watch the opening of the attack, coordinate the infantry flare (the job we have been rehearsing for months) and stay over the lines for two and a half hours". It had been arranged that continuous overlapping patrols would fly throughout the day. Lewis' patrol was ordered "to keep clear of La Boiselle" because of the mines that were to be blown. As he watched from above the village of Thiepval, almost two miles from where the mines exploded, Lewis saw a remarkable sight: "At Boiselle the earth heaved and flashed", he wrote, "a tremendous and magnificent column rose up into the sky. There was an ear-spitting roar, drowning all the guns flinging the machine sideways in the repercussing air. The earthly column rose, higher and higher to almost four thousand feet." Lewis' aircraft was hit by lumps of mud thrown out by the explosion.
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