John Adrian Lewis was born in 1913, son of John Lewis and Margaret Lewis. He had joined the R.A.F. before 1933, as Service Number 563644. He was very able pilot, and although a sergeant pilot, he had been offered a commission – but declined. Although his parents lived at Abbey Mount, Llantysilio he was based for much of his life in Grantham Lincolnshire and was known as a brilliant footballer. He played for Grantham in the Midland League and was one of the heroes of the memorable Charity Cup final when Grantham beat the redoubtable Doncaster Rovers. For much of his time with the R.A.F. he had been in Africa, initially in South Africa, but later in Kenya and in 1940 Sudan. He was with 223 Squadron, who were equipped with the Vickers Wellesley, a single engine light Bombers which were used against the Italians in North Africa, he also had the distinction of being a member of the famous Caterpillar Club. One of the qualifications is that the candidate must have escaped from a wrecked plane by parachute . He returned home on leave Good Friday, 1940, to marry Evelyn May Ward at Grantham. They spent their honeymoon in Wales. Whilst he was flying his machine back to the African station he crashed off the South coast of France. He was buried at L'aiguillon-Sur-Mer Communal Cemetery near Marseilles in early April 1940.