Lewis was born in Ilkeston, Derbyshire and was the son of William and Mabel Mee and the husband of L C Mee.  He enlisted on 17th July 1940 and served in Headquarter Company, 1 Platoon as a Signaller arriving in Singapore on 29th January 1942.  He was near the pipeline on the Bukit Timah Road, when he was unfortunately shot and killed on 12th February 1942 aged 25 years by a gunshot wound just above his heart. 

A few days later Singapore surrendered to the Japanese.  Circumstances prevented his burial and, having no known grave, is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial Column 72.  He is also commemorated on the Ilkeston Town War Memorial.