Jacques Lewis
Jacques Pierre Lewis (1 March 1919 – 25 July 2024) was a French veteran of the Normandy landings. He is believed to have been the last surviving French veteran of the landings.
Biography
[edit]Lewis was born on 1 March 1919 in Caudéran, in Bordeaux.[1] After studying at Lycée Janson-de-Sailly,[2] he started studying law at Sciences Po.[3] When the Second World War broke out in September 1939, he joined the French Army, becoming a student officer. After training at the Auvours military camp, he participated in battles on the Loire River and at Fontainebleau during the Battle of France.[2]
After the Germans occupied France, Lewis fled to Spain in December 1942,[4] by crossing the Pyrenees on foot. He was arrested in Pamplona and imprisoned by Franco's regime.[3] He managed to escape, and joined the Free French in London in July 1943, after first crossing to the United States on a boat flying the flag of Liberia.[5]
With the rank of second lieutenant, he participated in the Normandy landings (D-Day) in the 2nd American Armoured Division, led by General Edward H. Brooks; he was selected to serve with the Americans because of his command of English in addition to French.[6] On 6 June 1944, he landed on Utah Beach. He participated in the fights for the liberation of the village of Carentan, which lasted six days.[3] He then fought in the Ardennes and then in Germany, helping to repatriate French prisoners of war.[6] He ultimately obtained the rank of commander.[7]
After the war, Lewis worked in the cosmetics industry, remaining discreet about his experiences as a soldier.[8] From April 2018 until his death, he was a resident and dean of the Institut national des Invalides.[6] He participated in the commemorations of the D-Day landings, especially in June 2019 (the occasion of the 75th anniversary), where he was joined by Léon Gautier. On 8 June 2024, he was present at the ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the event, under the Arc de Triomphe, in the presence of United States President Joe Biden.[3] He insisted that he be taken to the event in his wheelchair to participate in the ceremony and greet Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron.[5]
He died on 25 July 2024, at the age of 105.[9] President Macron paid tribute to him in a statement published by the Élysée on 30 July. A ceremony was held on 1 August at Saint-Louis-des-Invalides Cathedral.[3] He is believed to have been the last living French veteran of the Allied landings on D-Day.[5]
References
[edit]- ↑ "CAUDERAN 1 E 27 - Registre des actes de naissance de Caudéran, 1917-1919 - 1917-1919 : Site officiel des Archives de Bordeaux Métropole". Archives Bordeaux Métropole.
- 1 2 "Disparition de Jacques Lewis". elysee.fr (in French). 30 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Taburet, Marceau (30 July 2024). "Le résistant français Jacques Lewis, héros du Débarquement, est mort à l'âge de 105 ans". Le HuffPost (in French). Retrieved 30 July 2024.
- ↑ "Jacques Pierre Lewis - Les Français Libres". www.francaislibres.net.
- 1 2 3 Davison, Phil (8 August 2024). "Jacques Lewis, French Veteran of U.S. Landing on D-Day, Dies at 105". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
- 1 2 3 "Jacques Lewis, vétéran du Débarquement, est mort à l'âge de 105 ans, annonce l'Elysée". Franceinfo (in French). 30 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ↑ "Mort du Français Jacques Lewis qui avait participé au Débarquement". BFMTV (in French). Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ↑ ""J'ai débarqué le 6 juin 1944" : le témoignage exceptionnel d'un vétéran français". TF1 INFO (in French). 6 June 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ↑ "Jacques Lewis, l'un des derniers survivants du Débarquement en Normandie, est mort". Paris Normandie (in French). 30 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.