Lewis Banham, a veteran of World War II who served in the 15th Scottish Division’s 44th brigade starting in 1942, passed away. Let’s see How did Lancashire veteran Lewis Banham die and Lewis Banham Cause of death in detail.
How did Lewis Banham die?
Lewis Banham, a veteran despatch rider from D-Day who turned 100 this week, passed away on December 7, 2022.
Lewis Banham Cause of death
Lewis Banham cause of death was not disclosed yet. There are no information available about Lewis Banham cause of death.
WWII veteran Lewis Banham
Sadly passed 🇬🇧
Aged 100Lewis, from Lancashire, served in 44 brigade of the 15th Scottish Division from 1942. A despatch rider in the Signals, he was in Schwerian on the River Elbe in Germany when VE Day was declared.
RIP Sir 🇬🇧🙏 pic.twitter.com/TJFb91J1W3
— Jules 🇬🇧⛑️🇦🇲 (@JulesS2nd) December 7, 2022
Medico topics have been trying to reach out to the family and relatives for comment on the incident. So far no responses have been received. We will update the page once enough information is available. More information on Lewis Banham cause of death will be added soon.
Who was Lewis Banham?
Lewis Banham was born in Bacup, and he wed his girlfriend Bessie there in the Congregational Church off South Street, three weeks before he was called up for National Service in 1942.
He served in the 15th Scottish Division’s 44th brigade starting in 1942. He was at Schwerian on the River Elbe in Germany when VE Day was proclaimed.
Lewis, part of the fifth wave to land on D-Day, arrived in Europe in 1944.
“Old Faithful” Bike
On his 500cc BSA M20 motorcycle, which he dubbed “Old Faithful,” he travelled throughout Europe after landing on Gold Beach in Normandy on June 6, 1944, carrying crucial communications to the front line.
Lewis Banham on his 500cc BSA M20 motorcycle.
Photo credit: Veterans in Communities (VIC) and Catherine Smyth Media.
He was a courier rider in the Signals.
Despatch Rider
Lewis Banham, a despatch rider for the Signals, was in one of the first brigades to hear the news that the war was over.
He served in the 44 Brigade of the 15th Scottish Division and was present when VE Day was declared in Schwerian on the River Elbe in Germany while inside a residence the British forces had taken over.
He remembered,
“When cease-fire came the guns went silent and I could hear all the birds chirping; I had not heard them for so long because of the gunfire. It was a wonderful sound to me.”
“It felt grand knowing that I could go out on my motorbike without fear of possibly being hit by a bullet.
“There was relief among the soldiers and we had a celebration.”
“I can still see the house. We had billeted in a semi with a little garden, it had three bedrooms and there were four of us living there – three upstairs and one downstairs, that was me and I slept on a window seat.”
“I had taken the cushions off the sofa to make a bed and the lady who used to live in the house came back and removed them. When I told her what I needed them for she replaced them and left me six eggs, I guess as a peace offering.”
D-Day
In the fifth wave of troops to touch down on the Normandy Beaches on D-Day, Lewis arrived in Europe in June 1944.
From there, he rode his dependable BSM20 motorcycle around Europe, delivering messages to the front line. Nearly a year after the war ended, he was still using the motorcycle.
VE Day
Lewis relocated to Baad Segeburg shortly after VE Day, where the army once more occupied civilian homes.
He remembered how they later gave the homeowners back control of their gardens and vegetable care.
He remembered,
“I remember the lady of the house had a son Klaus, he was about six, and I would give him chocolate and he was delighted.
“His mum would look after the garden and she also took away my washing and brought it back clean and ironed. Not every body’s in the house – just mine.”
Russian Region
After taking a month off in England, he was sent there after delivering dispatches by rail through the Russian region. He had traded his motorcycle for a Jeep, then a Dodge truck.
Lewis had always preferred the bike, but the jeep’s 4-wheel drive allowed it to easily navigate any dirt.
He spent 13 weeks in a Vienna hospital after developing jaundice, and he wasn’t discharged until a few days before he was demobbed in November 1946.
Medals
Lewis had received the Dutch Liberation medal as well as the Legion d’honneur, France’s highest military decoration.
Photo credit: Veterans in Communities (VIC) and Catherine Smyth Media.
His 100th Birthday
A D-Day veteran despatch rider who turned 100 this week claimed that drinking whisky every day was one of his secrets to living a long life.
Lewis Banham, celebrates his 100th birthday
(Image: Catherine Smyth Media)
“It was smashing and very nostalgic. It brought back so many memories.
“When I was finally demobbed in 1946, I got off the bus and was walking up South Street towards Tong Lane when I bumped into my dad.
“He put my kit bag over his shoulder and when I got to our house, he was very tactful and let me go in on my own to see Bessie. I miss her every day.”
Tributes to Lewis Banham
Many people expressed their profound sympathies to his family and expressed how much they loved him.
Julie Gough tweeted,
“Rest in Peace sir. Thank you for your service.”
Daphnie whitethigh tweeted,
“Wow this man helped make history. His duties over, may he rest in well-deserved peace.”
Patrick Gannon tweeted,
“May his memory forever be a blessing”
Jade tweeted,
“RIP Lewis ,a true hero lost.”
Sapper Alwilly wrote,
“Lewis was a really nice cheerful man, I had many a good laugh with him, and some good chats with him, when at the breakfast club, and at the veterans in community’s. You will be sadly missed by a lot of people, who got the chances and privilege to get to know you. Stand down, duty done, rest in peace, there’s a drink at the squadron bar waiting for you”
Trafford Veterans CIC wrote,
“A shining light has gone out, it was an honour and a pleasure to know you. Back with his beloved Wife Bessie. Glad you made your 100th! RIP Lewis Banham, Hero, WW11 Veteran and friend to us all x
#WW11 #veteran”
One of the worst things anyone can go through in life is losing a loved one. Any journey must have a destination at the end. The person’s time on earth has regrettably come to an end now that they have died.
We wish him eternal peace and send our thoughts and prayers to his loved ones, family, friends. May he rest in peace.
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