Remembering Harvey Daniel Lewis

On the 11th day of the 11th month of the 11th hour, please wear a poppy to show respect and to reflect on the freedoms we have here in Canada today.

We honour. We educate. To remember Canada’ veterans, every year, forever.

Here at the Clearview Public Library, we are remembering Harvey Daniel Lewis, the uncle of one of our patrons. He was a Pilot Officer Wireless Operator Air Gunner who engaged in “operations, forbidden for me to tell you where, but my feelings tell me it’s to be a hot spot. If you get this letter, you will know that the worst has come. I hope you don’t but my conscience has told me to write this as (it is) my last possible chance to do so.”

These are Harvey’s words written in 1943 in his final letter home. Seventy- none years later, this letter landed on my desk and has inspired us to take part in remembering Harvey D as our inaugural serviceman to be honoured as we participate for the first time in the No Stone Left Alone project this Remembrance Day.

Our patron had no idea what happened to his uncle as he was only 15 months old when Harvey left Canada to fight for freedom in 1939. With a little help from our local museum community, I was able to find out his date of death (July 29, 1944 at age 26) and how Halifax #NP 702 failed to return from night operations over Hamburg, Germany. All seven of this aircrew were killed. They have no known graves but their names are inscribed on the Runnymede War Memorial, Englefield Green, Surrey, England along with 20,456 men and women who have only this inscription as a reminder of their lives. As Harvey comments, “There are thousands gone before me. I am only one pebble in this large pool.”

We were able to find individual pictures and a group shot of Harvey and his air crew. We found images of NP 702, Q)-B “Block Buzzter” (Harvey’s airplane) on the pan at RAF East Moor as well as the paintings of the nose art and mission count on the cockpit of his plane. The official report included the details that “the attackers were heavily hit by both flak and the night fighters from the Luffwaffe. Twenty-two aircraft were lost. Resulting in the death of 145 crew members and a further 28 being made PoW. Lost without trace, probably crashed into the North Sea in the area of Heligoland. It is thought that this was an extremely experienced crew as the pilot had completed some 32 operational missions.”

Our patron has brought in a family picture from 1939 containing 15 immediate members to share with Harvey’s story and display that we will be featuring here in the Stayner Branch of the Clearview Public Library during Remembrance Week. Please take a moment to view it and at this time, think of Harvey’s sacrifice.

“As I close this hand pressed letter, I must say life has been grand while it lasted. With me, I take sweet memories of you all. God be with you for evermore. Farewell everyone.”

We remember Harvey this Remembrance Day.

If you would like to sign our Remembrance Day Memory book in honour of your veteran, we invite you do so. We also have the patterns for the crafted poppies and yarn available if you wish to make your own too.

Michele McKenzie is deputy CEO of Clearview Public Library.