LEWIS FRY MALONE

From May through to September 2026, Andrew will be fulfilling his dream to hike the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats! You are all warmly invited to follow Andrew’s epic journey on his Facebook page, “Andrew Beal LEJOG”: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577588795730

As Andrew hikes the 1,300+ miles, he will raise funds for the Ipswich War Memorial Project to help finance our future exhibitions and research of the brave Ipswich men and women who lost their lives in conflict. If you would like to make a small donation, please click on the link: https://gofund.me/5d4a50570

Thank you for your love and support. Andrew & Helen – I.W.M.P.

MOLLY

Photograph and extra information courtesy of James Pitt.

Born: 13th February 1910, at 16, Northgate Street, Ipswich.

Died on or since: 10th October 1941: age 31; Lewis was reported missing after his aircraft, Hurricane I V7295, failed to return from an operational flight near Bardia, Libya.

Another source reports the aircraft was shot down by a Bf109 during a Tactical Recce Sortie.

Residence: 16, Bucklesham Road, Ipswich.

Occupation: Latin Teacher at Marlborough House School, Hawkhurst, Kent.

Enlistment: When war broke out, Lewis enlisted in the R.A.F.

Based: British Landing Ground 75. at Sidi Barrani, Egypt.

Service:

Lewis served on the Indian Frontier and then in Libya as a reconnaissance pilot flying Hurricanes. He also trained as an aerial photographer. On the 29th March 1940, Lewis was in Waziristan Pakistan, with the R.A.A.F., 28 Squadron, flying Westland Lysanders. During his service, Lewis was involved in some dogfights, being gazetted along with Flight Lieutenant Christopher Hastie Jones.

Family note:

On one mission, his engine failed, making very rude noises at him. He force-landed and had to spend the night in the open. He took rations and a pistol but found to his chagrin some unmentionable clod had removed the water bottle. Rather trying as he had particularly asked if it was there before he had taken off. It was very cold in the desert at night, and he tried to cover himself with maps. Luckily, he was rescued the following day by a transport truck.

Lewis enjoyed a daily swim in the Mediterranean Sea. And he always flew with copies of Virgil’s ‘Aeneid’ and Homer’s ‘Iliad’ in the cockpit. The squadron’s Australian pilots likened Lewis to Achilles – very brave, but modest.

Rank: Flight Lieutenant; Service Number: 70443.

Regiment: Royal Air Force, 451 Royal Australian Air Force.

Medals Awarded: Distinguished Flying Cross – awarded 29th March 1940, during Ahmedzai operations on the northwest frontiers. Gazetted 21st May 1940.

Memorial Reference:

Column 20.

Alamein Memorial,

Egypt.

CENSUS

1911   16, Northgate Street, Ipswich.

Lewis was a year old and living with his parents & brother.

Charles Albert Malone, 42, a Dentist (L.D.S.) – own account & employer – at home, born Dundrum, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Ireland.

Mabel Catherine Malone (nee Fry), 28, born Ipswich.

Charles Dennis Malone, 4, born Ipswich.

1 page.

2 domestic servants.

1921   Junior House, Felsted School, Felsted, Essex.

Lewis was 11 years & 4 months old. He was a Student and Boarder at the independent boys’ school.

Lewis’s father was a Freemason. At the age of 32, on the 7th December 1999, he became a member of the British Union Lodge, Ipswich. His address was at Brook Street, Ipswich.

Lewis’s mother was the great-great niece of Joseph Fry – founder of the Fry’s Cocoa Firm.

Lewis was educated at Ipswich School, which he entered in 1918 and left in 1920, before moving up to Felsted School, Essex, where he entered in 1921 and stayed until 1929. After matriculation, Lewis went up to Pembroke College, Oxford, as a Classics Scholar, graduating in Greek and Latin. Whilst at Pembroke College, he joined their Flying Club and qualified as a pilot in 1932.

Probate to Charles Albert Malone – father, a retired Dental Surgeon.

Lewis is also remembered on the Ipswich School chapel war memorial and at St. Augustine of Hippo, Ipswich.

Aberdeen Press and Journal 12th April 1940.

Gallant Deeds in India.

Daring Airman.

Flying Officer L. F Malone, RAF, is awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On February 19th, he was required to carry out a preliminary reconnaissance of caves in the Gumatti Tangi area so that they could be photographed later. Owing to the nature of the ground, this required lying low with an easy range of numerous hostiles. He undertook this risk without hesitation and carried out his reconnaissance with such excellence and clarity that a photographic sortie was not necessary. Two days later, he was flying in support of the Kohat Brigade, which was moving towards Latambar. By concise and clear reports dropped on the Brigade, he greatly assisted in forcing the enemy to keep their heads down and hindered them from following up too closely.

IN SEVERE STORM

On February 28th, the telephone line between Bannu and Marashah was cut. Flying officer Malone was ordered to drop an important message on Marashah. To do this, he had to fly in the face of the most severe storm and willingly undertake a risk which a pilot would not normally be upon to undertake.

War Diary Returned To The Family.

In August 2002, a 30-page diary, written by Lewis, was handed over to his nephew and great niece during a ceremony at the R.A.F. Club in London. The diary, beginning in July 1941 and ending in September, was taken back to Australia by a fellow Hurricane pilot from the Royal Australian Air Force. But after the Australian’s death, the diary was sent on to another comrade, 84 year old Wing Commander Geoffrey Morley-Mower, a professor of English at James Madison University in Virginia. Wing Commander Morley-Mower said that coming from America to return the diary to Lewis’s family was his last mission for the RAF. He said of Lewis, “He was one of the bravest people I ever met. He looked like Achilles and, like Achilles, he died. He saved the squadron by demonstrating to the young Australians what it was like to face death.”