Frederick (Fred) Ferris Lewis was born in Melbourne in 1924 enlisting in the Royal Australian Navy during World War II, beginning a career that would span 35 years. Commander Fred Lewis passed away peacefully on 30th October 2025, aged 101 years old.
After initial training he was shore based in New Guinea nearing the end of the Pacific War and was involved in flushing out stragglers from the main conflict to bring them by ship to the mainland. From available Service Records Fred appears to have been discharged during October 1945 and was Commissioned as an Electrical Officer in July of 1955. During his lengthy service in the Royal Australian Navy, Fred Lewis was involved in regular deployments to Southeast Asia on exercises, flag showing visits, and in shows of force involving shore bombardments against communist forces during the Malayan Emergency and the Vietnam War. He served almost exclusively at HMAS Albatross and aboard HMAS Melbourne. Frederick rose to the rank of Commander before he retired from the Navy in 1980. He was a member of the FAAAA until 2016.
CMDR Frederick Lewis WEO RAN (Ret’d) was pre-deceased by his wife Margaret and left behind an extended family of three generations.
A celebration of Fredericks Life was held at the Chapel of the RSL ANZAC Village, John Edmonson VC Drive in Narrabeen on Monday 10th November at 1200 pm.
VALE. Commander Fred Lewis WEO RAN (Ret’d)
We would like to thank Murray Smythe and Jeff Dalgliesh for material published in this Notification.
