Archibald Henry Everett Dew was born 1889, the elder of the two sons of Henry Dew (1862-1931) and Julia A. Dew née Everett (1868-1926). His birth was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1889 in the Ledbury Registration District, Herefordshire. His brother was Wallace Browning Dew (1894-1945).
In the 1891 census he was shown as Archibald H. E. Dew, aged 2 years and visiting with his mother the home of his widowed maternal grandfather, William Everett (b.1832) - a bookseller, at 'Oakdene', Hendham Road, Wandsworth, London.
He was listed as Archibald E. Dew, aged 12 years in the 1901 census, living in Horse Lane, Ledbury, Herefordshire, with his parents and his brother, together with a female general domestic servant. His father was described as an ironmonger's assistant.
When the 1911 census was undertaken he was shown as Archibald Henry Everett Dew, aged 22 years and a clerk at Lloyds, boarding in a seven roomed property at 4 Belmont Road, Ilford, Essex, the home of Henry Alfred Croxford - a dock warehouse keeper, his wife and their three children, the eldest of which was Elizabeth Ellen Croxford (1888-1961).
In September 1914 he joined as a Private in the 28th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Artists' Rifles), service number 2532 and entered France on 26 October 1914.
On 17 October 1916 he married Elizabeth Ellen Croxford at All Saints Church, Pokesdown, Bournemouth, Hampshire (now Dorset), where in the marriage register he is shown as aged 27 years, a bachelor and a sergeant instructor, living at 41 Sunnyhill Road, Pokesdown, the son of Henry Dew, retired, whilst his wife was described as aged 27 years, a spinster and a milliner, also residing at the same address, the daughter of Henry Alfred Croxford, retired.
He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Machine Gun Corps. At the end of World War One he was awarded the 1914 Star with the '5th Aug-22nd Nov 1914' Clasp, the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal and these were sent to him at 71 Leighton Avenue, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex,
Their daughter, Marjorie Elizabeth Julia Everitt Dew, was born on 21 August 1920 and her birth was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1920 in the Rochford Registration District, Essex.
When he completed his 1921 census return form he described himself as aged 32 years, 4 months, an insurance broker's clerk, employed by Swann & Everett Insurance Brokers at 'Lloyds', R. Exchange, London and living in three rooms at 71 Leighton Avenue, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, with his wife and their daughter.
He is shown on the 1933 electoral registers as entitled to vote with a residential qualification in parliamentary elections at 24 Bisham Gardens, Highgate, London.
In the 1937 edition of Kelly's Directory of Essex he is listed as living at Holly Lodge, Ridgeway, Hutton, Essex.
He was remarried to a Doris Emma O'Sullivan née Stokes (1901-1983), a widow, in the 3rd quarter of 1941 in the Westminster Registration District, London.
On 5 July 1938 he was appointed as an Acting Pilot Officer in the General Duties Branch of the Auxiliary Air Force which was embodied (included) with the Royal Air Force on the outbreak of World War One. His service number was 90453. He was promoted to Flying Officer (Balloon) on 22 October 1938. As a Balloon Officer he was promoted to Squadron Leader on 24 August 1939 and to Wing Commander on 1 June 1941 in the Air Ministry Unit.
His home address had been 'Wimpole', Jennings Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire and he died on active service from a coronary related matter, aged 53 years on 9 May 1943, whilst travelling aboard the troopship SS Highland Brigade. His body was buried at sea and as he has no grave he is commemorated on column 267 of the Alamein Memorial, in the El Alamein War Cemetery, El Alamein, Egypt.
A memorial service for him was held on 13 July 1943 at St Michael's Church, St Michael's Alley, London, EC3. Probate records confirm his St Albans address and that when probate was granted to his widow on 9 December 1941 his effects totalled £7,981-14s-8d.
He is shown as 'DEW, ARCHIBALD HENRY E.' on the Lloyds of London WW2 memorial at 12 Leadenhall Street, London, EC1. He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website, on the RAF Commands website and on the Royal Auxiliary Air Force's Roll of Honour.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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