Louis was born in 1908 in Hackney to Henry Griew and Paula Beckerman. Henry was born in Poland and Paula was from Germany and they had nine children. Louis trained as a chartered accountant and ran a successful practice and in 1934 he married Rosa Charatan in Willesden with their son Richard born in 1938. Three of Louis’ brothers also served in WW2, Dennis in the Royal Navy, Maurice in the RAF and John in the Royal Artillery.

Louis joined the Auxiliary Air Force in 1925 and in 1940 he was serving with 907 Balloon Squadron, part of No 3 Balloon Centre, Stanmore. The squadron controlled 45 balloons. Louis was one of seventeen 907 Sqn who were killed in their billet at 26 Highbury Grove, Aberdeen Lane, Islington during an air raid. The casualties were identified by the unit’s medical officer and some could only be identified by their uniforms and personal belongings.

Also killed in the air raid was Maurice Bernstein who is also remembered in the archive. Bernstein, Maurice | The Jews of the RAF