Name
John Edward Lee (*1)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/09/1915
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
17180
Bedfordshire Regiment
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LILLERS COMMUNAL CEMETERY
IV. B. 37.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Christ Church Memorial (External), Watford (*1), Christ Church Memorial Street Shrine (Internal), Watford (*1)
Pre War
Son of Joseph and Jane Louisa (nee PECK) LEE.
His parents married 15 December 1889 at St Paul’s, Old Brentford, Middx. Joseph died 1933 in the Manchester South district aged 66; Jane died 1949 in the Manchester district aged 81.
John was born 6 April 1894 in Brentford, and baptised 17 June 1894 at St Paul’s, Brentford. He attended first Callow Land Infants’ School, Watford; then Callowland Board School from 1 January 1901 to 3 April 1908. He resided in Watford.
On the 1901 Census, aged 6 he lived in Watford, with his parents and three siblings. On the 1911 Census, a slater’s labourer aged 16, he still lived in Watford, with his father [mother gone away!] and six siblings.
Recorded as born in Brentford, Middlesex and was living in Watford when he enlisted in Bedford.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Bedford; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 30 August 1915, and died at W Riding Casualty Clearing Station of wounds received in action.
Additional Information
*1 There are a number of possibilities for the J Lee and J G E Lee, who appear on Watford memorials. It is even possible they are the same man. We have chosen to include Jack Lee for the J Lee appearing because he was born in Watford and does not appear to have any middle initials, and 17180 John Edward Lee for the J G E Lee because he was living in Watford. There are other possibilities, but no connection to Watford has been identified for them. Unfortunately, John’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
