Name
Sidney Charles Lees
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/09/1915
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
4063
London Regiment *1
1st/14th (County of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LOOS MEMORIAL
Panel 132.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, St Mary's Parish Church Memorial, Watford, Watford Grammar School Memorial, Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance
Pre War
Son of William Hiley and Emma Ann (nee STUBBS) LEES.
His parents married 12 September 1889 at St Nicholas’, Cottesmore, Rutland. Emma died 1932 in Watford aged 70, and was buried 29 February in North Watford Cemetery; William died 1959 in Watford aged 95, and was buried 18 January in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford.
Sydney was born 23 June 1894 in Enfield, Middx, and baptised 12 August 1894 at Christ Church, Trent Park, Middx. He was schooled at Watford Grammar School between April 1902 and April 1910. He resided in Watford, and sailed from Southampton to New York on the S.S. New York 11 March 1914: a gardener aged 19, of Welbeck Abbey Gardens, next-of-kin his father of Watford. He returned 3rd class on the Lapland New York to Liverpool 19 November 1914, a gardener aged 21.
On the 1901 Census, aged 6 he lived in Watford, with his parents and two siblings. On the 1911 Census, an apprentice gardener aged 17, he still lived in Watford, with his parents and one sibling.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in London; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 4 July 1915, and was killed in action.
Additional Information
The published Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance entry reads:
“LEES, SYDNEY CHARLES. School period: April, 1902, to April, 1910. Private, London Scottish. Killed in action in France, 29th September, 1915.”
There is an article about Sydney in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 9 October 1915; plus an In Memoriam from the Grammar School in the issue dated 25 December 1915.
Unfortunately, Sydney’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
*1 Believed more correctly, (County of London)
Bn. London Regiment (London Scottish).
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
