The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Private J Lee


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Private John LEE,  S/1934, 1st  Battalion,  Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, killed in action, Flanders France, 1st January 1915.

Born 9th August 1878, St Pancras, London, son of James & Katherine Lee, 75 Charlton Street.

10th May 1896, St Marys, Somers Town, London, John Lee, age 19, bachelor, labourer, 8 Milton Mews, father, James Lee, labourer, married Cecilia  Watters, age 20, spinster, 32 Clarendon Street, father Archibald Watters, general dealer.  Separated.

Children? - Annie Lee, born 1896 September Quarter, Pancras Registration District; Michael, Eliza AND/ OR  John, age 16, in September 1914 ;


Home 23rd August 1898 to 5th  August 1908.

23rd August 1898, enlisted London, age 20 years & 11 months, single man, height 5ft 2¾ inches, fair complexion, blue eyes, fair hair, weight 114lbs, vaccinations 4 left arm, ILAB I Lee right forearm, ILCW crop? flags left forearm. Resided 28 Exmouth Street, Hampstead, London. Formerly beer bottler Posted 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment, Special Reserve;  Drilled for 49 days on Enlistment.

15th January 1899, arrested for assaulting Police in St Pancras Road;  16th January 1899, Clerkenwell Police Court, convicted & sentenced to 21 days hard labour at HM Prison Pentonville; 4th February 1899, date when he will be discharged. Residence before conviction, 54 Milton Mews, Euston Square.

18th October 1899, arrested for being drunk in Charlton Street, NW; , 19th October 1899, Clerkenwell Police Court, convicted 20/- or 14 days, date of discharge 1st November 1899.  Residence before conviction, 8 Meldon Mews, Euston.

19th December 1899, appointed Lance Corporal; 7th December 1900, promoted Corporal; 12th July 1904, tried by Court Martial and reduced to ranks. 1st August 1904, re-engaged, 6 years; 1905/1906/1907/1908, present at Annual Training.


Living with Mrs Eliza  Salisbury (widow) as his wife since 1902 and had five children by the outbreak of War. Claimed Separation Allowance and Allotment of Pay by presenting herself as Mrs Lee.

Eliza Catherine, born 11th September 1902, Bisborough? Street, London; Michael Thomas, 15th January 1907, Bridgewater Street, St Pancras; Emily, born 17th July 1909 St Pancras; John James, born 15th April 1911, St Pancras; William George, born 29th February 1913? St Pancras.


Enlisted  Maidstone, Kent, age 30, height 5ft 2¾ inches, weight 114lbs. Formerly beer bottler.

Home, 9th August 1908 to 18th September 1914; BEF 19th September 1914 to 1st January 1915.

9th August 1908, enlisted; 12th July 1909, Shorncliffe, Annual Taining; 5th September 1910, Cowshot, Annual Training; 24th July 1911, Shorncliffe, Annual Training; 26th ???? 1912, 30th May 1912, Shorncliffe; examined, found fit for re-engagement, 4 years; Shorncliffe; 28th July 1913, Annual Training, temporarily unfit, fractured scapula; 5th August 1914, mobilized; 6th August 1914, posted 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 19th September 1914, posted BEF & 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment.

26th January 1915,  Separation Allowance of 16/- a week and Allotment of Pay of 3/6 a week to be paid from 5th August 1914,to Mrs Cecilia Lee, 24 Chapel Grove, St Pancras;

 1919 3 James Street, George Road, Holloway.

Commemorated at Ypres (Menin Gate)  Memorial, Panel 45 and 47, Belgium.


This page was last updated on 13-Jul-2020.

Copyright © 2008 Janet & Richard Mason