Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Flatiron Copse Cemetery, Mametz | III. H. 15. | |
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.128 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 44D GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | |||
Family :
Son of James Ranyard Lee and Amelia Matilda Lee, of 179, Pitshanger Lane, Ealing, London.Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 12th Battalion London Regiment (The Rangers) |
1/12th (County of London) Battalion (The Rangers) August 1914 : at 14 Chenies Street. Part of 3rd London Brigade, 1st London Division. Moved on mobilisation to Bullswater, going on in September to Crowborough. In October, guarded the Waterloo-North Camp (Aldershot) railway and in December went to Roehampton. 25 December 1914 : left the Division and landed at Le Havre. 8 February 1915 : came under command of 84th Brigade in 28th Division. 20 May 1915 : transferred to GHQ Troops and formed a composite unit with 1/5th and 1/13th Bns. Resumed identity 11 August. 12 February 1916 : transferred to 168th Brigade in 56th (London) Division. 31 January 1918 : transferred to 175th Brigade in 58th (2/1st London) Division, absorbed the disbanded 2/12th Bn and renamed 12th Bn. |
| Action : The Battles of the Somme 1916 |
The Battle of the Somme 1st July - 18th November 1916 is inevitably characterised by the appalling casualties (60,000) on the first day, July 1st 1916. Having failed to break through the German lines in force, and also failed to maximise opportunities where success was achieved, the battle became a series of attritional assaults on well defended defence in depth. The battle continued officially until 18th November 1916 costing almost 500,000 British casualties. German casualties were about the same, and French about 200,000. The Somme could not be counted a success in terms of ground gained or the cost, but it had a strategic impact as it marked the start of the decline of the German Army. Never again would it be as effective whilst the British Army, learning from its experience eventually grew stronger to become a war winning army. The German High Command recognised that it could never again fight another Somme, a view that advanced the decision to invoke unrestricted submarine warfare in an attempt to starve Britain of food and material, and in doing so accelerated the United States declaration of war thus guaranteeing the eventual outcome. 287 Brethren were killed on the Somme in 1916.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Paddington Rifles No. 2807 E.C. | London |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
6th January 1913 | 5th May 1913 | 7th July 1913 |
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley