Main CPGW Record
Surname: LEES
Forename(s): Eric Brown
Place of Birth: Kensington, Middlesex
Service No: ---
Rank: Major
Regiment / Corps / Service: Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment)
Battalion / Unit: 10th (Service) Battalion
Division: 17th (Northern) Division
Age: 40
Date of Death: 1918-07-31
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: C. 20.
CWGC Cemetery: HARPONVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
CWGC Memorial: ---
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: TUNSTALL, LANCASHIRE
Additional Information:
Eric Brown Lees (born 14 April 1878) was the son of Edward Brown and Dorothy Lees, née Livesey. Edward was born at Oldham and Dorothy at Blackburn, Lancashire.
1881 Grasmere, Westmorland Census: Kelbarrow - Eric Brown Lees, aged 2 years, born London, Middlesex, son of Edward Brown and Dorothy Lees.
1891 Bournemouth, Hampshire Census: Chippendale Lodge - Eric B. Lees, aged 12 years, born London. Boarder. Scholar.
1901 Cantsfield, Lancashire Census: Thurland Castle - Eric Brown Lees, aged 22 years, born Paddington, London, son of Dorothy Lees, widow.
Eric was married to Mary Florence Hope in 1909.
1911 Tunstall, Lancashire Census: Tunstall House - Eric Brown Lees, aged 32 years, born London, husband of Mary Florence Lees.
Major Eric Brown Lees was killed in action by a gas shell at 8 p.m., when serving in the Aveluy Wood Sector, France.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Maj Eric Brown Lees, Westmorland & Cumberland Yeomanry (T.F.). Theatre of War first served in: ( - ). Date of entry therein: ( - ).
Eric is commemorated on the 'Fell & Rock Climbing Club of the English Lake District' War Memorial at the summit of Great Gable, Cumberland.
A short biography of Eric is included in: ‘Bentham’s Part in the Great War 1914-18’ by Allan and Marilyn Hartley (2019).
Photograph: 'Illustrated London News' (7 September 1918).
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record: ---
---
Click the thumbnail below to view a larger image.
Major Eric Brown LEES
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment)
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 17th (Northern) Division
View Additional Image(s)
Additional Photo(s) For Soldier Records
Summit of Great Gable, Cumberland
'Fell & Rock Climbing Club of the English Lake District' War Memorial
Summit of Great Gable, Cumberland
'Fell & Rock Climbing Club of the English Lake District' War Memorial - detail
View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
09 August 1918
HIGH BENTHAM – Death of Captain Lees
The sad news of the death at the Front of Captain Lees reached Bentham on Monday, and wide-spread sympathy was expressed. Mr. Lees had been the President of the Bentham Agricultural Society, and for many years chairman of the Bentham Farmers’ Dairy Society.
23 August 1918
KIRKBY LONSDALE – The Late Major Lees
A memorial service was held at Tunstall Church, Kirkby Lonsdale, on Monday afternoon for the late Major Eric Brown Lees, Yeomanry, attached Sherwood Foresters, killed in action on July 31st. Major Lees, who was 40 years of age, was the elder son of the late Lt.-Col. Edward Brown Lees, of Thurland Castle, Kirkby Lonsdale, Clacksfield, Lancashire, and Kelbarrow, Grasmere, whom he succeeded on August 26th, 1896. He took a large share in the public life of the district, being a Justice of the Peace for Lancashire, Westmorland and the West Riding of Yorkshire, and was a member of many local bodies. A large congregation attended the service, which was conducted by the Vicar, the Rev. J. A. Burrow, assisted by the Rev. G. A. V. Flower, vicar of Mount Pellon, Halifax, a College friend. The Union Jack was hung on the screen, with the Major’s sword reared against it; and a wreath of red roses, a bunch of white heather, and a wreath of evergreens tied with the grey, green, and yellow of the Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry were sent by his widow “In proud and loving memory.” Many other wreaths were sent.
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
09 August 1918
Death of Capt. Lees, of Thurland Castle
The news of the death of Capt. Lees reached Betham on Monday, and wide-spread sympathy was expressed by everyone. Mr. Lees had been president of the Bentham Agricultural Society, and for many years had been the chairman of the Bentham Farmers’ Dairy Society, which latter society will receive a blow from his untimely death at the front.
23 August 1918
Late Major E. Brown Lees
A memorial service was held at Tunstall Church, Kirkby Lonsdale, on Sunday, for the late Major Eric Brown Lees, Yeomanry, attached Sherwood Foresters, killed in action on July 31st. Major Lees, who was 40 years of age, was the elder son of the late Lt.-Col. Edward Brown Lees, of Thurland Castle, Kirkby Lonsdale, Clackfield, Lancaster, and Kelbarrow, Grasmere, whom he succeeded on August 26th, 1896.
Comment on this Soldier Record
You can leave comments on this soldier record. Please note all comments will be manually approved before they appear on the website.
No comments yet.