Main CPGW Record
Surname: LEE
Forename(s): John Varley
Place of Birth: Skipton, Yorkshire
Service No: ---
Rank: 2nd Lieutenant
Regiment / Corps / Service: Royal Air Force
Battalion / Unit: 27th Squadron
Division: ---
Age: 22
Date of Death: 1918-08-14
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: II. C. 10
CWGC Cemetery: WANQUETIN COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
CWGC Memorial: ---
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: SKIPTON, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
John Varley Lee was the son of Edward and Mary Lee, née Varley and brother of Private Frank Lee (24979) (q.v.). Their father was born at Skipton and mother at Grassington, Yorkshire.
1901 Skipton, Yorkshire Census: 17, Belmont Bridge - John Lee, aged 4 years, born Skipton, son of Edward and Mary Lee.
1911 Skipton, Yorkshire Census: 17, Belmont Bridge - John V. Lee, aged 14 years, born Skipton, son of Edward and Mary Lee.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte John Varley Lee, 62639, Royal Army Medical Corps & 2/Lt Royal Air Force. Commissioned: R.A.F. 5 July 1918. Theatre of war first served in: (1) France. Date of entry therein: 23 December 1915. Correspondence: E. Lee Esq 17, Belmont Bridge, Skipton, Yorks.
John, an observer, and the Canadian pilot, 2/Lt Arthur Frederick Millar, died when their DH9, a single-engined light bomber, collided with another DH9. The crew of the other DH9: 2/Lt John Hetherington Dickson and Serjt. Stephen Bernard Percival were also killed in the collision. All four are buried along side of one another.
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:
LEE, Second Lieut. J. W., aged 22, R.A.F., son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Lee, Belmont Bridge, Skipton, killed in action, 1918.
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2nd Lieutenant John Varley LEE
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Royal Air Force
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Waltonwrays Cemetery, Skipton
Family gravestone - detail of memorial inscription
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View Craven Herald Articles
23 August 1918
Second-Lieutenant J. V. Lee. Skipton
News has been received by telegram from the Air Ministry that Second-Lieutenant John Varley Lee of the Royal Air Force, son of Mr and Mrs. Edward Lee of Belmont Bridge, Skipton, has been reported killed in action. Second Lieutenant Lee, who was 22 years of age, joined the R.A.M.C. about three years’ ago, and later joined the Royal Air Force. He had only been out in France about six weeks. He was formerly employed by his father as painter and paperhanger. He was a teacher at the Skipton Congregational Sunday School, and also a member of the chapel. Mr. and Mrs. Lee have another son, Private Frank Lee, serving in France with the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, who has three times been wounded.
04 July 1919
PEACE SUPPLEMENT TO THE 'CRAVEN HERALD' – CRAVEN'S FALLEN OFFICERS
SECOND-LIEUTENANT J. V. LEE
Royal Air Force, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Lee, Belmont Bridge, Skipton. Killed in action August, 1918, aged 22 years.
15 August 1919
LEE – To the dear memory Second-Lieutenant John V. Lee, R.A.F. (Skipton), who was killed in France August 14th, 1918.
“Sweet rest in the Lord.”
Ever remembered by Lilian.
LEE – In loving memory Lieutenant John Varley Lee, R.A.F., killed in action 13th August, 1918.
Also in loving memory of Private Frank Lee, Lewis Gunner, Duke of Wellington’s (brother of the above), killed in action September 2nd, 1918.
“May their reward be as great as their sacrifice.”
From Uncle and Aunt, Barnoldswick.
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
23 August 1918
Second-Lieut. J.V. Lee Killed
News has been received from the Air Ministry that Second Lieut. John Varley Lee, of the Royal Air Force, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Lee, of Belmont Bridge, Skipton, has been reported killed in action. Second Lieut. Lee, who was 22 years of age, joined the R.A.M.C. about three years ago, and later joined the Royal Air Force. He had only been out in France about six weeks. He was formerly employed by his father as a painter and paperhanger. He was a teacher at the Congregational Sunday School, and also a member of the church. Mr. and Mrs. Lee have another son, Pte. Frank Lee, serving in France with the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, who has three times been wounded.
06 September 1918
SKIPTON
TRIBUTE TO LATE LIEUT. J.V. LEE – At the Congregational Church on Sunday morning Rev. L.H. Gaunt referred to the death in action of the late Lieut. John V. Lee, R.A F., who had been a member of the church and a teacher in the Sunday School for several years. He belonged, said the Preacher, to the very highest, and noblest type of Christian soldier, utterly devoted to his duty, yet always seeking to advance the Kingdom of God by the wishes of a true Christian life. Although so conflicting in standing up for which was right, he was always on the best of terms with his comrades. One of his pals had written of him in the following words:– “Very few boys lead such pure lives as John did. Everybody liked him, especially we rough colonials. He was a great favourite with all, yet he never came down to our level.” They could ill spare such men, but they believed he had entered upon a life of nobler and higher service in the heavenly Kingdom. The beautiful flowers on the Communion Table placed there in memory of John Lee by his cousin, spoke to them of sacrifice and called them all to a life of purity and devotion to God.
04 October 1918
Skipton Family’s Second-Bereavement
News has been received from the Infantry Records Office, York, that Pte. Frank Lee, of the West Regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Lee, of 17, Belmont Bridge, Skipton, died of wounds received in action on Sept. 2nd. Pte. Lee, who was 20 years of age, enlisted in September, 1916, and had been in France about 18 months. He had three times previously been wounded. He was formerly employed by his father as a painter and decorator. He was a member of the Congregational Church, and also a teacher in the Sunday School. Mr. and Mrs. Lee had another son, Sec. Lieut. J.V. Lee, killed in action on Aug. 14th.
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