Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 20001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - conducted behind closed doors
Lot: 670

A 1917 Palestine M.C. group of four awarded to Captain R. W. Lee, Essex Regiment, late Artist's Rifles, who was decorated for skilful leadership under heavy Turkish fire

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued, with replacement suspension bar; 1914-15 Star (2. Lieut. R. W. Lee. Essex. R.); British War and Victory Medals with small M.I.D. oak leaves (2. Lieut. R. W. Lee.), very fine (4)

M.C. London Gazette 14 August 1917:

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During an attack he went back under heavy machine gun and rifle fire at close range, collected and brought up reinforcements, regardless of his own safety. He then organised and skilfully led the final assault from his part of the line.'

Reginald William Lee was born on 20 April 1890 at East Dulwich, London. Educated at Strand School and King's College, London, Lee worked in Croydon as a bank clerk at the London County & West Bank Ltd. whilst living at 8 Gauden Road, Clapham. Following the outbreak of the Great War he enlisted as a Private in the 28th Battalion, County of London Regiment (Artists Rifles) on 14 November 1914, being commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the 4th (Reserve) Battalion, Essex Regiment, in March 1915.

Embarking at Devonport on 24 September 1915 aboard Franconia, Lee joined his unit on the Gallipoli peninsula on 7 October 1915. He later disembarked at Mudros per Marathon on 17 December 1915 and was promoted Temporary Captain on 13 March 1916 at the time of the Senussi Campaign, and upon the death of Captain Tyler. Posted to Battalion Headquarters in Alexandria, he was awarded the M.C. and further advanced Acting Major on 14 June 1917 upon Major G. Jones relinquishing his commission. Just ten days later Lee was sent to hospital suffering from a septic foot, remaining under the careful watch of R.A.M.C. staff until 7 November 1917. As a result he missed the Third Battle of Gaza fought from 1-3 November 1917 by a matter of days, but was likely involved in the pursuit of Turkish forces across the desert alongside the ANZAC Mounted Division. Returning to Kantara, Lee appears to have spent much of 1918 continuing to recuperate and assisting Battalion Headquarters. Embarking to England aboard the newly commissioned troopship Katoomba from Port Said on 27 May 1919, Lee returned home to Gauden Road and was demobilised on 8 June 1919; sold with copied service record and an original letter from the Army Council thanking Lee for his service during the Great War, dated 8 December 1920.


Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£1,500

Starting price
£700