Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 26003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 268

The well-documented Great War M.C. group awarded to Lieutenant T. Lee, Royal Artillery

Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse contemporarily engraved 'Lieut. Tom Lee M.C. 4th Northumbrian (HOW) F.A. Bde. 1917'; British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. T. Lee); Defence Medal 1939-45, mounted as worn, sold together with a portrait miniature in case, very fine (4)

M.C London Gazette 17 April 1917, the original citation states:

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He remained in observation throughout the day under very heavy fire, and sent back most valuable information. He set a splendid example of courage and determination.'

Tom Lee was born on 8th January 1890 in Sunderland, the son of a Railway Ticket Inspector. Lee joined the 1st Battalion Durham Royal Garrison Artillery Volunteers in May 1907, remaining with them until 31st August 1911, when he began working for Argentine Great Southern Railway. He left for Buenos Aires on Highland Brae.

It was here that Lee heard of the outbreak of war in August 1914, and so returned to England, arriving at Liverpool on 27th February 1915. Lee was commissioned into the 4th (Howitzer) Brigade Northumbrian 2nd Line Division on 20th March 1915.

Following training, Lee joined the brigade in France on the opening day of the Battle of the Somme, 1st July 1916. It was during the advance of the British force that 20,000 soldiers were killed in heavy bombardment. Lee was acting as a Royal Artillery Forward Observation Officer (F.O.O), tasked with directing artillery and mortar fire, while under heavy enemy fire. In spite of the dire circumstances, Lee continued to call in valuable information regarding enemy positions and for this he was awarded the Military Cross.

Lee was granted leave after this action, but returned to France, but within months of his return, in action at Gavrelle on 12 July 1917, he fell from a horse and broke his left clavicle. He embarked for Calais on 17 July 1917 and arrived in Dover the same day. The Medical Board recorded on 19 September 1917, 'This officer fractured his left clavicle by falling from his horse when in action. The clavicle was knit with difficulty, the arm is very stiff and wasted and weak.' Five months after his injury he was deemed fit enough to return to work at the railway company.

Lee was demobilised on 24 March 1919, and the next month married Miss Margaret Shaw. They lived in Argentina and Sunderland, with Lee joining the Sunderland Special Constabulary from a year, while working as a grocer. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery in December 1943, and served in the 103 Durham A.A. (Rocket) Battery Home Guard until 31 December 1945. Lee later died on 20 October 1979.

Sold together with an archive of original material:

i)
Contemporary framed portrait miniature in case.

ii)
3 passports in the name of Tom and Margaret Lee.

iii)
Driver's Licence for Sunderland in Lee's name.

iv)
Personal photographs of Mr and Mrs Lee.

v)
Collection of copied research including birth and death certificates.

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

Estimate
£700 to £900

Starting price
£550