Name
Thomas Harold Lee
1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/08/1918
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
31486
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BAGNEUX BRITISH CEMETERY, GEZAINCOURT
VI. A. 25.
France
Headstone Inscription
ONLY "GOODNIGHT" BELOVED NOT "FAREWELL" FROM HIS SORROWING WIFE AND LITTLE TWIN BAIRNS
UK & Other Memorials
Letchworth Town Memorial
Pre War
Thomas Harold Hill was born in 1893 in Clapton, Middlesex, the son of William and Louisa Lee. He was one of 14 children, although two died in infancy.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at 10 Big Hill, Hackney where his father was working as a stone mason. By 1911 he was living with his sister and brother in law, Ernest and Ida Price at 32 Green Lane, Norton Road, Letchworth, Herts, and was working as a corset material cutter (probably for the Spirella Corset Company, Letchworth).
He married Alice Maude Conder in 1915 and they had twin daughters Joan Brenda and Gwendolyn Maude on 15 October 1916.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Bedford, Beds and joined the Bedfordshire Regiment, serving with the 1st Battalion in France, and at some point was promoted to Lance Corporal.
Thomas died on 23 August 1918, aged 25, from wounds received in action, probably during the Second Battle of the Somme, and is buried in Bagneux British Cemetery, Gezaincourt, France.
(N.B. the 3rd, 29th, 45th and 56th Casualty Clearing Stations were at Gezaincourt from March/April to September).
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £9 and pay owing of £7 9s 6d . She also received a pension of £1 5s 5d a week for herself and her daughters. Her address on pension cards was given as 57 Pix Road, Letchworth, later changed to Hill House, Baldock, Herts.
His older brother Walter served with the Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) in France from 15 May 1917 and was killed in action near Ypres on 1 August.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Adrian Pitts, Dan Hill, Janet Capstick, Jonty Wild
