John Mitchell Lee

Key Information

Name:John Mitchell Lee
DoB: July 4 1889
Regt: 7th Battalion Border Regiment
DoD: September 27 1915
Academic Career: Penrith Board School and Penrith Grammar School.  CGS 1904-8

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Biographical Information

  • Family Background

    John Mitchell Lee was the middle son of three born to Watson and Jane Lee. His father was a draper at Penrith. His maternal grandparents moved from Leadhills, Scotland to work at Greenside Mines, Penrith where his grandfather was manager. Jack and his brother used to walk to Patterdale from Penrith to see them. His older brother was Wilfred and the younger Norman.

  • Academic Record

    Jack was a keen sportsman and won the school medal for sport in 1908. He played on the Rugby team in 1906 and 1907; and in the football team between 1906 and 1908. He was a prefect and won prizes for science and maths in 1908. He graduated from Cambridge University with first class honours in chemistry in 1910.

  • War Service

    Jack had been in the trenches about five weeks when he was killed.His obituary explains how he was wounded in an attack on the enemy trenches in an action for which he had volunteered. His comrades left him in a shell hole, but the position was later shelled. His body was never recovered and he is commemorated on the Menin Gate. We are fortunate to have a copy of the last letter he wrote home in which he advises his parents to enjoy their holiday and forget about the war. He was engaged to be married when he died.

  • Battalion

    7th (Service) Battalion Border Regiment
    07.09.1914 Formed at Carlisle as part of the Second New Army (K2) and then moved to Wool to join the 51st Brigade of the 17th (Northern) Division and then moved to Andover.
    Jan 1915 Moved to Bovington and then Winchester.
    15.07.1915 Mobilised for war and landed at Boulogne and engaged in various actions on the Western Front including;

    September 1915:

    The Attack on Hooge.

  • Other

    When war broke out Jack was working for chemical manufacturers in Birmingham.

  • Sources

    a)      Carlisle School Memorial Register 1264-1924

    b)      Census: 1891 RG 12 4275

    1901 RG 13 4854

    1911 RG 14

    c) Mrs J Ward, relative Jenny Ward. Her husband is the great nephew of John Mitchell Lee.

    d) P & K Linge