A Broken Engagement and a Tragic Suicide.

 

Royal Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.

PO 12825 Pte. Ferdinand Schepens, R.M.L.I.

Ferdinand Schepens, the third child of Constant and Adelaide Schepens, was born on 13th May 1885 at Carrington, near Nottingham. His parents had previously lived in Battersea, London, where they worked as cigar makers and where their first two children had been born. The 1891 Census records the family consisting of Constant (43 years, born in Antwerp, Belgium) Adelaide (36 years), Coletta Mayo (10 years), William Leopold (9 years) and Ferdinand (5 years) as living at Radford, near Nottingham. By the time of the 1901 Census, the family had moved to 10 Midland Cottages, Bridgford, just south of Nottingham, and two more children, Alma (6 years) and Florence (1 year) had been born.

Ferdinand Schepens enlisted with the Royal Marine Light Infantry on 9th January 1903 at Nottingham. His Service Record describes him as almost 5' 6" tall with a fresh complexion, brown hair and grey eyes. His religion is recorded as Church of England and his trade as confectioner. Over the next seven years, he served with the Portsmouth Division and on a number of different ships, including HMS Fire Queen, HMS Foresight, HMS Egmont, HMS Implacable and HMS Renown. When the next Census was taken on Sunday 2nd April 1911, Ferdinand was on board HMS Duke of Edinburgh, a First Class Armoured Cruiser at Gibraltar. From 1911 to 1913, he saw further service with HMS Cormorant and HMS Bulwark.

In October 1913, Ferdinand joined the crew of HMS Amethyst, a Third Class Protected Cruiser, and he was still with this ship when he received news that his father had died early in 1914 and when the ship later took part in the Battle of Heligoland Bight on 28th August 1914. From July 1916 till the end of the war, he served with the Queen Elizabeth Class Battleship HMS Barham. In 1918, he was awarded the Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal pictured here.

In August 1920, Ferdinand was still with HMS Barham and it was now that his life came to a sad and tragic end. The story was written up in the Nottingham Evening Post on 21st August 1920 as follows:

Nottm. Marine's Suicide.

Cuts His Throat Aboard H.M.S. Barham.

Tragedy of Disappointed Love.

A tragic occurrence on H.M.S. Barham, at present in H.M. Dockyard at Portsmouth, was investigated at the Town Hall yesterday afternoon by the Borough Coroner. Deceased was Ferdinand Schepens, 35, a private in the R.M.L.I., and the evidence pointed to the fact that he took his own life, probably in consequence of disappointment in a love affair.

On the 4th inst. he proceeded on 14 days' leave to his home in Nottingham and, from the evidence of his brother, William Leopold Schepens, of Loughborough, it appears that, contrary to his usual bright and cheerful nature, deceased seemed quiet and melancholy during his holiday. Also he took more to drink than usual, and his general demeanour caused anxiety to his mother and other members of the family. Deceased had been engaged to a young lady living in Castlegate, Nottingham, but the engagement was broken off, and the woman, it seemed, was about to be married to someone else. Deceased knew this and undoubtedly he had a great regard for her.

Deceased returned to his ship on the 18th inst., and Gunner J. G. Spinner, R.M.A., stated that on the morning of that day he saw deceased in the flats where the marines' lockers are on the Barham. Later deceased went aft, and hearing a thud, witness proceeded to the spot and found deceased lying on the deck with his throat cut, and a razor lying near his feet.

Private G. J. S. Rickwood, who, with Privates A. Dixon and Henry J. Brinkman, was called to the spot, reported the matter to the sick bay, and Surgeon-Commander Durston attended.

The doctor stated that life was just passing away when he saw deceased. There was a severe wound across the throat, the jugular vein and windpipe having been severed. Evidently deceased must have made two cuts, and it was a most determined act.

"Suicide whilst of unsound mind" was the verdict. Mr. G. M. Johnson (Messrs. Hobbs and Brutton) attended on behalf of the Admiralty.

Ferdinand Schepens is remembered with honour in Nottingham Southern Cemetery, commemorated in perpetuity by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. In addition to the Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, he is also entitled to a 1914-15 Star Trio but the whereabouts of these medals are not known.

Long Service in the Royal Marine Light Infantry.

 

Royal Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.

PO 1893 Sergt. Herbert Williams, R.M.L.I.

Herbert Williams, the son of Thomas and Jane, was born on 4th April and baptised in the Holy Trinity Church, Eccleshall, Staffordshire on 22nd April 1855. The 1861 Census records the family as resident in Wootton near Eccleshall, gives Thomas' occupation as farm labourer, and lists three children: Meshach (8 years), Herbert (6 years) and Merab (2 years). By the time of the 1871 Census, Thomas, now aged 59, had moved to Elford Heath, Horsley, where he was a farmer of 16 acres, but Herbert, now 15 years old, was a domestic servant at a farm at Mill Meece, a few miles north of Eccleshall, and it was here that he met 14 year old Annie Lowe, also working as a domestic servant, who would become his future wife.

  

On 4th August 1877, Herbert Williams joined the Royal Marine Light Infantry at Hull. His Service Papers describe him as just over 5' 7" tall with sandy hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion and his religion is stated as Church of England. Herbert spent the first year of his naval service at the Royal Marine Recruit Depot at Walmer before being posted to the Portsmouth Division, where he made steady progress in his career. He passed for Corporal on 30th October 1879 and was subsequently promoted on 11th May of the following year while serving at HMS Vernon, a Royal Navy shore base which had been established in 1876 as the Navy's torpedo school.

On 17th October 1882, Herbert married Annie Lowe, his old sweetheart, in Eccleshall, his home town. Herbert's progress through the ranks took another step with his promotion to Sergeant on 1st January 1883. During the following years, his conduct was characterised as "exemplary" or "very good"and he served with the Portsmouth Division, the Command Depot and various ships, including HMS Hector, HMS Northampton and HMS Asia. On 14th February 1888, Herbert received his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, which appears to be his sole entitlement.

The 1891 Census records Herbert, now a Royal Marine Colour Sergeant, and Annie residing at 13 Trafalgar Square, Alverstoke, Hants, together with their three children: Merab Annie (7 years), Albert Hector (5 years) and Ida May (1 year). On 6th August 1898, Herbert was discharged from the Royal Marines after 20 years of service and the Williams family appear to have returned to Staffordshire.

The 1901 Census records the family living at Albany House, Bushbury, near Wolverhampton. Herbert now aged 45 was working as a clerk, while his eldest daughter Merab was a 17 year old pupil teacher and his son Albert was a messenger for a drawing office. By the time of the 1911 Census, Herbert and Annie were living at Walmer Villa, 130 Gorsebrook Road, Wolverhampton. Unlike previous censuses, the 1911 Census included the additional information that the marriage had lasted 28 years and had resulted in five children, three of whom were still alive. Herbert, now aged 55, was working as a coal dealer. Some time after this, Annie Williams died and the 1921 Census lists Herbert as a 66-year-old widower and retired coal dealer and still living at the same address. His 31-year-old daughter Ida May, single and employed as an elementary school teacher at St Andrew's Girls School, Wolverhampton, was still living at home.

I have not been able to ascertain the exact year of Herbert Williams' death but he does not seem to be recorded on the 1939 Register so presumably he died some time before this.

For Skilful & Fearless Working of a Machine Gun.

King's South Africa Medal with clasps "South Africa 1901" & "South Africa 1902".
George V Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal.
4665 C. Sjt. A. E. Saw, Royal Fusiliers.

 

Arthur Edward Saw, the son of Frederick, a bricklayer, and Louisa Saw, was born on 30th May 1874 and baptised on 28th June of the same year in the parish of Uxbridge Moor. The family appear on the 1881 Census and are recorded as living at 14 Culvert Lane, Hillingdon, Uxbridge Moor. Six-year-old Arthur had three younger sisters: Annie (4 yrs), Caroline (3 yrs) and Lucy (10 mths).

By the time of the 1891 Census, the Saw family had moved to 28 Waterloo Road, Hillingdon, and two more daughters had been born: Jane (8 yrs) and Alice (1 yr). Arthur, now aged 16, is recorded as working as a gardener and domestic servant.

Two years later, on 1st June 1893, Arthur enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers at the depot in Hounslow, initially agreeing to serve 7 years with the Colours and 5 years in the Reserve. His Attestation Papers give some basic details. His physical development was described as fair; he was 19 years old, 5' 6" tall, weighed 133lbs and had a fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. He gave his occupation as florist and his religion as C of E.

Arthur was allocated service number 4665 and, on 15th August 1893, posted to the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers. There now began a period of home service during which Arthur made steady progress in his army career. He was soon appointed Lance Corporal (1st January 1894), qualified for promotion to rank of Corporal (21st June 1894), was awarded his 1st Good Conduct Pay (1st June 1895), was promoted to Corporal (1st August 1895), was appointed Lance Sergeant (7th January 1898) and was promoted to Sergeant (13th April 1898). During this time, he obtained his 3rd Class Certificate of Education (14th November 1893), 2nd Class Certificate (6th May 1895) and 1st Class Certificate (16th September 1895) and also passed classes of instruction in 2nd Class Gymnastics (31st December 1897), Musketry (14th June 1898), and Rudiments of Fencing (30th June 1898) and completed a further Musketry Course at Hythe (30th June 1898).

 

Following the outbreak of war with the Boers, the 2nd Royal Fusiliers embarked for South Africa in October 1899 and arrived at the Cape around 18th November. They were present at the Battle of Colenso on 15th December 1899 but were not heavily engaged. Sergeant Arthur Saw got his only entry on his Regimental Conduct Sheet when he was severely reprimanded for "neglecting to call the Sergt. Major when in charge of the regt guard" at Chieveley Camp on 18th January 1900.

 

 

On 17th March 1901, G Company of the 2nd Royal Fusiliers, together with the Fusilier machine gun detachment and some signallers remained with the column at Steynsburgh under the command of Lieut.-Col. Crabbe of the Grenadier Guards. On 20th May, the column was attacked by 600 Boers, the situation being saved by the section of the 85th Field Battery, and the Fusilier machine gun detachment under Sergt. A. Saw, who was mentioned in despatches for his services that day. 5796 Pte. A. Martyn was killed, whilst holding the mules in the open, 300 yards from the enemy's position. The officer commanding 2nd Royal Fusiliers received a letter from Lieut.-Col. Crabbe in which he expressed his high appreciation of the services rendered by the Royal Fusiliers' machine gun detachment in the action at Dwarshoek, on 20th May. It was magnificently handled, and supported the guns most efficiently, covering them while limbering up. Col. Crabbe further stated that he had forwarded Sergt. Saw's name to headquarters, and hoped he would get the Medal for Distinguished Conduct.

Arthur did not receive the DCM but he was mentioned in Army Orders and Lord Kitchener's Despatches of 28th July 1901 as follows: "Sergeant A. Saw, Royal Fusiliers, at Dwarshoek, Cape Colony, on 20th May 1901, for skilful and fearless working of machine gun within 1,000 yards of enemy."

On 24th February 1902, Arthur Saw was promoted to the rank of Colour Sergeant. On 31st March, at Steynsburg in Cape Colony and having served 8 years 9 months, he signed Army Form B.221 stating that he was “desirous of extending his period of Army Service to complete 12 years’ service with the colours.” In October 1902, after three years’ service in South Africa, Arthur was on his way back to England, where he would spend the next two years. On 24th August 1904, he signed Army Form B.136, re-engaging to complete 21years’ Army Service. On 5th October, he married Anna Westacott in St George's Church, Aldershot.

In November 1904, the 2nd Royal Fusiliers, together with Arthur and his new wife, were on their way to India. The Battalion was first stationed in Darjeeling and later moved to Secunderabad (Hyderabad), arriving there in November 1905. It was here that Arthur and Anna’s two daughters, Marjorie Lilian and Kathleen Dorothy were born on 26th January 1908 and 8th March 1909 respectively. The 1911 Census records the four family members at Pachmarhi Depot, a hill station in the central Indian province of Madhya Pradesh. Arthur was now 36 years old and the Census notes that he was a gymnastic and fencing instructor. Also in 1911, he was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with gratuity. 

At some point the Battalion had moved to Jubbulpore, where Arthur’s health began to suffer. On 12th January 1911, he applied for his discharge, stating that he was “desirous of returning to England in an early transport.” He had two spells in hospital: 19 days in February 1911 and 15 days in January 1912. His medical records mention a history of fever, debility, feeling out of sorts, loss of appetite and being unfit for duties.

Arthur Saw arrived back in England in March 1912 and on 31st March he was “discharged to pension at own request after 18 years service” at Gosport. His conduct and character were described as exemplary and a note in his file states that he was “a very good clerk. has been colour sgt for 10 yrs. a sober, reliable, hard working man. very well educated.” His intended place of residence was Kensington Park Road, Brislington, Bristol.

 

 

When war broke out in August 1914, Arthur Saw again came forward to serve his country. On 3rd September 1914, he attested as a Private in the Royal Fusiliers and was given service number 746. He was now aged 40, working as a bookkeeper, 5’ 7” tall and weighed 154lbs. The next day, he joined the 9th Battalion and was immediately advanced to his old rank of Colour Sergeant. Sadly, at this point, things started to go wrong for him. On three occasions, he was reprimanded by his commanding officer, Lieut.-Col. J. C. Robertson, firstly on 12th October for not complying with an order the previous day and leaving camp without permission, secondly for being drunk in camp at 11.45am on 17th October and finally for gross neglect of duty as president of the Sergeants’ Mess.  A note in the Service Papers by the Battalion’s Medical Officer states, “There is a history of sunstroke in India. The man admits to recently having had more drink than he ought to have done. From his C.O.’s report it appears that he has been mentally incapable of carrying on his work since enlistment. It is doubtful to which of these factors his unfitness is mostly due. He was an old soldier of 21 years service. I now consider him unfit.” Consequently, Arthur Saw was discharged “as not likely to become an efficient soldier” on 28th November 1914 after serving just 87 days. 

However, the story does not end here. Following his unsuccessful stint in his old Regiment, Arthur later appears to have joined the Gloucestershire Regiment and been promoted to Company Quarter Master Sergeant. An entry in the London Gazette on 3rd July 1916 states that Coy. Qrmr. Serjt. Arthur Edward Saw from the Gloucestershire Regiment had joined the Royal Berkshire Regiment as a 2nd Lieutenant (on probation) on 30th June 1916. Arthur was sent to the Western Front on 7th November 1916 and joined the 2/4th Berkshires.

 

On 22nd August 1917, the 2/4th Berkshires supplied 13 platoons to take part in an attack on enemy defences south east of St. Julien. Their job was to deal with numerous strong points in the area to be attacked as other troops continued the advance. 2nd Lieutenant Arthur Saw’s Platoon was to act as left flank guard for the 2/4th Oxford & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. It is most likely that it was during this action that Arthur suffered a gunshot wound to his right arm that necessitated 66 days treatment in hospital. At the end of December 1917, Arthur was promoted to Lieutenant and attached to the 51st Northumberland Fusiliers.

Arthur Saw appears on the 1921 Census as a 47-year-old clerk (Grade III) in the Ministry of Pensions. He was living at 43 Wick Road, Brislington with his wife, Anna, and two daughters Marjorie and Kathleen. He died on 10th November 1933 at the General Hospital in Bristol. He was 59 years old and left effects valued at £716 7s. 2d. His death was briefly reported in the Western Daily News the following day.

 

Interestingly, in 1983 Arthur Saw's KSA Medal was purchased for £15 from the Liverpool Coin & Medal Co. by a gentleman called Roy W. Rushbrook, who subsequently wrote up Arthur's story and had it published in the OMRS Journal Vol 38 Number 4 (245) Winter 1999. The KSA came up for sale again in a Spink Medal Auction in November 2011, when it hammered for an impressive £210. In April 2015, I was able to buy Saw's KSA from author and medal collector Roy Dutton and thus reunite it with Saw's LSGC Medal, which was already in my collection. The whereabouts of Arthur Saw’s QSA Medal, British War Medal and Victory Medal are unknown.

John Lowers, Western Province Mounted Rifles.

  

Queen's South Africa Medal with Clasp "Cape Colony".

441 R.Q.M. Sergeant John William Lowers, Western Province Mounted Rifles.

John William Lowers was born on 21st January 1868 but was living in South Africa at least as early as February 1895 when he married 20-year-old Ester (Hester) Fonten at the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Woodstock, Cape Town. According to the marriage record he was 27 years old and working as a coachman.

 

Five years later in January 1901, following the outbreak of war with the Boers, John attested for three months service with the Western Province Mounted Rifles. His Attestation Paper states that he was employed as a carpenter at the maintenance department of the Cape Government Railways at Salt River. His next-of-kin was named as his wife, Hester, who was living at Diep River.

For his service in the South African War, John Lowers was awarded the medal pictured here with clasp for "Cape Colony". According to the supplementary medal roll issued in October 1904, he was also entitled to the clasp "South Africa 1901".

 

 

The Western Province Mounted Rifles, with a strength of over 500, was one of several new bodies of volunteers or irregulars raised at Cape Town following the second invasion of Cape Colony in December 1900. As soon as a squadron was ready it took the field, because the enemy in the first week of January 1901 had reached within a day's ride of Cape Town. During January and February the corps was constantly in action. In a telegram from Clanwilliam, dated 31st January, the Press Association correspondent remarked that a detachment under Lieutenant Hellawell had driven 150 Boers from the Pakhuis Pass.

 

Throughout 1901 and 1902 the corps did an immense amount of arduous work in the extreme south-west of the Colony. They were often far from support and in a district much favoured by the enemy, and one almost impossible for regular troops. The corps had endless little engagements, frequently involving sharp casualties, and if they had a good many patrols captured this may be attributed to their being more than usually split up into little detachments at the request of the officer who commanded the district.

 

 

John William Lowers lived the last part of his life at 48 Halford Road, Durban and died at the age of 86 at Addington Hospital, Durban, on 10th December 1954.

Police Constable Albert Francis Spicer.

 

Coronation (Police) Medal 1902.

P.C. A. Spicer, 1^st Division (Woolwich), Metropolitan Police.

Albert Francis Spicer was born in Pimperne, near Blandford in Dorset, on 28th January 1873. He appears on the 1881 Census as the youngest of five children born to Seth Spicer, a 53-year-old farmer, and his wife Jane, who were residing at Hunter’s Lodge on the Galhampton Road, Castle Cary.

Albert Francis Spicer joined the Metropolitan Police on 12th August 1895 and was issued with warrant number 80642 and posted to 1st Division (Woolwich Dockyard) as a police constable. His Metropolitan Police Papers include a physical description, which records that Albert was almost 6 feet tall, weighed 12 stone and 12 lbs and had a chest measurement of 36”. He had a fresh complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair. Prior to joining the police, he had been living at 27 South Street, Dorchester, and employed as an upholsterer’s assistant by Hannah & Holland, a firm of cabinet makers and upholsterers with premises at 8 Cornhill, Dorchester.

 

On 14th October 1899, Albert, now aged 26, married Annie Isobel Banks at St James’ Church in Plumstead. Their first child, Albert George Samways Spicer was born on 9th July 1900 and baptised two months later on 9th September. The 1901 Census records Albert and Annie, together with their 8 month old son, living at 193 Maxey Street, Plumstead, just south of the Woolwich Arsenal.

While still serving on the force, Albert Spicer joined the Freemasons and was initiated into the Henley Lodge on 5th November 1901. He resigned from the police on 11th August 1902, having served all of his seven years with 1st Division. Albert now took over the running of the Great Western Hotel in Colebrook Street, Winchester. He joined the William of Wykeham Lodge in Winchester on 10th November 1903.

 

Three years later, on 26th May 1906, personal tragedy struck the Spicer family when Catherine Banks Spicer, Albert and Annie’s only daughter, died at the age of 3 years and 8 months although whether this was due to accident or illness is not known. A second son, Francis Joseph Spicer was born on 25th January 1908. The 1911 Census mentions the fact that Albert and Annie's marriage had produced three children but only two were still living.

 

Albert Francis Spicer died at the age of 60 on 18th September 1933. His effects were valued at £1353 10s. 8d. and were left to his wife, Annie. His death was reported in the Western Gazette on 22nd September 1933 (see below). Six years later, the 1939 Register records the fact that Albert's wife still owned the Great Western Hotel and her son, Albert George, was now the manager.

 

Pte. Herbert Cecil Lee, Civil Service Rifles.

British War Medal 1914 - 20.
4915 Pte. H. C. Lee, 15th London Regiment (Civil Service Rifles).

Herbert Cecil Lee, the son of Albert and Amelia Lee, was born on 24th August 1892 in Pinxton, Derbyshire, and baptised there three weeks later on 15th September. Within a year, the family had left Derbyshire and are recorded on the 1901 Census as residing at 50 Alberta Street, Penton Place, Newington, London, where they would live for the next 20 years. The 1911 Census lists Albert, a 47-year-old manager at Gallaher Ltd, a tobacco manufacturers at 67 Clerkenwell Road, his wife Amelia (50 yrs) and their five children, Herbert Cecil, a laboratory assistant (18 yrs), Percy Robert, a commercial clerk (17 yrs), Leslie Horace (15 yrs), Sidney Lawrence (14 yrs) and Ivy Muriel (8 yrs).

When war broke out in August 1914, Herbert was working for Evans Sons, Lescher & Webb Ltd, a manufacturer and supplier of pharmaceutical products for both humans and animals. Their London premises were located at 60 Bartholomew Close, London EC1, and are pictured below.

On 17th September 1914, the Lee family’s third son, Leslie Horace Lee, a 19-year-old insurance clerk, joined the 24th London Regiment and embarked for France on 15th March 1915. His experience of army life may not have been a particularly happy one as he was awarded 14 days Field Punishment No: 1 in May for neglect of duty. Soon after he suffered a gunshot wound to the foot, which necessitated his return to England. Leslie returned to France in June 1916 and was again wounded at Messines on 7th June 1917, this time suffering a gunshot wound to his right hand. He served the rest of the war in the Army Pay Corps. 

On 29th November 1915, Henry Cecil and Percy Robert Lee followed the example of their younger brother and joined up, attesting for service in the 15th London Regiment for the duration of the war. Herbert’s surviving Attestation Papers state that he was 23 years 3 months old, almost 5’ 6” tall, and of fair physical development. He also signed army form E.624 affirming his willingness "to serve in any place outside the United Kingdom." Herbert's first service number was 4915 while his brother Percy, the next in line, was given 4916.

After a period of basic training, the two brothers found themselves embarking at Southampton on 5th May 1916 and on their way to the Western Front. On 29th May, they finally joined the 1/15th London Regiment at Calonne Ricouart, where the Battalion was refitting and cleaning up after having some intense fighting repelling a German attack on the Vimy Ridge the previous week. In September, Percy Lee was sent back to England suffering from trench fever and was perhaps fortunate to miss the attack on High Wood on 15th September. Later in the war, Percy was posted to the 2/15th London Regiment. On his way to join his unit in Palestine, he was drowned at sea when HMT Aragon was torpedoed by a German U-boat outside the port of Alexandria on 30th December 1917. Herbert Lee most probably took part in the attacks on High Wood and the Butte de Warlencourt during the last phase of the Battle of the Somme but in October 1916, he too was on his way back to England, where he would spend a month in hospital.

On 24th February 1917, Herbert again embarked at Southampton for a return to the Western Front. Landing at Le Havre the following day, he was first posted to the 1st Entrenching Battalion before eventually rejoining the 1/15th Londons on 25th June. On 11th November 1917, Herbert was wounded in the face by the accidental detonation of a grenade. A note in his Service Papers records: “The man was on a working party filling in a cable trench. Apparently one of the party struck a Mills grenade buried in the ground and exploded it. The accident happened at about 7pm.”

The incident merited a mention in the 1/15th Londons’ War Diary and a subsequent inquiry into the “accidental wounding of Ptes Lee & Gale” took evidence from two witnesses.

531630 L.Cpl. Frederick Ralph Stent stated: “On night of 11/12th inst, I was in charge of party of 6 men working on pipe line leading from NAVAL TRENCH to GAVRELLE. ARRAS Rd. Ptes LEE & GALE were picking & shovelling on chalky ground to fill in cable trench. I heard an explosion resembling that of a MILLS No 5 bomb and the two men shouted out that they were hit. I was within 10 yds of the men when the accident occurred.”

533079 Pte. Victor Cleaver gave a similar account: “On night 11/12th inst, I was one of the party working on the cable trench from NAVAL TRENCH to ARRAS-GAVRELLE Rd. I was working near the NAVAL TRENCH end about 5 yds from Ptes LEE & GALE. They were picking the chalk and filling in the trench. I heard an explosion and the two men in question shouted out that they were hit.” Herbert was taken to the 42nd Casualty Clearing Station but his wounds proved to be slight and he was able to rejoin the Battalion a month later. On 13th January 1918, he was given 14 days leave to England.

On the evening of 19th March 1918, the 1/15th Londons took over a support line trench called Lincoln Reserve on Beaucamp Ridge near Villers Plouich and were expecting a quiet spell of routine trench warfare. However, an intense bombardment by the Germans on the morning of 21st March convinced them that an attack was imminent. In the confused fighting of the next few days, the Battalion was forced to withdraw and Herbert Lee was one of the many British soldiers taken prisoner by the advancing Germans. He was reported missing on 22nd March and would spend the remaining months of the war in a German prison camp at Metz.

In December 1918, Herbert was repatriated to England and on 27th February 1919, having served a total of 3 years and 91 days, he was discharged from the army. On 19th April, he married Francis Louisa Hewlett at the Parish Church of St Mary in Newington. The 1921 Census records the couple living at 26 Cavour Street, the next street down from Alberta Street, where the rest of the Lee family were still living. At this time, Herbert was again working as a bookkeeper for Evans Sons, Lescher & Webb but in 1922 found a new position with Gallaher Ltd, the tobacco manufacturer where his father worked. 

In the last part of his life, Herbert Cecil Lee was living at 15 Blakenham Road, Upper Tooting, SW17. He died at Brompton Hospital, Chelsea, on 16th March 1955, his effects being valued at £2,665 10s. 9d. and left to his second wife, Constance Ada Lee.