After leaving school, Albert worked as a miner at Fair Lady Colliery at Heath Hayes, Staffordshire

 

 

Fair Lady Colliery (*2)

 

Of the 17 children of Jonas and Lucy LEES, three of their sons, Albert, James and Jonas fought in the First World War. When war was declared, Jonas LEES was in Australia and joined the Australian Army. He was badly gassed and lost his power of speech but survived the war. James lost his life in the war.

 

On the 11th September 1914, Albert enlisted at Lichfield. He joined the 7th Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment as Private No 13144.

 

 

James and Albert LEES (*3)

 

After training Albert was drafted to the front where he contracted enterio fever, later he suffered from frost bite and spent some time in Egypt, returning to the front in March 1917. He had been home on furlough only twice in 3 years.

 

On the 27th July 1917 aged 20, Albert died fighting in Flanders France.

 

Albert is buried in No Mans Cot Cemetery Ieper West-Vlaanderen Belgium. The cemetery is located to the North-East of the town of Ieper, and his memorial is A. 29.

 

                         

 

                                                              No Mans Cot Cemetery (*4)                                              No Mans Cot Cemetery plan (*5)

 

On the 31st August 1917, a tribute to Albert appeared in the Lichfield Mercury. It read:-

 

 

Albert is commemorated on the Roll of Honour in Lichfield Cathedral.

 

                             

 

                        South Staffordshire Regiment Memorial Stone (*6)                South Staffordshire Regiment Roll of Honour (*7)

 

Albert’s brother James LEES died on the 20th September 1917, less than 2 months later.