Albert Lees
18 August 1896 - 27 July 1917

Researched and written by June Magill

Albert LEES was born on the 18th August 1896 in Chase Terrace, Staffordshire. He was the 15th child of Jonas LEES and his wife Lucy.

Jonas LEES was born at Walsall Wood, Staffordshire on the 29th July 1855 the son of William LEES and his wife Susanna. Lucy THOMPSON was born at Burntwood, Staffordshire on the 24th June 1855 the daughter of James THOMPSON and his wife Sarah. Jonas and Lucy had a family of 17 children and lived for a time at Prince Street, Chase Terrace before moving to The Green Burntwood.

As a young boy, Albert attended Burntwood No 1 Board School, in Church Road Burntwood.

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

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{Coppice Colliery began its 71 year life in 1893. It took two years to sink the two shafts to the 12 coal seams 292m below the surface, the spoil being dumped on the heathland and grassland surrounding the pit head. Lady Hanbury was an important figure in the history of Coppice Colliery. It was she that cut the first turf in 1893 and was the nominated "Coalmaster". Lady Hanbury's progressive attitude towards the welfare of the 500 miners led to the pit becoming known locally as 'The Fair Lady' or 'Lady Pit'. During the general strike of 1926 Lady Hanbury frequently visited the pit bringing soup and sandwiches. She also allowed men and women to pick coal from the spoil mound. In 1954, a modernised Coppice Colliery achieved a National record of 4 tons of coal per manshift, the national average at the time was just 1.3 tons. The slopes of the former colliery have become heath-like in nature with a wetland area on the top of the old pit mound. The area now supports a wealth of wildlife.}

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, Albert’s elder brother Jonas LEES was in Australia and joined the Australian Army with regimental number 626 in the Mining Corps. Jonas was badly gassed and lost his power of speech but survived the war.

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Albert’s brother James lost his life in the war. On the 12th February 1915, James enlisted at Lichfield. He joined first the 5th Battalion Staffordshire Regiment and then the 10th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment as Private No 40076 and made Lance Corporal. On the 20th September 1917 aged 26, Lance Corporal James Lees died fighting in the third battle of Ypres. His body was never recovered and he has no known grave. His name is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

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

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.

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

Mr and Mrs Jonas Lees of Burntwood received official news their son Private Albert Lees of the South Staffordshire Regiment had been killed in action. After training he 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 last March. He had been home on furlough only twice in 3 years.

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

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Item, Source and Credit

1.   Photograph of Burntwood Number 1 Board School © Alan Betts (Burntwood Family History Group)

2.   Postcard of "Fair Lady" Coppice Colliery © Brownhills Bob website (https://brownhillsbob.com/2013/06/26/my-fair-lady/)

3.   Photograph of "Fair Lady" Coppice Colliery © Cannock Chase  Mining Historical Society  (http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/cannockcoalfield/photogallery/photo26003/Fairlady%202.jpg)

4.   Photograph of "Fair Lady" Coppice Colliery © Brownhills Bob website (https://brownhillsbob.com/2013/06/26/my-fair-lady/)

5.   First page of Jonas Lees’ Australian Imperial Force attestation papers © National Archives of Australia {https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8193378}

6.   Photograph of Jonas Lees © June Magill

7. Photograph of James and Albert Lees © June Magill

8.   Photograph of No Man's Cot Cemetery © Pierre Vandervelden, In Memory website  (http://www.inmemories.com/Cemeteries/nomanscot.htm)

9.   Plan of No Man's Cot Cemetery © Commonwealth War Graves Commission (http://www.cwgc.org/)

10.   Photograph ofSouth Staffordshire Regiment Memorial Stone  © Alan Betts (Burntwood Family History Group)

11.   Photograph of South Staffordshire Regiment Roll of Honour © Alan Betts (Burntwood Family History Group)

12.  Commemorative certificate in memory of Albert Lees  © Commonwealth War Graves Commission (http://www.cwgc.org/)