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Corporal Allen Lee, A 'Bradford Pal' and a 'Family Story'
30/11/2023
First World War Army United Kingdom
By David P.Whithorn

United Kingdom

Corporal Allen Lee
581959
Family Background

Allen Lee was born on 18th June 1888, the son of George (Arthur) and Emily (Mary) Lee of Brighouse, West Yorkshire and was baptised at St Martin’s church there on 28th October that year.

The 1891 Census shows the Lee Family living at 8 Daisy Street, Brighouse, George was a (domestic) Coachman for a local family. Allen had an elder brother, William (b.1886) and younger sister, Elsie (b.1890)

The 1901 Census shows the Lee family living at 11 Woodroyd Road, West Bowling, Bradford. George Lee was now working in a local Mineral Water bottling factory. Allen was working, with his brother William, as a Worsted Spinner in a local mill, he had gained another brother, another George Arthur (b.1892)

The 1911 Census shows the Lee family living at 20 Cranbrook Street, West Bowling, Bradford. Father George was still working at the local Mineral Water factory as a Carter. Allen was still working alongside his brother, William, now as a Dyer’s Labourer at Bowling Dye Works in ‘Ripleyville’, West Bowling…It would be this profession, that would seal his fate…

On the 5th August 1911, Allen Lee, aged 23, married Lily Nichol also aged 23, at Stephen’s Church, West Bowling. Their witnesses were, Allen’s brother and sister, William and Elsie. In the years to come a new memorial within this church would bear Allen Lee’s name, forever… The newlyweds would move into their first home at 37 Round Street, West Bowling. This is the how the Lee family met the Great War at its outbreak in August 1914.

Enlistment into the ‘Bradford Pals’

Within Bradford, there was a great enthusiasm to form a local unit, the ‘Bradford Battalion’, later to become the ‘1st Bradford Pals’, 16th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment.

Recruiting would take place in the third week of September 1914. Allen, decided to enlist. Although the call was for single men aged 19-30, Allen, married, had an advantage…his role as a ‘Dyer’s Labourer’ meant he was a member of the ‘Bradford Dyer’s Association’. The BDA promised its members that if they joined up, they would both ensure the member’s family would be financially secure and there would be a job for them when they returned! In total, 57 ‘Dyer’s Labourer’s would enlist into the 1st Bradford Pals. For Allen Lee, this support was vital – not only did he have his wife, Lily, to support – but she was expecting a baby…Allen and Lily Lee would have a daughter, Mary Elizabeth Lee, who would be born on 18th November 1914…

Allen Lee enlisted into the ‘Bradford Battalion’ on 23rd September 1914. There were no uniforms or equipment, just an enamelled badge the recruits wore on their jacket lapel. Training would be in their civilian clothing, with old rifles for drill in Manningham Park, Bradford, just up from the Skating Rink, the Battalion HQ. However, with Bradford producing the cloth for much of Britain’s ‘New Army’, it did not take long for the new ‘Bradford Pals’ to get their first uniforms…only these were not khaki, but navy blue. The uniforms had been destined for Bradford’s Post Office workers, indeed the silver buttons on the tunic bore the city’s coat of arms!

Allen Lee, wearing the navy blue uniform of the Bradford Pals - Autumn 1914 (copyright unknown)
Training Days

During his early training, Allen Lee damaged one of his tunic buttons – he obtained a replacement, but kept the old one and gave it to Lily as a souvenir. He would remain in Bradford for the birth of their baby, and Christmas.

With matters settling down, Allen Lee was posted to No.9 Platoon, ‘C’ Company. A local photographer (A.Worsnop) would photograph each platoon outside one of Bradford’s finest buildings, Cartwright Hall – situated in Manningham Park – the scene of the Pals early training.

Early Pals training in Manningham Park - no uniforms - just badges! (copyright unknown)
9 Platoon, 'C' Company, 1st Bradford Pals - Allen Lee, second row, far left (copyright A Worsnop)

It was decided that the Bradford Pals leave the city for more dedicated training at an Army camp. On 14th January 1915, they marched from the city heading to the new camp at Raikeswood, Skipton. A tiring march, they arrived to an unfinished camp and a freezing winter ahead. However, the Pals were cheered up by the arrival of their first khaki uniforms, of the highest quality – individually tailored to fit. For Allen and Lily, prior to his departure, there would be another treat. There would be a special concert/dance for the Pals at which the Bradford Pals band would provide the music. It would be a fine evening – Lily would keep her specially printed (and filled out) dance card.

In May 1915, Allen and the 1st Bradford Pals would march to Ripon to be housed with the newly formed 2nd Bradford Pals (18th Bn West Yorks) and Leeds Pals (15th Bn West Yorks) at Colsterdale Camp, formerly used by families of ‘Navvies’ engaged in the construction of a new reservoir for the city of Bradford. These battalions would form the 93rd Brigade of 31st Division. Here their training would become intense as they prepared for overseas service.

The 1st Bradford Pals would return to their home city for 4th August, the first anniversary of the outbreak of the war. Allen and each man would be presented with a fine brass tobacco tin with the emblem of the 1st Bradford Pals by the Empire Theatre. This would be the last time the Bradford Pals paraded in their city – they would never return…

Overseas…

In September, the Pals entrained for Fovant Camp on Salisbury Plain making their final preparation for France. It had been planned for the 31st Division to exploit the expected breakthrough following the Battle of Loos on 25th September 1915. But there was no breakthrough… It was then decided, that the 31st Division now be sent to continue the Allied offensive on the Gallipoli peninsula. The Pals were duly kitted out with Wolseley helmets. However, with doubt about the future value of the Gallipoli campaign, plans were being drawn up to evacuate the peninsula. Effectively, seen as a ‘defeat’, it was believed that this now might spur the Turks to go on the offensive themselves, from Ottoman Palestine into Egypt and capture the Suez Canal, thus cutting off Allied shipping. On 6th December 1915, the Bradford Pals were sent by train to a ‘secret’ destination – Liverpool. Here they boarded the ‘Empress of Britain’ en route for Egypt. The journey was far from uneventful, running into trouble with German submarines around Malta. Allen would likely have been one on board throwing coins into Malta harbour, for young boys to dive and retrieve.

Egypt and on to France

The Pals arrived in Alexandria on 21st December 1915. Here they would spend the next months based around Kantara defending the Suez Canal waiting for a Turkish attack that would never come – there was more danger from locals when visiting local bars etc. In Alexandria, they would meet with the Pals battalions of 92nd and 94th Brigades. The latter had arrived in the early days of January 1916. At the time, this made little different difference – in the long term the Pals battalions of 92nd and 93rd Brigades (including Allen Lee) would be awarded the 1914-15 Star, those in 94th Brigade would not – something that would rankle among survivors for the next century…

In spring 1916, with little then happening in Egypt, the Pals of 31st Division were withdrawn, sailing from Port Said aboard SS Mineapolis and shipped to Marseilles. They would arrive on 6th March and travel by train northwards, arriving at Pont Remy near Abbeville on 9th March. After a period of assimilation and training (and for some, leave to the UK!) they marched eastwards towards Beaumont Hamel. It was clear to everyone with the massive build-up of equipment, this was going to be the site of a major offensive, the largest of the war to date in which Allen Lee and the Pals battalions of 31st Division would take a key part.

However, something had been forgotten, Following the disproportionate casualties to ‘New Army’ battles at the Battle of Loos, Divisions had been reorganised to mix the seasoned Regular and Territorial battalions with their ‘New Army’ counterparts in the expectation their ‘experience’ would be passed on. 31st Division, composed totally of inexperienced ‘Pals’ Battalions, being in Egypt, would be left out of this process…the consequences in terms of casualties on the opening day of the Battle of the Somme would be horrific.

Preparations on the Somme

Allen Lee and the 1st Bradford Pals would now take over trenches in the Colincamps sector in the north of the upcoming Somme battlefields. Even just holding the lines would now start to generate the first casualties for the Pals. When not in the lines, the Pals would be billeted at Bus-les-Artois. Here would begin a friendship with the local villagers, which would continue through the 20th century with Bradford Pals survivors returning here on their frequent pilgrimages. A friendship that continues to the present day with the unveiling of memorials to the Leeds (2006), Bradford (2016) and Durham (2018) Pals here at ‘Bus’.

In the rainy days before the opening of the Battle of the Somme, Allen Lee and the Bradford Pals were at ‘Bus’ awaiting orders to march up to their assembly trenches, ready to attack and capture the German held village of Serre. The order finally came through and the Pals got their kit together. The Bandsmen of the Bradford Pals, destined to be stretcher-bearer, got out their instruments and put on an impromptu concert at ‘Bus’ on the afternoon of 30th June 1916 – a treasured memory for the Bradford Pals there – a lovely afternoon ‘All Pals together…’

Allen Lee in 9 Platoon, ‘C’ company, marched off from ‘Bus’ that afternoon. They marched via Courcelles – here the villagers gave them much needed refreshments and onto Colincamps. Here at the ‘Euston RE Dump’ they collected extra equipment – also noting the freshly dug grave pit…

The assembly trenches were simply packed, there would be no possibility of sleep. They had been told the attack would be a ‘walkover’ there would be ‘no resistance’. The Pals had already suffered casualties to German shellfire simply getting into their assembly trenches…this would be no ‘walkover’…

Attack on Serre July 1st 1916

Allen Lee, with ‘C’ Company were in the support line. Ahead of them, in the front line, the Leeds Pals would attack the German front line at 7.30am the following morning. In support, the 1st Bradford Pals (with ‘D’ Company of the Durham Pals) would make their attack at the same time, passing through the Leeds Pals and would then take the German second line. Two hours later, at 9.30am, the 2nd Bradford Pals would make their attack and capture the German Reserve positions – a hot meal would be provided in the final captured positions that evening…

The story of July 1st 1916 at Serre has been told many times. The Germans had survived the week’s artillery bombardment, as the final artillery barrage lifted, the trench mortar fire would prove inadequate, the Germans were able to set up their machine guns and open an artillery barrage on the British positions at the same time – their intelligence regarding the British attack had been perfect.

At 7.30am the Leeds and 1st Bradford Pals (with ‘D’ Coy Durham Pals) made their attack, the shell and machine-gun fire cutting swathes into the advancing Pals, few got past the German front line, those that did were cut off. Seeing rows of soldiers seemingly taking cover, Brigadier Ingles brought forward the 2nd Bradford Pals to 8.30am to ‘push out’ these ‘stragglers’ and get things moving. The 2nd Bradford Pals met exactly the same fate. Going forward himself later that morning, he found just 50 unwounded Bradford Pals (from both battalions) to now defend the line. The ‘lines of soldiers taking cover’ were in fact the dead and badly wounded…In just two hours between 7.30am and 9.30am that morning the Leeds, 1st and 2nd Bradford and ‘D’ Coy of the Durham Pals – after two years of preparation – had been totally destroyed, for no material gain whatsoever…

Wounded and Convalescence

Allen Lee had gone ‘over the top’ with his platoon at 7.30am. He had not gone far when he received a flesh wound from a machine-gun bullet to his left thigh. He made his way back to the Aid Post in Basin Wood, already crowded with wounded. The Battalion Medical Officer, Captain Roche, was facing an impossible task. He was doing his best for the lightly wounded whom could be treated quickly. Those more seriously wounded, requiring more time, would have to wait – they would soon realise their fate. Patched up, Allen Lee would now make his way as best he could as ‘walking wounded’ to the Euston RE Dump where RAMC ambulances were ready to take the wounded away. It would be another wait – but he was out of it…

Under other circumstances, it might be expected that Allen Lee’s minor wound would have meant he remained in France for treatment and return to his battalion. Instead he was returned to England to hospital and eventual convalescence at Whitehill Auxiliary Hospital, Rosewell, Scotland.

At home, Lily, along with many hundreds of others in Bradford, in those early days of July 1916 would have seen the postman coming up her street delivering letters, house after house. There would be screams as occupants were given the news their loved one had been posted as killed, wounded or simply ‘missing in action’ – with little information, usually the last. Lily would duly have received such a letter…

…However, later in July, Lily had received confirmation that Allen had been wounded and that he was at Whitehill hospital. Unable to visit him, Lily had sent a parcel to her husband containing copies of the Bradford newspapers detailing the unfolding destruction of the Bradford Pals…

Allen, wrote a letter to his wife dated 28th July 1916, in this he writes: ‘I have received the papers and I thank you very much. There are still a great many missing who went over on July first. I have wrote [sic] out a list of my own section and fourteen section and not half of them have been mentioned in the paper. I saw G.Fishwick’s name in the paper and I see he is in hospital in France. I do not think his case is so bad, or he would have been here long ago.’

Letter sent by Allen Lee to his wife, Lily, 28th July 1916 (copyright author)

It is not known how long Allen remained in hospital. It might be expected that he did get the chance to spend a little time at home with Lily and their 18-month old daughter, Mary Elizabeth…It is possible this was the last time they were all together…

Returned to France

It is not known when Allen Lee was sent back to France, he was not returned to the 1st Bradford Pals, but to their sister battalion, the 2nd Bradford Pals (18th Bn West Yorks). Following their involvement at Gavrelle in the Battle of Arras on 3rd May, the remainder of the year was spent in ‘quiet’ sectors relieving battalions being sent to take part at ‘Third Ypres’ or ‘Passchendaele’. The Bradford Pals would never serve in the Ypres Salient.

Transfer and the German Spring Offensive

In January/February 1918, an Army reorganisation meant that both the 1st and 2nd Bradford Pals would be disbanded to provide replacements to other battalions. Allen Lee, along with many of the 2nd Bradford Pals, were sent to the Leeds Pals (15th, later 15/17th Bn West Yorks). As part of the assimilation process behind the lines, the Leeds Pals held sporting events. The battalion war diary now records that ‘Cpl A[llen] Lee’ was ‘placed’ in the ‘Battalion Cross Country’ – an indication of a fit soldier!

Allen Lee would not have to wait long before being back in action. The expected massive German Spring Offensive that began on 21st March 1918 would soon envelope the reformed Leeds Pals between 24-30th March. Now operating in ‘open warfare’, the Leeds Pals were based in field south of Moyenville. The German attack on their flanks was decisive leaving them enveloped, although some would escape, the majority were surrounded. After making a stand and now facing annihilation, the remainder surrendered. Allen Lee would survive and was now a Prisoner of War.

Moyenville - the area where Allen Lee, along with other Leeds Pals, were captured (copyright author)
In Bradford, Lily would receive a formal letter dated 30th April informing her that Allen was ‘Missing in Action’ as from the 27th…
Prisoner of War

As was the custom, Allen Lee was given a blue card by his captors. On it he filled in his details and added the name and address of his Next of Kin, Lily in West Bowling. He gave the date of April 12th and his expected destination as a PoW – Sturmmlager Parchim, Germany. This was posted by his captors.

Blue card completed by Allen Lee as a PoW - sent to his wife Lily (copyright author)

Lily having received this card, now knew Allen was ‘safe’ as a PoW. She would now pass on the details of the camp to West Yorkshire Regiment HQ in York. In turn, they would advise the International Red Cross, so important food parcels could now be sent to Allen…or so it was hoped…

The massive number of Allied prisoners taken by the Germans in their first weeks of their offensive, would now cause an overload on their PoW administrative system…it simply broke down…In reality, Allen Lee had not been sent to Parchim in Germany. Instead, he had been sent to a makeshift PoW camp at Berlaimont. Against International Law, Allied PoWs here would be contructing defence installations, the work would be physically demanding and hours long.

However, there was another, more serious problem. Vital Red Cross food parcels for Allen would now be sent to Parchim, not Berlaimont. He would have to subsist on the little and poor food he was given. Germany, thanks to the Royal Navy’s blockade was starving. Soldiers at the front would get the best of what there was, civilians, and PoWs would now begin to starve…

Back in Bradford, Lily was preparing for life with a husband as a PoW. She thought he was now safe, she could write letters to him via the Red Cross…she went to have a studio photograph taken of herself and little Mary to send to Allen…Whatever correspondence Lily might have received from Allen - this seeming ceased by the summer of 1918…

Lily became concerned, she contacted the West Yorkshire Regiment HQ. They clearly tried to discover what has happened to Allen Lee but without success, they replied to Lily to this effect. However, by October with the war nearing its end, Lily could only hope Allen was alright and with the expected imminent end to the war, things would be fine and Allen would soon be home…

A Post Card

November 11th 1918 was celebrated in Bradford with church bells ringing and parties. For a majority the hell of war was now over, loved ones at the front would now be returning…For Lily and little Mary, now days away from her 4th birthday – ‘Daddy would be coming home!’

…One day, just following the Armistice, the postman delivered a postcard dated 9th November – from Geneva, Switzerland. With the sounds of jollity probably still ringing around, Lily read the post card:

The postcard from Geneva informing Lily of the death of her husband, Allen Lee (copyright author)

There are no written words that could adequately describe what must have happened next…

Berlaimont Communal Cemetery (copyright CWGC)
Allen Lee's Gravestone at Berlaimont (copyright TWGPP)

…Searches of Red Cross records for British PoWs confirmed Allen Lee’s capture ‘unwounded’ and that he had died in hospital on 21/7/1918 of ‘weakness’. For someone who had been fit enough to be placed in the Battalion Cross Country just months before – his death from ‘weakness’ speaks volumes for his final months of near starvation, back-breaking work and mental suffering without hope of an end…

Lily never re-married and moved to a house in Great Horton, Bradford – about 400 yards from where I once lived – she passed away in 1963, maybe as a small boy I had seen her…Mary, probably with limited, if any, memories of her father – would have to live her whole life without him…

And now...'The Back Story'…

Allen Lee has no living family today, there were no family members to write his story to submit to ‘For Evermore’. However, his story has been written by someone who cares about him and his comrades in the ‘Bradford Pals’ – someone with a lifelong interest in the ‘Pals’, who by circumstances, came to discover Allen Lee’s story…

It was in early 2015, that I discovered a set of three WW1 medals to ‘16/772 Cpl A.Lee West Yorks R’ on an internet auction site. Instinctively, I recognised the ‘16/’ as belonging to the 1st Bradford Pals (16th Bn West Yorks.). The rest of the advertisement made no mention of this or anything relating to the Bradford Pals. I looked him up on the CWGC database – no trace, ‘he must have survived’, I thought…

Days passed, I placed my bid – and got them…I then immediately contacted the vendor asking if they had any further details. ‘Michael’, a policeman, came straight back to me, to tell me their story…

‘They belonged to an old lady in Morecambe who had recently passed away, she had no family. My mother-in-law lives next door and was helping clear her things, I will ask her to have a look through to see if there were any other items and I will send them to you along with the medals’ 

Michael was as good as his word. The medals duly arrived together with photographs, documents, letters and a damaged silver button bearing the Bradford coat of arms – rescued from items destined for disposal. The medals were carefully set aside. Going through the other items, I realised it was these that were beyond any price as they would help me to piece Allen Lee’s story together – the one you have just read...

Documents and Allen Lee's damaged button (copyright author)

But there was a shock, to now find Allen Lee had indeed died on 21/7/1918 and was buried at Berlaimont in France. It was now back to the CWGC database…this time, I did find him as ‘Corporal A.Lee 161772’. A simple ‘typo’ that meant so much…I would later contact the CWGC, who thanked me and were only too pleased to correct the error and add other information I had supplied.

I contacted Michael and gave him a fuller account of Allen Lee story…but Michael had other news for me…about the ‘old lady’ whom these medals belonged to…

‘She had come from Bradford where she worked as a buyer for a large store there and had retired to Morecambe. She had been married and had a son, Raymond. The family had moved to South Africa, but she and Raymond had come back alone. Raymond was never well and had died young. In fact, the lady was much older than I thought – she had just celebrated her 100th birthday in November. My mother-in-law popped into see her every day.’ At this point, Michael’s voice changed. ‘On Christmas day, she took her some Christmas presents and went back later to see her. She found the old lady had passed away in her chair having opened just some of her presents…’ Michael’s voice tailed off…

I simply said, ‘Her name was Mary Elizabeth – Mary Elizabeth Lee, Allen and Lily’s Lee’s daughter…’ There was silence at both ends of the telephone…

Lily and Mary Lee (1918), two photographs of Mary Lee later in life (copyright author)

‘Well, Mary, you are now re-united with your parents and your son. Your family’s items are now safe with me. Thanks to the CWGC ‘For Evermore’, I have now been able to tell your ‘family story’ as best I can for you, including some parts, thankfully, you never could have known, , in memory of both your father, Allen Lee, and his comrades in the ‘Bradford Pals’ – Rest in Peace, now…All is well…’ 

There is no personal inscription on Allen Lee’s gravestone at Berlaimont. Perhaps another such inscription, found on the gravestone of another Bradford Pal, would be as fitting: ‘NOT FORGOTTEN BY THOSE WHO LOVED HIM BEST’