Sergeant Michael James Lee. 

18366 2nd East Lancashire Regiment.

Missing in Action 31st July 1917. Aged 20.

Michael was born in the June quarter of 1897 in Burnley. The son of John Lee and Mary Ellen McInerney. In the 1901 census the family were living at 215 Brunshaw Rd, Burnley. John 43 weaver born in Macclesfield, Cheshire, Mary 38 born in Church, Lancs, Mary 11, Magdalene 10, Agnes 8, John 6, Michael 3, and Josephine 1, all born in Burnley.

By the time of the 1911 census the family had moved 3 doors down and were living with his mother’s father John McInerney (77) a Police pensioner. John 53, Mary Ellen 48, Mary 21 weaver, Magdalene 20, teacher, Agnes 18 weaver, John 16 labourer, Michael 13 butcher’s apprentice, Josephine 11, Stephen 6 and a boarder Mary Ryan. All these 11 people living in 5 rooms. I remember these houses as my grandmother lived on Brunshaw Rd and one of these rooms would have been a small kitchen, no bathroom and an outside long drop toilet!

From the Burnley Express dated 11th August 1917: FELL IN THE ADVANCE. FATE OF TO BURNLEY SOLDIERS.

Bad news has come to two Burnley homes this week. In a letter home a Burnley soldier named Cosgrove announced that two soldiers from Fulledge had "gone West". This letter arrived on Wednesday morning and in the evening they arrived home on furlough Sgt Joe Batty of Massey Street. He was able to confirm the news having been one of the party to undertake their burial.  The unfortunate soldiers are Sergeant 18636 Michael Lee, of 72 Lyndhurst Road and Private Terence McGreal of 16 Eastham Street both of the East Lancashire Regiment,  the former being hit on the head on August 1st and the latter on July 31st, both in connection with the recent advance.

 Sgt Lee was only 20 years of age, and left his employer at Mr Waddingtons, draper, Manchester Road, in January 1915, to enter the army. He was drafted to France the following May, and beyond having a furlough last November he had been on active service all the time. Sergeant Lee was a member of St. Mary's RC Church and was also connected with St Mary's Men's Club and and the Catholic Lads' Brigade. His brother, corporal Jack Lee, also of the East Lancashire Regiment was wounded on the opening day of the Somme offensive last year, and taken a prisoner. His wounds have healed and a letter was received on Tuesday from him stating he was alright. The Corporal was a machine gunner.

 From the Burnley Express dated 18th August 1917: FELL  IN THE ADVANCE. SERGEANT WHO WAS "ONE OF THE BEST."

 Last Saturday we announced that a Burnley Sergeant on furlough had reported that another Burnley Sergeant of the same regiment had "Gone West" in the recent advance. This was the son of Mrs Lee, widow of 72 Lyndhurst Road Fulledge,and this week the soldiers mother has received a kind and sympathetic letter from Captain Henderson of the East Lancashire Regiment, confirming the sad news. The officer wrote as follows:-"Dear Mrs Lee, I expect that you have heard by now about your son, Sergeant Michael Lee who was killed in action on July 31st. I want to offer you my very deepest sympathy in your sad loss. He was the platoon Sgt of number 14 Platoon, and the Platoon officer had the very highest admiration for him.  This officer was wounded on the same day, or you would have been written to before. Your son was one of the best Sergeant I had in the company, and apart from his great value as a soldier he was such a good fellow in every way.  I cannot say how sorry I am to lose him and so is everyone else in this company. We all feel that one of the very best has gone. He was hit by a sniper a few hours after we had captured our objective. He was always very cool Under Fire and he did very well all through the attack, just as I would have expected of him. It was very bad luck being hit after the worst part was over. He was buried near where he fell. He did not suffer at all, dying in about 3 minutes without regaining consciousness."

 Sergeant Lee was only 20 years of age, and left his employee at Mr Waddington Draper Manchester Road, in January 1915 to enter the army. He was drafted to France the following May, and beyond having a furlough last November he had been on Active Service all the time.  His bravery and admirable work in the field are reflected in the fact that he got all his stripes whilst on Active Service. He was a member of St. Mary's RC Church and was also connected with St Mary's Men's Club and the Catholic Lads' Brigade. His brother corporal Jack Lee also of the East Lancashire Regiment was wounded on the opening day of the Somme offensive last year, and taken a prisoner. His wounds have healed and a letter was received last week from him stating that he was alright the corporal was a machine gunner.

Lived at 32 Lyndhurst Road.

Michael left his effects to his Mother Mary Ellen.

Michael is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium: Panel 34