10th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
10/09/1885
Died:
01/07/1916 (Killed in Action)
Age:
30
Summary
William Lee was the son of James and Margaret Lee. William Lee was born on 10th September 1885 in Draperstown, County Londonderry. William was one of eight children. William Lee married Kathleen Colgan on 27th November 1907 in Magherafelt. They had four children. He was a labourer. William enlisted in Coleraine. Private William Lee was serving with the 10th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on Saturday 1st July 1916.His brother James, also with the 10th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, was also killed that day.
Further Information
William Lee was the son of James and Margaret Lee. James Lee married Margaret Boyd on 12th October 1880 in the district of Magherafelt.
William Lee was born on 10th September 1885 in Draperstown, County Londonderry (tbc). William was one of eight children.
Family: James L Lee, Margaret Lee, Robert Lee (born 24th June 1881), Thomas Lee (born 22nd February 1883), Mary Minnie Lee (born 4th March 1885?), William Lee (born 10th September 1885?), Maud Margaret Lee (born 12th December 1888), James Lee (born 10th April 1891), Alexander Lee (born 16th July 1893), Samuel Lee (born 16th October 1895).
The 1901 census does not list William as living with the family at house 24 in Moneyguiggy, Carnamoney, County Londonderry. Moneyguiggy lies just west of Tobermore. His father was a farm labourer.
William Lee married Kathleen Colgan on 27th November 1907 in Magherafelt.
The 1911 census does not list William as living with his parents at house 10 in Moneyguiggy, Carnamoney, Londonderry. All the family were working on their farm.
1911 census lists William as age 24 living with his wife and family at house 7 in Tamnyaskey, Tobermore, County Londonderry. William was a labourer.
William and Kathleen had four children.
Family: William Lee, Kathleen Lee, James Tim Lee (born 23rd October 1908), Edith May Lee (born 4th July 1910), John Lee (born 30th October 1911), Kathleen Lee (born 10th April 1914).
William Lee enlisted in Coleraine.
William’s brothers James and Thomas also enlisted.
Private William Lee was serving with the 10th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on Saturday 1st July 1916. He was 30 years old.
His brother James, also with the 10th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, was also killed that day, aged 25.
Their brother Thomas survived the war.
Private William Lee has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, like his brother.
Private William Lee is commemorated on the family headstone in Kilcronaghan Churchyard.
The CWGC record Private William Lee as the husband of Kathleen Lee of Kilcronaghan, Tobermore, Co. Derry.
All images courtesy of Sam Hudson, Desertmartin. Information provided here is courtesy of the excellent research donated by Mr Sam Hudson
