Lees G O Captain 13th Canadian Infantry
CAPTAIN G, O. LEES
ROYAL HIGHLANDERS OF CANADA, 15TH BATTALION CANADIAN CONTINGENT
GERALD OSCAR LEEs was the fourth and youngest son of William Lees, Jr., County of Stafford, and of Rosa his wife, of Tettenhall, near Wolverhampton.
He entered the School in 1892, and left in 1894, and, subsequently, went out to Canada and engaged in business in Montreal.
Soon after his arrival in the Dominion he joined the Royal Highlanders of Canada, a Militia Regiment allied with the “Black Watch,” and served with them until a few years later, when, on being admitted to partnership in the firm with which he had been previously connected, his business engagements made it necessary for him to move to Ottawa.
When the War broke out he immediately volunteered to serve in his old Regiment again, and came over with the First Canadian Contingent. An old friend in Canada, on hearing of his death, wrote, “I tried to keep him here, but the call of duty was too strong.”
He was a well-known golfer, first as a member of the South Staffordshire Golf Club, and in more recent years as a member of the Montreal and Ottawa Golf Clubs. He was twice in the final for the Canadian Championship. He was also one of four representatives of Canada selected to play against the United States of America, but the claims of business at that time prevented him from accepting the distinction.
He was widely known throughout the Dominion, and had a large circle of friends. The Colonel, who commanded the regiment during the time that Captain Lees was with it in Montreal, telegraphed to his father: “We are all more grieved than we can say to hear of the loss of your son, and cherish with great pride and affection the memory of our association with so fine a soldier and gentleman.” A brother Officer who was near him when he fell wrote: “He was a perfect hero, and by his cheerfulness. helped to keep the men in good spirits, in spite of the terrible time we were having from German howitzers,”
He was killed in action, by shell, on April 24th, 1915, at Langemarck, near Ypres, on the occasion when the Germans first used asphyxiating gases, and when the Canadian Division’s “gallantry and determination undoubtedly saved the situation.” Age 37.
Source : Memorials Of Rugbeians Who Fell In The Great War Vol 1