LEE F. GURDON.D……………………………………………………..
Memorial in the church
To the glory of God and in loving memory of
FREDERICK GURDON DRIFFIELD LEE
Lieutenant in the VIth Battalion The Norfolk Regiment
And of Woodton Rectory
Who died March 1st 1916 at the age of 21, from Pneumonia
Contracted while on duty at the Military School of Signalling
Near Otley, Yorkshire.
Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori
To whose memory the “Gurdon Lee Charity” was founded.
From the headstone in the churchyard
Lieut. In the Norfolk Regt.
Born Novr 10th 1894
Died March 1st 1916
Beloved and Honoured only sons of
The Revd Frederick Lee. Rector of Woodton
And Alice Louisa his wife
LEE, FREDERICK GURDON DRIFFIELD
Rank:……………………………………………………………..Lieutenant
Date of Death:……………………………………………….01/03/1916
Age:……………………………………………………………….21
Regiment:………………………………………………………Norfolk Regiment,2nd/6th Bn.
Grave Reference:
South of Church.
Cemetery:
WOODTON (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD
Additional Information:
Son of the Rev Frederick and Alice Louisa Lee, of Woodton Rectory, Born at Great Bricett, Ipswich. His brother Richard Henry Driffield also died in service.
CWGC: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2802958/LEE,%20FREDER...
The Medal Index Card for Transport Lieutenant Frederick Gordon D Lee, Norfolk Regiment, is held at the National Archive under reference WO 372/12/42947
discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D3333935
No match on Picture Norfolk
Census
The 6 year old Frederick G D, born Bricett Magna, Suffolk, was recorded on the 1901 census at the Vicarage, Great Bricett Bosmere. This was the household of parents Frederick, (46) and Alice L, (43) – see brother Richard for more details. Also in the household are their other children:-
Alice P.D…………….aged 10……………..born Bricett Magna
Mary L D…………….aged 4……………….born Bricett Magana
By the time of the 1911 census the 16 year old Richard is a boarder at a school in Norwich. Its not clear from the census which one, but looking at the census pages on either side, the school was located in The Close, Norwich, and so would have been the Cathedral (King Edward) School.
From De Ruvignys Roll of Honour, (which also has a picture)
LEE, FREDERICK GURDON DRIFFIELD, Lieut., 1/6th (Territorial) Battalion, (Cyclists), The Norfolk Regt., yr s of the Rev., Frederick Lee of Woodton Rectory, Bungay, Rector of Woodton, by his wife Alice Louisa, dau. , of Walter Wren Driffield, of Prescot, Lancs;and brother to Captain Richard Henry Driffield Lee, (q.v.);b Bricet, co Suffolk, 10 Nov.,1894;educ., Norwich Grammar School;joined the 1/6th Battn, Aug 1914; served for some time as a Motor Despatch Rider;and was gazetted 2nd Lieut., on formation of the 2/6th Battn, The Norfolk Regt., 3 Nov 1914; promoted Lieut 3 June 1915; was taking an advanced course of instruction in signalling at Otley, having been appointed signalling officer to the Battalion, and died at Farnley Park, Otley, co York 1st March 1916 from influenza and pneumonia contracted on military service. Buried at Woodton, Bungay.His commanding officer wrote of him as a “keen and energetic officer and a general favourite among both officers and men. Unm.
