Norman Edgar Lee

Private, London Scottish/Sapper, Royal Engineers

Norman Edgar Lee studied at Alleyn’s until 1900. During his school years he lived with his parents, Alfred and Ruth, and his younger brother, Ronald at 63a Millbrook Road, Brixton. The family later moved to 9 Gresham Road, Brixton. After leaving school, Norman found employment as a clerk and married his wife, Minne, in 1911. They moved into a new property at 84 Dumbarton Road, Brixton Hill shortly afterwards. When war broke out in August 1914, Norman remained in civilian employment for a short while but decided to join the war effort in December 1915. After being attested, he joined the London Scottish Regiment and served with 14^th Battalion overseas in France until he was transferred to 4^th Field Survey Battalion, Royal Engineers. These specialist battalions existed to get a general idea of the ground that men would be advancing over and were expected to produce maps that highlighted enemy positions to assist with operations. The work of the Field Survey battalions was incredibly important during the period of static trench warfare of the Western Front from late 1914 to 1918. Leonard served in France as a Sapper with 4^th battalion until being discharged in May 1919.