William George Ellis Lee
(Ch) M 23273 Ship's Steward's Assistant.
Formerly (Dev) J 48404, Ordinary Seaman
William was born in Cattistock, Dorset on 11th October 1894 to parents Samuel and Jane. He lived with his younger sister and parents at the Board School House in Ilchester, Somerset, where his father was a Gov. Certified Schoolmaster, at the time of the 1901 census (he was enrolled at Ilchester Church of England School aged 3).
In 1911 he is recorded as still being at school, while he and his family were living at Willand, Tiverton, Devon.
William first joined the Royal Navy on 3rd January 1916 for the duration of hostilities - he was 5'9" tall, with dark brown hair and blue eyes. He trained as an Ordinary Seaman at VIVID I until 27th January 1916, where he changed rating the next day, to Ship Steward Assistant.
He continued training at VIVID I until 1st March 1916 when he was posted to HMS VANGUARD. He was aboard the ship during the Battle of Jutland, until 24th September 1916 when he was removed and spent 7 days in cells. He joined the ship again on 2nd October 1916, until her explosion. He is mentioned in Volume 4 of De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour.
#231 - 476/843
Sources:
1901 & 1911 England Census
Somerset, England, School Registers, 1860-1914
Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services, 1848-1939 National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services; Class: ADM 188; Piece: 743
British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960 National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Admiralty: Naval Casualties, Indexes, War Grave Rolls and Statistics Book, First World War.; Class: ADM 242; Piece:009 (1914 - 1919)
CWGC Register
De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour, 1914-1919
Royal Navy and Royal Marine War Graves Roll, 1914-1919 TNA Series: ADM 242/9; Scan Number: 0096
WWI Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923 Western Front Association; London, England; WWI Pension Record Cards and Ledgers; Reference: 118/0557/LEE-LEE
The Devon and Exeter Gazette