Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of William LEE Snr., 281 Tooronga road, East Malvern, Vic.

PRIVATE ERIC LEE.
Mr. and Mrs. W. Lee, of Tooronga-road, Malvern, and formerly for many years residents of Goornong, have received word from the Defence department, through the Rev. H. W. R.  Topp, that their fourth son, Private Eric Lee, had been killed in action on 4th October. Private Lee was a native of Goornong, and about 22 years of age. He enlisted early in 1915,  and sailed on 8th May, 1915, with the 22nd Battalion.

He was a fine, strong youth of a happy disposition, and his many friends in the Goornong district deeply regret to hear the sad news. He is the third employe who enlisted while  working on Mr. A. R. Goldie's estate to be killed in action. Yesterday the State school flag was hoisted half-mast, and a meeting to be held in St. George's Church of England was  postponed out of respect to the deceased. Another brother, Private Horace Lee, is on active service.

A Goornong correspondent writes:— On Thursday word was received here that Private Eric Lee, son of Mr W. Lee, who resided here for many years, but who lately removed to East Malvern, was killed in action on the 4th October. Private Lee sailed from Australia on the 8th May, 1915. His number was 849 in D Company, 22nd Battalion, and Sixth Brigade. "Eric," as he was familarily known by, was born in Goornong, and was 22 years of age at the time of his death. As a young man, he was very popular, and was of a particularly  kind and genial disposition; he was also a keen athlete. At the time of his enlistment he was in the employment of Mr A. R. Goldie, on his "May Bank" Estate. His various movements were noted by his many admirers, and throughout the district very many have to-day beautiful cards and small presents as his act of kindness and thought,  particularly amongst his school companions.

He first landed in Egypt, then went to Gallipoli, and was there at the time of evacuation. Thence he went to England for a few weeks for training; then to France. After this he was  in England, and finally to France up to the time of his death. Driver Horace Lee, who is a brother, is in the Ammunition Corps, and is at present in France.

Heartfelt expressions of sympathy for Mr and Mrs Wm. Lee and family, and Mr and Mrs B. Hughes, his uncle and aunt, is freely expressed here. The wire was sent to the Rev. H. W. R. Topp, who is the minister for his church, and was repeated to the clergy of the East Malvern Church of England, to break this sad news to the parents and family. By this  information it adds to the list of heroes, whose names appear on the Goornong State School Honor Roll, who, for their Country has paid the extreme sacrifice.