LEE, John
| Service Number: | 180 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 October 1899, On 8 July, 1903, John (Jack) Lee transferred to the Natal Border Police as Trooper 3057. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 4th Victorian Imperial Bushman |
| Born: | Lilbourne, Northamptonshire, England, 1870 |
| Home Town: | Bealiba, Central Goldfields, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Soldier |
| Died: | Drowning, Insubeni River, Zululand, near Babanango, South Africa, 8 March 1904 |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 180 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct 1899: | Enlisted Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 180, 4th Victorian Imperial Bushman, On 8 July, 1903, John (Jack) Lee transferred to the Natal Border Police as Trooper 3057. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Dianna Mellino
Johnathan Lee was born in 1870 in Lilbourne, Northamptonshire, England to Thomas and Elizabeth Lee nee Watson. He was baptised on 9 April, 1869 in Lilbourne. He was the seventh of twelve children in the family and was known as Jack.
When Jack was 1 year of age, his father, Thomas was employed by the Chirnside family to be manager and studmaster of a property called Bealiba Station near the Avoca River in Victoria The Lee family sailed to Australia on the "Macduff" which left London on 10 May, 1871. Lee was in charge of pedigree Southdown sheep and other breeding stock as well as a Clydesdale stallion. The ship was battered by a violent storm and was becalmed for a long period of time and food became scarce. The Captain warned Lee that he had the power to seize the animals for food if necessary. To prevent the crew from taking the stock, Thomas Lee spent each night guarding the animals and during the day, his wife and oldest children took turns keeping guard. Luckily, the weather improved and the animals were safe. The Lee family lived at the Bealiba homestead until 1878 when Thomas Lee took up land of their own at Logan near Bealiba. The sons worked on this property.
Johnathan (Jack) Lee enlisted for the Boer War and in the 4th Victorian Imperial Bushmen Contingent.
Following the end of his service in the war, he transferred over to the Natal Border Police on 8 July, 1903 as Trooper No. 3057.
Unfortunately, Jack was drowned while on duty crossing the Insubeni River in Zululand on 8 March, 1904. This is approximately 8kms from the township of Banango and he was buried at Nondweni, Zululand.
A headstone was erected on his grave by his comrades in the Police. It reads: In Memory of Trooper John Lee, Natal Police. Drowned in the Insubeni. 8th March, 1904. Aged 34 years. Erected by his comrades.
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