Sidney James Lees, AIF #38361, was a resident of Rogers Street Canterbury. He was born on 29 September 1887 and enlisted in WWI on 28 April 1917, aged 24.
On his attestation papers, his trade was described as gardener.
Sid embarked from Sydney on SS “Canberra” on 13 November 1917. He disembarked at Southampton on 30 January 1918. His rank was Gunner in the Field Artillery Brigade, 27- 35 Reinforcements. Sid marched in to the Australian General Base Depot Rouelles on 2 April 1918.
Sid left England for return to Australia on SS “Prinz Hubertus” on 3 July 1919, disembarking in Sydney on the 3 July 1919.
The Attestation Papers of Sidney Lees can be downloaded from this website.
Sidney and Gert: a love story
While he was on service abroad, Sid stayed in touch with his sweetheart, Gertrude (“Gertie”) Humphries by exchanging postcards. Sid and Gertie’s granddaughter, Judith, and their daughter, Edna, generously donated postcards, letters and items related to Sid and Gertie’s life to the City of Canterbury Bankstown Library service. These items have been digitised and are available for the first time on this website. The collection includes 47 postcards and 2 letters sent between Sid and Gertie between 1917 and 1919.
Gertie lived in Albert Cottage, on Beamish Street Campsie.
These touching postcards and letters tell of longing, love and the hope of Sidney’s safe return to his sweetheart in Australia. The cards are filled with promises that they will never forget each other. Included in the collection are beautiful embroidered postcards, send from Sid to Gert. These cards, generally known as “WWI Silks”, were generally hand embroidered on stripes of silk mesh. They were mostly produced by French and Belgian women refugees who worked in their homes and refugee camps. Due to their beauty and uniqueness, WWI silks were very popular with servicemen on duty in France. This is why the themes for most of the silks produced are patriotic. Sid sent Gert WWI silks with themes of Australia and Great Britain, remembrance and souvenirs of France (http://www.ww1-propaganda-cards.com/silks.html).
In March 1919, Sid wrote to Gert on a postcard with the heading “Enfin!” On this he wrote:
Dear Gert
Do you remember the last few words I left with you and duty called me from you and now it is all over and thank God for that. Sid.
Gert and Sid were married in 1921, and later lived at Trafalgar Street Belmore. Rosie (born 1923) and Gladys (born 1924) were their first two children. Edna came along in 1935. Unfortunately in 1928 Rosie died of tetanus, and was buried in Moorefields cemetery.
Sid worked as a market gardener and passed away in 1956. Gertie lived until 1980.
Sid’s parents were Edward Lees and Rebecca Chard. Both the Chard and Lees families were important pioneering families in the Canterbury district. They were some of the original free settlers in the Moorefields district (now the suburb of Kingsgrove), from 1824.
Courtesy Judith James and Edna Beasley
Special thanks to Judith and Edna for donating these items to the City of Canterbury Bankstown Library.