LEA Gerald Ernest

1. At dawn on September 15th 1914, the 2nd Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment took up a position on the Tilleul Heights to support the Highland Light Infantry. All day long the British positions were heavily shelled and there were many casualties. Captain G.E. Lea, one of the best officers of the Regiment was wounded and died later in the day. The loss of Captain Lea was deeply felt. A man of very charming personality, a fine soldier and a graduate of the staff college, he would have gone far had he survived.

2. The following report appears in Berrow’s Worcester Journal, 26th September 1914:
Captain G.E. Lea Dies of Wounds
Capt. Gerald Ernest Lea, who was 37 years of age, was the third son of His Honour Judge Harris Lea, of Broadlands, Aylestone Hill, Hereford. He went out with the First Army Corps of the British Expeditionary Force. He took part in the various engagements in the retreat from Mons to within a few miles of Paris, and he was wounded and died in one of the many battles on the Aisne or the Marne. Captain Lea received his commission in May 1897, and was promoted to Lieutenant ten years later, and Captain in December 1900. He was formerly in the 1st Battalion in India, but because of his wife’s health, exchanged a year ago with Capt. Fitzjohn and joined the 2nd. He served with the 1st Battalion in Ireland, and the Isle of Wight. He served in the South African Wart 1900.2. He was Adjutant to the 1st Battalion Worcestershire regiment from January 31st, 1901. He took part in the operations in the Orange Free State February to May 1900, in the Orange River Colony, May 1900 to May 1902 and was mentioned in despatches on September 10th, 1901. He received a Queen’s medal and two clasps and the King’s medal and two clasps. He passed out of the staff college in 1912. In August of the same year, at Breinton Parish Church, he married Miss Brenda Wadworth, only child of Mr and Mrs H.A. Wadworth, of Breinton Court. With Judge Harris Lea and his family, as also with Mr and Mrs Wadworth, and their widowed daughter, widespread sympathy will be felt in their bereavement and grief, lessened though it will be by the knowledge that Capt Lea fell fighting for his country.

3. The following report appears in the Malvern Gazette, 26th September 1914:
Captain Gerald Ernest Lea, who has died of wounds was the third son of His Honour Judge Harris Lea who sits at Malvern County Court. He went out with the First Army Corps of the B.E.F. He took part in various engagements including the famous Retreat from Mons to just a few miles outside Paris and was wounded and died on one of the many battles on the Aisne or the Marne. He passed out of Staff College in 1912 and in August of the same year at Breinton Church his married Miss. Brenda Wadworth, only child of Mr H A Wadworth. At Breinton Court he will be sorely missed.

4. United Parish magazine, Astley, October 1914:
From our list of remembrance on the Altar, which includes not only all Astley men on service, but also near relatives and friends of Astley people, we have already to take 3 names and place them on the list of ‘souls’ whom we commend to the loving mercy of God’:
Gerald Ernest Lea, Capt. 2nd Worcesters cousin of Sir Sydney Lea; – Worcester Gheluvelt Park