People Australia

Harry Noel Lee, 1917 photographer unknown

from Bank of NSW Roll of Honour

Harry Noel Lea was born at Fremantle, Western Australia, on 15th December, 1895, the eldest son of the late Mr. H. A. Lea and of Mrs. M. C. Lea, of Cheltenham, New South Wales. He was educated at the Burwood Superior Public School, and the Sydney High School. He entered the service of the Bank on 19th December, 1911, at the Western Branch, Sydney. In the following March he was transferred to the Southern Branch; on 24th September, 1912, to Ryde; and on 21st September, 1915, to Surry Hills as ledger-keeper. He passed the Intermediate Section (in all subjects) at the Examination for the Diploma of Associate of the Institute of Bankers of New South Wales.

Harry Noel Lea enlisted in January, 1917, in the A.I.F., and sailed on the 24th of that month for England with the 9th Reinforcements of the 53rd Battalion. On arrival he was attached to the 14th Training Battalion, at Hurdcott, Salisbury Plain, but shortly afterwards was transferred to the 5th Training Battalion in order to be with one of his friends. He attended a six weeks’ officers’ training course at Candahar Barracks Tidworth, from which school he passed with a certificate, having reached the highest standard ever attained by the training battalion.

On reaching France in July, 1917, he joined the 17th Battalion, A.I.F., and was engaged at Polygon Wood, near Passchendaele, on 20th September, 1917. He escaped unscathed and was noted for promotion. Next he was engaged in the Battle of Zonnebeke on 9th October, 1917, where he sustained wounds from which he died on the same day at a dressing station in Ypres.