Orders, Decorations and Medals

Pair: Sub Lieutenant F. L. Rees, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, killed in action, 23 April 1917

1914-15 Star (S. Lt., R.N.R.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (S. Lt., R.N.V.R.) very fine (2) £80-100

Francis Leonard Rees was born in 1885, the son of Rees Vaughan Rees and Bessie Smale Rees, of 9 Empress Avenue, Ilford, Essex. On the outbreak of war, Rees resigned his position held in Salisbury, Rhodesia and travelled to England and volunteered for active service. On 6 August 1915 he was granted a commission as Temporary Assistant Paymaster, R.N.V.R., aboard H.M.S. Zinna. After requesting a more active roll, he was transferred as Sub Lieutenant to the Royal Naval Division and was posted for training at Crystal Palace and later at Blandford Camp, Dorset in September 1916. Posted to France in January 1917, he was attached to the 190th Machine Gun Company, Royal Naval Division and was the sectional commander in charge of four machine guns. He was killed in action on 23 April 1917, aged 32 years, during the operations to capture Gavrelle. Having no known grave, his name is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.