Notes
He had a younger brother, Harold Lea, who also attended the school and who served in the Royal Engineers but who was not recorded on this ROH. The following information was supplied by the school in 2024: 'B Glos [in 1882]. Joined volunteers in 1899. Son of Deputy Chief Constable of Gloucestershire. 1901 living with his mother, who has remarried after his father's death (in 1892), to Thomas Allen, at 42 Duke Street. 1911 [living at] 4 Glanarrow, and he is a Timber Merchant Foreman. Colour Sergeant October 1914, assessed fit for foreign service (D company 1sr Batt, Herefords Reg). Noted by LHS Dec 1914. Served in Dardanelles, wounded at Suvla Bay, this reported by Fred Jones, Sept. 1915. Hospitalised at Malta and commissioned 2nd Lieutenant. Regiment transferred to Egypt, where he distinguished himself in action in Gaza. In Jerusalem with Allenby, now Captain and Company Commander, awarded MC in 1917. Promotion to Lt and Adjutant noted in KT May 1917. Noted that now [he has been] 18 years in army. Dec 1917 KT reports that he was awarded MC. Transfer to Western Front in 1918. December 1918 KT report that Major Chipp, MC, awarded DSO. In command of the Herefords' last operation in Belgium. Apparently lost left arm at the elbow. By end of war, was Battalion Commander, MC, DSO, Croix de Guerre (France and Belgium). Left the army after the war and became a rubber planter in Malaya. POW after the fall of Singapore in 1940, surviving Changi. He later returned to the UK.'