Searching for Information on Pte 3216 Richard Lee - Connaught Rangers

[Adam B]

Hi All, 

 

Note: I am an absolute amateur here so any help would be useful. 

 

I am trying to organise a birthday present for my 80-year old mother in law. She recently told me about her grandfather who died in the first world war https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/2348256. I am doing my best to research some information on him for her (apparently he served in South Africa too which she had no idea about!). I cannot really find much (but maybe much doesn't exist) but since I am a complete novice I was wondering if anyone had any sources of information that I could potentially research to find out about him for her. 

 

Again apologies if this is an impossible question - but thought i'd chance by arm and see if there was anyone who could help accelerate my search. 

 

Thanks, 

Adam

[RussT]

Welcome to the Forum:

With the Regiment spelt like that you are a shoe-in for a job as a transcriber for Ancestry 

I've amended your title and I have moved the thread from Cemeteries & Memorials to Soldiers & Units

I'm sure others will be along shortly to offer advice etc.

Regards

Russ

[RussT]

This should get you started - his Medal Index Card (LLT)

Have a read of this to get to grip with some of the basics - it will aid your understanding and help put stuff into context:

How to research a soldier - The Long, Long Trail (longlongtrail.co.uk)

 

His CWGC Commemoration:

Private Richard Lee | War Casualty Details 690263 | CWGC

[Allan1892]

The Soldiers Died in the Great War database shows that he was in the 5th Battalion of the Connaught Rangers. It also shows that he was born in Dublin, enlisted in Dublin and at the time of his enlistment his home address was Quarries, Co Dublin

(image courtesy of Find My Past)

[Allan1892]

There was a dependant's pension payable to his widow, Elizabeth, and for their five children. (image courtesy of the Western Front Association)

[Allan1892]

FindaGrave website hold an image of Richard and Elizabeth along with their five children. If you look carefully, Richard is wearing medals, this suggests that he was a serving soldier when baby Elizabeth was born on the 24th March 1914. (image courtesy of FindaGrave)

Richard Lee (1871-1915) - Find a Grave Memorial

[Matlock1418]

58 minutes ago, Allan1892 said:

Just a few interpretations so as to avoid a possible mis-understanding(s)

This award was under the 1915 Royal Warrant so:

• 10.3.86 is Elizabeth's date of birth [widows could get an age-related supplement due to their reduced likelihood of remarriage.  She was not eligible for a >35 yo's supplement].
• 24/6 pw was a standard pension and allowances for a widow <35 yo with five children <16yo = 10/- plus 5/-. 3/6, 2/-, 2/- and 2/- respectively.
• There usually was an approx. six-month gap between death and paying of a pension [to allow six months for any presumption of death and for calculation] - in the meantime standard Separation Allowances continued to be paid – so, unlike what many observers think when they first see such a card, there was not a complete absence of monies in the intervening period.
• S.A. means Separation Allowance - A portion of a soldier's pay which was matched by the government and sent to his dependants to make sure they were not left destitute while he was on active service.  SA were often slightly more generous than pensions and children’s allowances because a wife had to maintain a home in the same level of comfort as before ready for her husband’s return whilst a widow did not have such a need and costs – after all, apparently, she could then cut back and down-size her home!  Typically, the No. for whom SA is paid on the card reflected the number of children – as we can see here
• 50F is Form 50F used to cease the Separation Allowance and start the pension.
• 'Noted for Novel' meant special treatment/calculation required
• It is slightly unsual that she was Not eligible for a Grant

           

           Image from 'War Pensions & Allowances' by Hogge & Garside, p.266 - thanks to Internet Archive, www.archive.org

           - Grants were commonly used for mourning dress [less so as the war progressed] and the placement of newspaper notices

M

Edited 24 May , 2024 by Matlock1418
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