Captain James Lees SBS/SAS

Mark Hone · 31-05-2008, 12:15 PM

I have just been reading Patrick French's excellent biography of Sir Francis Younghusband: explorer, imperial adventurer, invader of Tibet and mystic. Towards the end of his often bizarre life the aged Younghusband began a relationship with the much younger Lady Madeline Lees. French's epilogue reveals that Madeline's son James Lees was killed 'in hand to hand combat in the Balkans'. After the war, French says, Lady Lees discovered the identity of his killer, an Italian Fascist called Roberto. In a remarkable gesture she forgave him and invited him to the family home in Dorset. I tracked down James's CWGC entry:
CAPTAIN JAMES LEES Regiment/Service:King's Royal Rifle Corps Secondary Regiment:Special Boat Service, S.A.S. Regiment, A.A.C. Age :25 Date of Death:09/03/1945 Service No:175078 Additional information:Son of Colonel Sir John Victor Elliott Lees, D.S.O., M.C., 3rd Bt. and of Lady Lees (nee Pelly), of Lytchett Minster, Dorsetshire. Casualty Type:Commonwealth War DeadGrave/Memorial Reference:10. C. 9.Cemetery:BELGRADE WAR CEMETERY

There is clearly a fascinating story here. Does anyone know further details?

31-05-2008, 12:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mark Hone Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bury, Lancashire, England Posts: 276	Captain James Lees SBS/SAS I have just been reading Patrick French's excellent biography of Sir Francis Younghusband: explorer, imperial adventurer, invader of Tibet and mystic. Towards the end of his often bizarre life the aged Younghusband began a relationship with the much younger Lady Madeline Lees. French's epilogue reveals that Madeline's son James Lees was killed 'in hand to hand combat in the Balkans'. After the war, French says, Lady Lees discovered the identity of his killer, an Italian Fascist called Roberto. In a remarkable gesture she forgave him and invited him to the family home in Dorset. I tracked down James's CWGC entry: CAPTAIN JAMES LEES Regiment/Service:King's Royal Rifle Corps Secondary Regiment:Special Boat Service, S.A.S. Regiment, A.A.C. Age :25 Date of Death:09/03/1945 Service No:175078 Additional information:Son of Colonel Sir John Victor Elliott Lees, D.S.O., M.C., 3rd Bt. and of Lady Lees (nee Pelly), of Lytchett Minster, Dorsetshire. Casualty Type:Commonwealth War DeadGrave/Memorial Reference:10. C. 9.Cemetery:BELGRADE WAR CEMETERY There is clearly a fascinating story here. Does anyone know further details? __________________ In memory of Corporal Jack Hone (1923-2004), proud 14th Army 'Steelback'. Last edited by Mark Hone; 31-05-2008 at 01:05 PM.

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