General News
10 October, 2026
Veteran's Voices: Birchip Brigadier Joseph Edward Lee
Joseph Edward Lee was born in Narraport, near Birchip, on December 10, 1893, as one of seven children of John Thomas Lee and Margaret Barber. Lee entered the Royal Military College Duntroon in Canberra on March 7, 1912, and was in the second class to graduate since its inception.
Joseph Edward Lee was born in Narraport, near Birchip, on December 10, 1893, as one of seven children of John Thomas Lee and Margaret Barber.
Lee entered the Royal Military College Duntroon in Canberra on March 7, 1912, and was in the second class to graduate since its inception.
Canberra was officially founded and named by Lady Denman on March 12, 1913, as the capital of Australia to resolve rivalries between Sydney and Melbourne.
Canberra’s foundation ceremony marked the first time cadets from the Royal Military College Duntroon paraded outside of their college grounds.
Among them was Joseph Lee, who was particularly interested in seeing Lady Denman, as she was a distant cousin of his.
He graduated from Duntroon on November 2, 1914, and was appointed as 1st Lieutenant.
As part of H Company, 13th Battalion, Lieutenant Lee departed on HMAT Ulysses A38 on December 22, 1914.
On April 12, 1915, he proceeded to the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF) at Gallipoli.
The MEF was the British Army formation initially led by General Sir Ian Hamilton to command all Allied land forces during the Gallipoli Campaign.
He was given the temporary rank of Captain on July 19, due to a Captain being wounded.
His service records state he was at Anzac Cove on the Gallipoli Peninsula from April 26 to August 7, 1915.
Official war correspondent Charles Bean mentions Lee with the 13th Infantry Battalion moving up the Aghyl Dere during the Battle of Sari Bair on August 7, 1915.
Advancing towards Aghyl Dere, a native guide took them on a shorter path to what had been reconnoitred by Major Overton, between Walden Point and Bauchop’s Hill.
Lee was with the platoon on the right, moving up the slope, and was fired on from a fold of the Aghyl Dere.
They were ordered not to fire unless commanded by their officers, and so they advanced in silence, with the Turks retreating.
A hundred yards on, a group of Turks opened a steady rifle-fire, so Lee ordered them to fire 5 rounds at 30 yards and then charge them.
He was wounded on August 7, during the fighting, with bullet wounds to the back of his left arm behind the radial surface artery and to the thigh.
The Turks retreated before the Australians reached them.
He was sent to Hospital Ship Delta on the same day and arrived at Ghezirah on August 12, and was sent to No 2 General Hospital.
He embarked on HS Asturias on September 15, at Alexandria, bound for England.
Lee disembarked at Southampton on September 26, and was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital on the same day.
He was discharged from the hospital and granted sick leave on October 1.
On December 6, 1915, he was admitted to No. 5 Australian Auxiliary Hospital, but no discharge date was recorded.
Lee returned to Egypt for duty on February 22, 1916.
At the same place, he was also mentioned in despatches on February 29.
At Tel el Kebir on March 1, 1916, Lee was promoted to Captain to complete establishment (fill a vacant position in the unit), and on the 12th, he was to be Adjutant (right-hand man to the battalion commander) and was taken on strength (transferred) of the 45th Infantry Battalion from the 13th Battalion.
His father was sent a letter by Base Records on April 13, 1916, saying,
“I have much pleasure in forwarding herewith a copy of an extract from Fourth Supplement, No. 29438, to the “London Gazette” of 11th January, 1916, relating to the conspicuous services rendered by your son, Captain J. E. Lee, 13th Battalion.
“His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve of the undermentioned award for distinguished service in the Field, with effect from 1st January 1916, inclusive: - AWARDED THE MILITARY CROSS. Lieutenant Joseph Edward Lee, 13th Battalion.”
It was posted to Narraport, via Birchip.
At Alexandria on June 2, 1916, on the Transport Kinfauns Castle, he proceeded to join the BEF, disembarking at Marseilles the following day.
The 45th Battalion was involved in the fighting at Pozières during August 1916.
On August 6, 1916, he was promoted to Major In The Field, due to Major D K Chapman being killed in action.
Many casualties occurred on that day due to the continuous bombardment by the Germans that obliterated the captured trenches they were in.
The battalion achieved at Pozières the reputation that it would do its job, no matter the consequences.
Lee was Adjutant of the 45th Battalion until September 1916.
He was admitted to hospital from the 45th Battalion in the field on November 14, 1916.
At the 8th General Hospital at Rouen, he was admitted on the 15th with pyrexia after passing through the 38th Casualty Clearing Station.
From there, he was sent to Base, being discharged from the hospital at Rouen on November 24 and was marched in on the 27th.
From Reinforcement Camp at Etaples on December 3, 1916, he rejoined his Battalion in the field the following day.
On January 5, 1917, Lee was seconded for training as Staff Captain to 12th Brigade Headquarters.
Again, on April 2, 1917, he was detached for training to Staff School in England.
On May 22, the course was terminated, and Lee proceeded overseas from London.
He re-joined his unit in the field from Staff School on June 2, 1917.
As a Brigade-Major, Lee went with General Holmes at dawn on June 10, 1917, to the front line to ascertain the situation.
They moved up to a barricade erected by the 45th Battalion and viewed the nearest German blockhouse, which was 40 yards away.
It was decided to have the area bombarded during the day, and the attack would be immediately after dark, with the 45th Battalion bombing down to meet the 50th.
On July 27, he was attached to 1st Anzac Headquarters as Brigade Major Trainee, from 12th Infantry Brigade Headquarters.
On August 7, 1917, he ceased to be seconded as Brigade Major Trainee, 1st Anzac Corps Headquarters and was seconded for duty as Brigade Major, 7th Brigade Headquarters.
On August 22, 1917, he was admitted to the 7th Field Ambulance in France as he had accidentally injured himself, with a fractured left clavicle.
He was then sent to the 7th General Hospital at St Omer.
The accident occurred on that day while he was at Divisional Bombing School on ordinary duty.
On August 24, he relinquished the appointment of Brigade Major due to his being invalided.
He was transferred to No 3 General Hospital at Le Treport in France on August 30, and was discharged from hospital and re-joined the 7th Brigade Headquarters on October 4, 1917.
On October 12, he was to be Brigade Major of the 7th Infantry Brigade.
On September 20, 1918, Joseph was recommended for a Distinguished Service Order.
It reads “7th Aust. Inf. Brigade, 2nd Australian Division, Australian Corps. Unit 7th Australian Infantry Brigade Headquarters A.I.F. Major Joseph Edward LEE M.C.
“For great devotion to duty during the whole of the period this Officer has been with the Brigade, namely about 12 months.
“His work in and out of action has been conspicuously good, and very valuable.
“During the most strenuous periods when active operations were in progress, he would never rest or go off duty, although often physically exhausted.
“His sound advice, tactical and otherwise, has always been of the greatest assistance, and his extremely daring and thorough reconnaissances have been invaluable.”
It was signed by Charles Rosenthal, Major-General Commanding, 2nd Australian Division.
Lee was awarded the Distinguished Service Order as a Major in the 45th Battalion, as well as the Distinguished Service Order for his work that year with the 7th Brigade.
On February 4, 1919, he ceased to be attached to the War Office and was posted for duty with the Repatriation and Demobilisation Department.
He was then detached from that duty and proceeded to the Deputy Assistant Adjutant General for disposal on February 26, 1919.
On March 9, 1919, he embarked on HT Kashmir for Australia, arriving there on April 30.
His appointment with the AIF was terminated in Melbourne on June 29, 1919.
In 1954, as in the electoral roll, he was living at 170 Phillip Street in King, West Sydney, and he had no occupation.
By the 1958 electoral roll, Lee was living at the Royal Hotel on Perouse Road, Randwick.
Joseph Edward Lee passed away in Randwick on August 11, 1962, and his death was published in the Sydney Morning Herald on the 13th.
He was the 56th person to enter Duntroon.
Over his military career, he earned a Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal with Oak Leaf, 1939-45 War Medal, Australian Service Medal and 1937 Coronation Medal.