{"product_id":"ww1-pair","title":"WW1 Pair; WR\/502307 James LEE Inland Water Transport R.E","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBritish War Medal and Victory Medal pair to WR\/502307 2nd Corporal James Lee, Inland Water Transport, Royal Engineers\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn unusual pair to the Royal Engineers' barge service, very different from the standard RE group.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJames Lee was born in Twickenham in about 1882 and grew up on the river. The family home, a Victorian terrace cottage at 12 The Embankment, still stands today. His service record lists his trade as \"Waterman\", a skilled boatman, and the river was clearly his living long before the war. When the army needed experienced watermen to run its barges in France, he was a natural fit.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHe attested in December 1915 and was posted to the Inland Water Transport in March 1916. The IWT ran the canal and river network of northern France and Belgium, towing barges of ammunition and stores to the forward areas, supplying clean water, and carrying more than 70,000 wounded men back to hospital by barge.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLee rose to Lance Corporal in 1917 and 2nd Corporal in February 1918. In October 1918, as the deadly second wave of the flu pandemic swept through the armies in France, he caught pneumonia and died at No. 30 General Hospital, Calais, on 21 October 1918, just three weeks before the Armistice. He is buried at Les Baraques Military Cemetery, Sangatte.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSold with copy service record and research.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gradia Militaria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54568547254600,"sku":null,"price":95.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0924\/1103\/5976\/files\/IMG-3299.heic?v=1794344327","url":"https:\/\/www.gradiamilitaria.com\/products\/ww1-pair","provider":"Gradia Militaria","version":"1.0","type":"link"}