▶Date of birth: 6 February 1887   Place of birth: Cheltenham

▶Father: Edward Charles Clee    Mother: Mary Harriet Butt

▶Spouse(s): Charlotte Daisy White    Date(s) of marriage: 2 September 1915  Place(s) of marriage: St. Mary’s Church, Islington, London

▶Occupation: Clerk

▶Lifestory: At Portsmouth in July 1905 Douglas enlisted in the Royal Army Medical Corps no. 19702; four months later he was transferred to the Army Ordinance Corps, no. S/5667. He spent some time in Ireland and later over four years stationed in Hong Kong. Douglas continued to serve and during the early part of WW1 was stationed in South Africa. His conduct and character was described as very good, steady, sober and reliable.   

On 5 February 1915 Douglas with others at the Supreme Court, Pretoria were charged with the theft of 9 Buck Wagons, War Department Property stolen from Roberts Heights in August and September 1914. He was found guilty and sentenced to nine months’ hard labour, suspended for three years subject to good behaviour. He returned to England on 3 March 1915 aboard the S.S. Llanstephan Castle and was discharged from the Army on 20 March 1915. Because of this he forfeited his entitlement to his war medals.

After being dismissed from the Army, Douglas appears to have gone to London as that is where he gets married six months later. From his marriage certificate and R.A.F. service records it looks as if he was trying to hide his previous life, as on his marriage certificate he states that his name was Douglas Hamilton Clee and that he was aged 25 in 1915, when he was in fact 28. Also, he records his father as a Charles Richard Clee, Gentleman.

On the same day that he got married, 2 September 1915, Douglas enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps as a 2nd Air Mechanic, no. 8305. He later became a clerk, as he had been in his previous Army service. Douglas gave his correct day and month of birth (6 Feb) but again lied about his year of birth (1890, when it was in fact 1887). He did not declare that he had any previous military service. He went to France in July 1916.

Douglas was admitted to the Queen Alexandra Military Hospital, Millbank in London in August 1917, whilst on leave, with neurasthenia (shell shock) and after some treatment was discharged from the RAF on 9 July 1918.   He died in a hospital in Brentwood, Essex, on 3 February 1919. A successful case was submitted to MoD/CWGC for him to be classified as a war casualty in 2018 and he is commemorated on the memorial in Brookwood Military Cemetery, London.               

After being discharged Douglas was awarded a Silver War Badge, no. 826 and later the British War and Victory medals.

▶Moved to Pittville from: 13 Portland Terrace, Prestbury Road    Moved from Pittville to:

▶Date of death: 3 February 1919   Place of death: Brentwood, Essex

▶Date of burial:   February 1919  Place of burial: Essex or West London

▶Notes:  Douglas and his brother Percival are also commemorated on a relative’s gravestone in Cheltenham Cemetery    ID: 9093

Contributor(s): David Drinkwater