Lees, R H (Robert Huston)
Lees, R H (Robert Huston)
Sub-Lieutenant Robert (Bob) Lee was the son of John and Margaret Elizabeth Lees of Castletoodry[1] and husband of Elizabeth (Lizzie) Lees of 17 Glenalpin Street, Sandy Row, Belfast. He had at least five brothers and two sisters.
During February/March 1915, Sub-Lieutenant Robert (Bob) Lee, a naval officer and Miss Elizabeth (Lizzie) Getty, met on a train journey from Coleraine to Belfast. They immediately connected and within 3 months they would marry with the blessings of their families in Crescent Presbyterian Church[2].
Six months passed, and Robert Lee obtained a day’s leave pass from his new ship HMS Arabis[3] before it would partake in minesweeper duties in the English Channel.
Thursday, 16th December at around 8 o’clock in the morning Bob arrived at 17 Glenalpin Street, Belfast to visit his wife Lizzie at her father’s home. It was an unexpected visit as his wife Lizzie had just returned from Glasgow two days previous after spending a few weeks with her husband in Devonport. She had accompanied her husband to the city before leaving as this was where he was to join his new ship. He had now travelled to Belfast to surprise her.
Robert’s father-in-law and wife were happy to see him and there was great affection observed between the couple. They all ate breakfast together and talked among themselves. Bob’s brother Samuel and his wife joined them during the morning, and they arranged to meet up again at 6 o’clock that evening. At around 11 o’clock while the couple sat in the kitchen, Liz asked her husband what was wrong with him, he replied saying “There is nothing the matter.” An hour later the pair went shopping. At 3.30 Robert contacted his brother Samuel and told him he could not make it for their appointment later. They returned home from their shopping trip just after 4.00 and proceeded upstairs to pack clothing for Bob’s return to his ship.
Lizzie came down the stairs once to collect a package and returned upstairs with it and a candle in her other hand. The rest is uncertain, but she entered the room upstairs and for some reason went to leave. Bob was close by and pointed a revolver that he had brought with him at her head and fired a single shot which struck her by the right side through the ear. Lizzie fell into the hall, the candle dropped to her left side and the parcel to the right. Sub-Lieutenant Robert (Bob) Lee then raised the gun to the right side of his own head and fired again. His lifeless body fell near the bed.
During Saturday, 18th, while only Samuel, James, and John, three brothers of Robert, accompanied his body to his final resting place in Coleraine. His deceased wife had a large turnout for her final journey to Balmoral.
The only explanation for what happened was a photo of the couple in Robert’s pocket with the following written on the back:
“Loved too much and cannot live apart. Betty and Bob.”
Sub-Lieutenant Robert (Bob) Lee’s ship, HMS Arabis that he had just joined, did not have any better a time. Less than two months later during the 10th of February 1916, while taking part in a training exercise, the ship happened upon a Flotilla[4] of German destroyers. A battle soon ensued, but the ship was outnumbered and was soon sunk. There were only fifteen survivors.
Date of Death: Died 16/12/1915 (Aged 25)
Service: Sub-Lieutenant, H.M.S. “Arabis.,” Royal Naval Reserve
Service Number: 796
Burial Location: Section D. Grave 389.
[1] Castletoodry is an area to the north west of Coleraine, around two miles from the city center.
[2] Crescent Presbyterian Church is located on University Road in Belfast.
[3] H.M.S. Arabis was a Arabis-class sloop, the largest minesweeper launched of its class during the Great War. The ship was launched during November 1915 and sunk a few months later during the 10th February 1916 of the North East coast of England, 56 0f the 71 crew lost their lives.
[4] A formation of ships, that is usually part of a larger fleet.
