LESTER, Alec

Alec Lester was the son of Mrs Hannah Marsh (originally Lester) of West Street, Stourbridge. He was born in Coventry but was living in Brierley Hill in 1914. He volunteered for the 11th Hussars and joined B Squadron in the 1st Cavalry Brigade. They were part of the British Expeditionary Force stationed at Aldershot and crossed to the Western Front during August 1914. Alec Lester joined them on the 9 September after the retreat from Mons and was immediately engaged in the Battle of the Aisne and then at Messines, Armentières and Ypres. They remained in the Ypres sector during 1915 and fought, sometimes as infantry, in the Second Battle of Ypres at Frezenberg and Bellewaerde. Private Alec Lester was seriously wounded at some point and brought home. He died of wounds on the 3rd June and is buried in Brierley Hill church cemetery. He was 20 years of age and is commemorated on the Brierley Hill and Brierley Hill church Memorials.