Lees Douglas Percival

Douglas Percival Lees was born in Camberwell, Surrey, on 3 Mar 1882, the seventh surviving child to Robert james and Sarah Lees. At the age of 20, Douglas Percival was baptized in Claremonth Sunday School, Newquay, on 25 Mar 1902. From a bible presented at the baptism. Resided in 13 Wivenhoe Road, Peckham, England , in 1882; before he was one year old. This address comes from his birth certificate. Resided in 34 Park Road, Southend, Essex, England, in 1909; he was 26. Which was where he was living when he married Francis. Resided in 26 Mils Terrace, Chatham, England, in Feb 1911; he was 28. Resided in Hawthorn, Adelaide, South Australia, in 1916; he was 33. Resided in “Convey”, 5 First Ave, St Morris, South Australia, in 1920; he was 37. Resided in St Morris, Adelaide, South Australia, in 1931; he was 48. Resided in Devon Cottage, Bridgewater, South Australia, in 1949; he was 66. Immigrated on 24 Jun 1955 to London, Middlesex, England. Travelling alone in 1st class onboard the “Stratheden” of the Peninsula and Orient Steam Navigation Company Ltd, via Adelaide, Fremantle, Colombo, Aden, Suez, Port Said and Marseilles. Resided in 35 Arnison Road, Mosely, Surrey, England, in 1955; he was 72. Where he lived for while with his sister Eoila. Resided in TPI House, South Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, in 1965; he was 82. Douglas Percival was 83 when he died in Adelaide, South Australia, on 26 Dec 1965. Buried in Centennial Park Cemetery & Crematorium . Lease #8518 by Alfred James and Sons, Funeral Directors. Lease obtained by DPL on 7 Dec 1954 for a 50 year lease. Location: D General, Path 1, No 92. Occupation: Grocers Assistant (1901), YMCA representative (London 1918), Grocer’s Manager (1920), Sales Manager (1960), . Religion: Methodist.

1905, November 12th – 26th, Douglas is a Tenor at a Torrey-Alexander Mission performance in the Town Hall, Oxford.

1909: From their Marriage Certificate, entry number 40 of the churches register: Douglas and Frances were married on the 19th September,

1909 at the Park Road, Wesleyan Chapel, Rockford, Essex when he was 27 years and she 23 years, both of 34 Park Road, Southend. Their father’s, Robert James Lees and Charles LEak, both “Gentlemen” were there to see their children married according the the rights of the Wesleyan Methodist Church by Alfred Edward Whitham, witnessed by her mother Mary Leak and his brother Aylmer Lees.

Military: WW1 Enlistment: Sep 27th 1916 – Regimental number: 4550, Occupation at the time of enlistment: Grocer, Address: Hawthorn, South Australia, Marital Status: Married; Age at Embarkation: 34, Next of Kin: Wife, Frances May Lees, Hawthorn, South Australia, Enlistment date: 27 Sept 1916, Rank on Enlistment: Private, Unit: 32nd battalion, 12th Regiment, AWM Embarkation Roll NUmber: 23/49/2, Embarkation detail: Unit embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A35 Berrima, Embarkation date: 16 Dec 1916, Unit from Nominal Roll: 32nd Battalion

WW2 Enlistment: Service: Australian Army, Service Number: S2607, Date of Birth: 3 Mar 1888, Place of Birth: London, Middlesex, England, Date of Enlistment: 11 Aug 1941, Place of Enlistment: Wayville, SA, Next of Kin: Frances, Date of Discharge: 16 Mar 1945, Rank: Sergeant, Posting at Discharge: Corps HQ, Prisoner of War: No

On 19 Sep 1909 when Douglas Percival was 27, he married Frances “May” LEAK, daughter of Charles LEAK (24 Apr 1834-1898) & Mary STABLES (23 Dec 1849-13 May 1927), in Park Poad Wesleyan Chapel, Rochford, Essex, England. Born in Bromley, London, Middlesex, England, on 16 May 1886. Resided in 11 Bruce Road, Bromley, Kent, England, in 1901; she was 14. Frances “May” was 68 when she died in St Marys, Adelaide, South Australia, on 6 Dec 1954. She died quietly in her sleep. Buried on 7 Dec 1954 in Centennial Park cemetery, D genenral Section, No 92, Path 1. Headstone reads: In Loving Memory of Frances May Lees. Beloved wife of Douglas Percival and mother of Elinor Mary. Died 6th Dec 1954. May died quietly in her sleep on the 6th of December, 1954.”

They had one child, Elinor Mary (1920-1970)

The “Advertiser”, Dec 1965. Deaths: Lees – on December 26th, at Repatriation Hospital, Springbank, Douglas Percival, dearly beloved husband of the late Frances May Lees, and loving father of Elinor, father-in-law of Bob, and fond grandpa of Christine, Judith, Paul and Sara. Privately interred. No cards please by request.”