Edward Lee

sister. It is possible that they met Robert Ernest aboard the ship. Sydney’s
body washed ashore on the west coast of Scotland and was buried there.
Letitia’s body was never found. 48 Robert Ernest Lee’s remains were
recovered near Gorey Co. Wexford and he was buried in the family grave
in Deansgrange Cemetery in Dublin. The man who discovered Robert
Ernest’s remains was later given a job for life in one of Edward Lee’s
shops.
But that was not the end of the story. Sometime later a lady knocked
on the door at Bellevue. It was the woman who had been saved by Robert
Ernest. She wished to express her grateful thanks to Edward and Annie
for their son’s gallantry in saving her and her child’s life. In another letter
to Tennyson on the 10 th November 1918, Edward enclosed extracts of
two letters sent to him about Robert Ernest’s bravery during the sinking,
helping a nurse put on her life jacket and helping a fellow officer who had
a metal splint in his arm and needed help with his life belt. But the pain of
loss was evident. ‘Oh we do feel so terribly poorer for the loss of our brave
boys - they died as they lived bravely and unselfishly giving inspiration
to us all - but their spirit lives and can never die. We are very proud but
very, very sad - I will just go now with Ted to visit his grave. Love from
Mother and Ted with my own’. 49
The Great War ended on the 11 th November 1918, the day after the
letter was written. But for the Lee family, the sadness would live with
them for the rest of their lives.
A Place In The Sun
In the years after the war, Edward Lee continued to concern
himself with workers’ rights. In a very telling letter to Tennyson
on the 24 th November 1918, it is plain to see where his sympathies
lay, ‘Possibly you have not heard of the strike at Arnotts, the place is
closed since Wednesday night - I fear the firm are wrong as they refused
to discuss matters with the union - that day is gone and the workers are
48 Torpedoed! The RMS Leinster Disaster by Philip Lecane. Periscope Publishing 2005
49 Letter to Tennyson Lee. 10/11/1918
Model Employer and Man of Moral Courage
55