227749 Pte. Reuben Lester British Army 2/18th London Irish Battalion London Regiment (d.22nd Aug 1916) My father's name was Charles Reuben Lester and after his death I tried to find details of his 2nd World War service. I always wondered why he was given the name Reuben. After much research I discovered that he was named after my Grandfather's brother Reuben Lester who was killed with the 2nd Battalion London Irish Rifles, at a place called Maeton, France on the 22nd August 1916.
The family all came from the World's End, Chelsea and he enlisted at the local recruiting office which was the Duke of York's Barracks, in the Kings Road, Chelsea. They landed at Le Havre, France on 23rd. June 1916.
I found it very sad that none of my family knew of this man, no photographs, in fact nothing that even suggested that he even existed. I have since found his grave at the Ecoivres Military Cemetery.
How many other families have forgotten heroes?
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