John William's Story.
Corporal John William Lea, Regimental number 9609, of the 2nd Battalion Cheshire Regiment was killed in action on Saturday 8th May 1915.
He is commemorated on the Ypres Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium and on the 1st Sandbach and 1st Wheelock Boys Brigade Roll of Honour.
John William Lea was born in Sandbach in the autumn of 1892, and was baptised on 30th October at the Providence Methodist Chapel on Bradwall Road, Sandbach.
He was the third son of William Lea and Frances (Fanny) Harrison and brother to Walter (1888–), Arthur (1891–), Harry (1894–) and Hannah / Annie (1898–). The family lived at 21 Green Street, Sandbach. His father was a tailor, with a shop on High Street (the site currently occupied by Iceland).
He was the third son of William Lea and Frances (Fanny) Harrison and brother to Walter (1888–), Arthur (1891–), Harry (1894–) and Hannah / Annie (1898–). The family lived at 21 Green Street, Sandbach. His father was a tailor, with a shop on High Street (the site currently occupied by Iceland).
By 1911, John had enlisted into the Cheshire Regiment and was based at Chester Castle with his fellow soldiers. He was a regular soldier at the outbreak of the war and returned from India to spend a few days at home before being sent to the Western Front in France. He was killed in action on 8th May 1915 at Ypres, Arrondissement Ieper, West Flanders, Belgium, and is commemotated on the Menin Gate Memorial. He is also remembered on the war memorial in Sandbach.
NB
John William Lea is not to be confused with John Lea, Private 19968 of the 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, also of Sandbach, who died a week later on 16th May 1915.
Information compiled by Shena Lewington (October 2026)