John A. Lee, 1891-1982

Turnbull Library Record, Volume 42, 1 January 2009, Page 11

John A. Lee , 1891-1982

PHILIP RAINER

There are many photographs of John A. Lee, but perhaps the iconic one is that on the cover of this issue. That photograph was taken by the S. P. Andrew Studio in 1936, when Lee was the Labour Member of Parliament for Grey Lynn. There is much to be 'read' there; not least the fact that it was taken some 20 years after the event that gives the image such impact.

Lee had a rough upbringing, including time spent in jail. In March 1916, aged 25, he, together with some of his mates, enlisted for service abroad with the New Zealand Division. Following training at home and in England, his regiment was sent to the front at Messines in France. Of the day before they joined the battle Lee wrote, 'I saw one tank trying to climb a tree'; they were bombarded with tear gas and 'I blubbered like a child.'

Messines was a victory for the Allies. It gave self-confidence to the New Zealanders involved, and none more so than Lee. During the battle he single-handedly tackled a German machine-gun post, capturing the four gunners. For his gallantry he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM).

Some nine months later, in March 1918, the German army launched a major offensive in an endeavour to end the war. The New Zealand Division was thrown into the line. Five days later, at Mailly-Maillet, Lee was shot in the left arm. Part of the limb was amputated at a field hospital. He says nothing of the detail of this, but an operation in wartime conditions would not have been for the faint hearted.

Repatriated home, Lee soon joined the New Zealand Labour Party. As the historian Erik Olssen has so aptly stated: 'His decoration for gallantry and empty sleeve had special attractions for a party identified with sedition because of its opposition to conscription during the war.'

Lee had a controversial career in the Labour Party, ending in his eventual expulsion. Throughout his time in politics he looked to the interests of returned servicemen, and was distressed by their treatment during the Depression years.

Lee wrote many books and pamphlets, copies of which are held in the Alexander Turnbull Library. His personal papers are held at the Auckland City Library. There was considerable interest when some years ago they were made available to researchers. But the reality was that Lee had made use of them in his many and varied writings. The definitive biography is that by Erik Olssen, John A. Lee (1977), with an excellent shorter version by the same author available online through the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography (http://www.dnzb.govt.nz).