A list of some of the LESTER soldiers who served in WWI

.. please note ..
this may not be a complete list of the Lester men who served


Albert Frank Lester
Serial No: - 3/953
First Known Rank: - Private
NEXT OF KIN: - Mrs M.J. Lester (mother)
- 29 Barbour St, Linwood, Christchurch
- son of Charles Henry LESTER & Mary Jane TAYLOR
Marital Status: - Single
Enlistment Address: - Barbour Street, Linwood, Christchurch
Military District: - Canterbury
Body on Embarkation: 6th Reinforcements
Embarkation Unit: Medical Corps
Embarkation Date: 14 August 1915
Place of Embarkation: Wellington
Transport:- HMNZT 27 OR HMNZT 28
Vessel: - Willochra OR Tofua
Destination: - Suez, Egypt


Alfred William Lester
Serial No.: - 9/841
First Known Rank: - Trooper
NEXT OF KIN: - Mrs CHRISTON (sister)
- Carlyle St, Napier, Hawke's Bay
Marital Status: - Single
Enlistment Address: - Albert Street, Hastings
Military District: - Wellington
Body on Embarkation: - 3rd Reinforcements
Embarkation Unit: - Otago Mounted Rifles
Embarkation Date: - 14 February 1915
Place of Embarkation:- Wellington
Transport: - HMNZT 17 OR HMNZT 18 OR HMNZT 19
Vessel: - Maunganui OR Tahiti OR Aparima


Charles Lester
Serial No.: - 20542
First Known Rank: - Rifleman
Occupation before Enlistment: - Flaxmill hand
NEXT OF KIN: - Mrs Lester (mother)
- Earlsbarton, Northamptonshire, England
Body on Embarkation: - New Zealand Rifle Brigade
Embarkation Unit: - 7th Reinforcements 4th Battalion, H Company
Embarkation Date: - 20 August 1916
Place of Embarkation: - Wellington
Transport: - HMNZT 63
Vessel: - Navua
Destination: - Devonport, England


Clarence Lionel Lester
Serial No.: - 25113
First Known Rank: - Private
Occupation before Enlistment: - Contractor
NEXT OF KIN: T. Lester (father)
- 37 Rawson St, New Brighton, Christchurch
- son of Thomas LESTER & Sarah GIBSON
Body on Embarkation: - New Zealand Expeditionary Force
Embarkation Unit: - J Company, J Company (Machine-Gun Section)
Embarkation Date: - 26 June 1916
Place of Embarkation: - Wellington
Transport: - HMNZT 56 OR HMNZT 57
Vessel: - Maunganui oOR Tahiti
Destination: - Devonport, England


Cyril Dudley Lester
Serial No.: - 48771
First Known Rank: - Private
Occupation before Enlistment: - Motor mechanic
NEXT OF KIN: - Mrs M. Lester (mother)
- 21A Argyle Street, Herne Bay, Auckland
- son of Charles Bertram LESTER & Mary Elizabeth FLAVELL
Body on Embarkation: - New Zealand Expeditionary Force
Embarkation Unit: - 27th Reinforcements (First Draft) Specialists Company, Signal Section
Embarkation Date: - 12 June 1917
Place of Embarkation: - Wellington
Transport: - HMNZT 86
Vessel: - Maunganui
Destination: - Plymouth, England


Frank Jesse Lester
Serial No.: 2/2182
First Known Rank: Gunner
NEXT OF KIN: - Mrs E.M. Lester (mother)
- 29 Jackson's Road, Lyttelton, Christchurch
- son of Edward LESTER & Elizabeth Mary SOAL
Marital Status: - Single
Enlistment Address: - 29 Jackson's Road, Lyttelton
Military District: - Canterbury
Body on Embarkation: - 7th Reinforcements
Embarkation Unit: - Field Artillery
Embarkation Date: - 9 October 1915
Place of Embarkation: - Wellington
Transport: HMNZT 32 OR HMNZT 33 OR HMNZT 34
Vessel: Aparima OR Navua OR Warrimoo
Destination: Suez, Egypt


Frederick Lester
Serial No.: - 24/1107
First Known Rank: - Rifleman
NEXT OF KIN: - W.J. Lester (father)
- Murchison, Nelson
- son of William James LESTER & Lydia CHUTTERBUCK
Marital Status: - Single
Enlistment Address: - Maraia, Murchison
Military District: - Canterbury
Body on Embarkation: - 2nd Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade
Embarkation Unit: - D Company
Embarkation Date: - 9 October 1915
Place of Embarkation: - Wellington
Transport: - HMNZT 30 OR HMNZT 31 OR HMNZT 32 OR HMNZT 33 OR HMNZT 34
Vessel: - Maunganui OR Tahiti OR Aparima OR Navua OR Warrimoo
Destination: - Suez, Egypt


Harold Victor Lester
Serial No.: - 44225
First Known Rank: - Corporal
Occupation before Enlistment: - Storekeeper
NEXT OF KIN: - Miss M.W. Lester (sister)
- Midhirst, Taranaki
Body on Embarkation: New Zealand Expeditionary Force
Embarkation Unit: - 26th Reinforcements (First Draft) Specialists Company, Signal Section
Embarkation Date: - 9 June 1917
Place of Embarkation: - Wellington, New Zealand
Transport: - HMNZT 85
Vessel: - Willochra
Destination: - Devonport, England
Nominal Roll Footnotes: Born in Australia.


Harry Lester
Rank Last Held:- Lance Corporal
Serial No.: - 23/190
First Known Rank: - Rifleman
Occupation before Enlistment: - Bootmaker
NEXT OF KIN: - Mrs A. Lester (wife, Alice PATEMAN)
- 297 Moorehouse Avenue, Christchurch
- ALSO, Mrs. A. Lester, 30 Bath St, Christchurch
Body on Embarkation: - New Zealand Rifle Brigade
Embarkation Unit: - Reinforcements H Company
Embarkation Date: - 12 June 1917
Place of Embarkation: - Wellington
Transport: - HMNZT 86
Vessel: - Maunganui
Destination: - Plymouth, England
Last Unit Served: - New Zealand Rifle Brigade
Place of Death: - Le Quesnoy, France
Date of Death: - 4 November 1918
Cause of Death: - Killed in action
- Grave/Memorial Reference: IX. A. 15. ROMERIES COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION


Harvey Lester
Serial No.: - 76567
First Known Rank: - Trooper
Occupation before Enlistment: -Farmer
NEXT OF KIN: - Mrs M. WILLAN (friend)
- Ararata, Hawera
Body on Embarkation: - New Zealand Expeditionary Force
Embarkation Unit: - 43rd Reinforcements Mounted Rifles
Embarkation Date: - 10 October 1918
Place of Embarkation: - Wellington
Transport: 0 Moeraki 11 October 1918
Vessel: - Moeraki
Destination: - Suez, Egypt


Henry Victor Lester
Serial No.: - 13599
First Known Rank: - Private
Occupation before Enlistment: - Tram Employee
Next of Kin: - Mrs E. Lester, sen. (mother)
- 29 Jackson's Road, Lyttelton, Christchurch
- son of Edward LESTER & Elizabeth Mary SOAL
Body on Embarkation: - New Zealand Expeditionary Force
Embarkation Unit: - 13th Reinforcements Specialist Signalling Company
Embarkation Date: - 27 May 1916
Place of Embarkation: - Wellington
Vessel: - Willochra or Tofua
Destination: Plymouth or Devonport, England


Henry Lester
Serial No.: - 51633
First Known Rank: - Private
Occupation before Enlistment: - Farmer
NEXT OF KIN: - William James Lester (father)
- Murchison
- son of William Jammes LESTER & Lydia CHUTTERBUCK
Body on Embarkation: - New Zealand Expeditionary Force
Embarkation Unit: - 26th Reinforcements E Company
Embarkation Date: - 12 June 1917
Place of Embarkation: - Wellington
Transport: - HMNZT 86
Vessel: - Maunganui
Destination: - Plymouth, England


Howard Norman Lester
Serial No.: - 76881
First Known Rank: - Private
Occupation before Enlistment: - Commercial traveller
NEXT OF KIN: - Mrs V. Lester (wife, Vera FINCH)
- Western Springs Road, Morningside, Auckland
- son of Alfred Neville LESTER & Lydia Ruth LUSH
Body on Embarkation: - New Zealand Expeditionary Force
Embarkation Unit: - 42nd Reinforcements D Company
Embarkation Date: - 1 August 1918
Place of Embarkation:- Wellington
Transport: - HMNZT 109
Vessel: - Tofua
Destination: - London, England


John Ernest Lester
Serial No.: - 46743
First Known Rank: - Private
Occupation before Enlistment: - Labourer
NEXT OF KIN: - Mrs M. Lester (mother)
- Cemetery Road, Palmerston, Otago
- son of William LESTER & Margaret JAMIESON
Body on Embarkation: - New Zealand Expeditionary Force
Embarkation Unit: - 25th Reinforcements Otago Infantry Regiment, D Company
Embarkation Date: - 26 April 1917
Place of Embarkation: - Wellington
Transport: - HMNZT 83
Vessel: - Tofua
Destination: - Plymouth, England


Norman John McLeod Lester
Rank Last Held: - Trooper
Serial No.: - 7/361
First Known Rank: - Corporal
NEXT OF KIN: - Mrs Bessie Lester (mother)
- Barbara Field, Temuka
- ALSO, 33, Lincoln St, Ponsonby, Auckland
- son of John & Bessie LESTER
Marital Status: - Single
Enlistment Address: - Rakaia
Military District: - Canterbury
Body on Embarkation: - 2nd Reinforcements
Embarkation Unit: - Canterbury Mounted Rifles
Embarkation Date: - 14 December 1914
Place of Embarkation: - Wellington
Transport: - HMNZT 13 OR HMNZT 14 OR HMNZT 15
Vessel: - Verdala OR Willochra OR Knight of the Garter
Destination: - Suez, Egypt
Last Unit Served: - Canterbury Mounted Rifles
Date of Death: - 29 June 1918
- Buried: - Block C46. Lot 60. CHRISTCHURCH (Sydenham) CEMETERY


Thomas Lester
Serial No.: - 21593
First Known Rank: - Private
Occupation before Enlistment: - Cook
NEXT OF KIN: - Mrs Thomas Lester (wife)
- 108 Travis Road, Burwood, Christchurch
Body on Embarkation: - New Zealand Expeditionary Force
Embarkation Unit: - 17th Reinforcements Machine-Gun Section
Embarkation Date: - 23 September 1916
Place of Embarkation: - Wellington
Transport: - HMNZT 65
Vessel: - Pakeha
Destination: - Devonport, England


Walter David Lester
Serial No.: - 2/327
First Known Rank: - Gunner
NEXT OF KIN: - Edward Lester
- 29 Jackson's Road, Lyttelton, Christchurch
- son of Edward LESTER & Elizabeth Mary SOAL
Marital Status: - Single
Enlistment Address: - 29 Jackson's Road, Lyttelton, Christchurch
Military District: - Canterbury
Body on Embarkation: - Main Body
Embarkation Unit: - Field Artillery
Embarkation Date: - 16 October 1914
Place of Embarkation: - Wellington
Transport: HMNZT 7 OR HMNZT 10
Vessel: Limerick OR Arawa
Destination: Suez, Egypt


William Arthur Lester
Serial No.: - 72109
First Known Rank: - Private
Occupation before Enlistment: - Clerk
NEXT OF KIN: - William Thomas Lester (father)
- 35 Oxford Street, Lyttelton, Christchurch
- ALSO, 3, Winchester St., Lyttelton, Christchurch
- son of William Thomas LESTER & Mary Rachel MORTON
Body on Embarkation: - New Zealand Expeditionary Force
Embarkation Unit: -37th Reinforcements A Company
Embarkation Date: - 9 May 1918
Place of Embarkation: - Wellington
Transport: - HMNZT 103
Vessel: - Maunganui
Destination: - Liverpool, England
Last Unit Served: - New Zealand Rifle Brigade
Place of Death: - France
Date of Death: - 5 November 1918
Cause of Death: - Died of wounds
- Grave/Memorial Reference: IV. H. 13. CAUDRY British cemetey FRANCE


William John Lester
Serial No.: - 69248
First Known Rank: - Private
Occupation before Enlistment: - Steward
NEXT OF KIN: - Mrs F.M. Lester (mother)
- 61 Monega Street, Forest Gate, London East, England
Body on Embarkation: - New Zealand Expeditionary Force
Embarkation Unit: 35th Reinforcements B Company
Embarkation Date: - 2 March 1918
Place of Embarkation: - Wellington
Transport: - HMNZT 101
Vessel: - Tofua
Destination: Southampton


William Joseph Lester
Serial No.: - 2/1804
First Known Rank: - Gunner
NEXT OF KIN: - Thomas Lester (father)
- New Brighton, Christchurch
- son of Thomas LESTER & Sarah GIBSON
Marital Status: - Single
Enlistment Address: - Rawson, New Brighton
Military District: - Canterbury
Body on Embarkation: - 5th Reinforcements
Embarkation Unit: - Field Artillery
Embarkation Date: - 13 June 1915
Place of Embarkation: - Wellington
Transport: HMNZT 24 OR HMNZT 25 OR HMNZT 26
Vessel: Maunganui OR Tahiti OR Aparima
Destination: Suez, Egypt