Born on 7 May 1876 in Leicester (England), Robert Gee was orphaned at age nine and lived in a workhouse and orphanage until he joined the 4th Queens Own Hussars in 1893. However on 18 October he went Absent Without Leave and the next day under an assumed name (Sydney Evershed) he enlisted with the 2nd Battalion Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment). He reverted to his real name later in the year after being tried for fraudulent enlistment. Despite this poor start, Robert rose through the ranks rapidly, from lance corporal in 1896 to warrant officer by 1911. He was finally commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in 1915.
On 5 September 1915, Robert joined the 2nd Battalion in Gallipoli. Within a few days he found himself an acting captain. Robert survived the flooding at Suvla Bay on 26 November, which killed many men (both British and Turkish) who were drowned in their trenches or died of frostbite as the temperature dropped rapidly. [After the war, he published a dramatic account of this episode.] On 5 January 1916 the Battalion was evacuated and withdrawn to Egypt.
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| The November 1915 Storm at Gallipoli Featured Both Frost and Flooding |
Gee’s next significant action was on the Somme. On the 1 July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, the 2nd Battalion attacked Beaumont Hamel. Robert was severely wounded in the thigh and—also suffering from shell shock—was evacuated to the UK. His actions during the attack had been noted and he was subsequently awarded the Military Cross. His citation for this award reads:
For conspicuous gallantry in action. He encouraged his men during the attack by fearlessly exposing himself and cheering them on. When wounded he refused to retire, and urged his men on till, after being blown in the air by a shell, he was carried in, half unconscious.
He returned to France in February 1917 and was wounded again during August but returned to duty within a fortnight. Captain Robert Gee would next be awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest recognition in the British and Commonwealth Armed Forces, for his bravery during the Battle of Cambrai (1917).
It was there that, after the enemy succeeded in capturing his brigade's headquarters and ammunition dump, Captain Gee found himself a prisoner of the German troops. He managed to quickly escape, however, and organize a party of the brigade staff with which he attacked the enemy. Closely followed by two companies of infantry, Gee cleared the locality and established a defensive flank. Then, finding an enemy machine gun still in action, with a revolver in each hand, he went forward and captured the gun, killing eight of the crew. He was wounded but would not have his wound dressed until the defense was organized. The image of Gee with one revolver in each hand charging at an enemy machine gun was probably an epic sight for everyone that witnessed that moment.
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| British Infantry at Cambrai, 1917 |
His Victoria Cross citation reads:
For most Conspicuous bravery, initiative and determination when attacked by a strong enemy force pierced our line and captured a Brigade Headquarters and ammunition dump. Capt. Gee finding himself a prisoner killed one of the enemy with his spiked stick and succeeded in escaping. He then organized a party of the Brigade Staff, with which he attacked the enemy fiercely, closely followed by two Companies of Infantry. By his own personal bravery and prompt action, he, aided by his orderlies, cleared the locality. Capt. Gee established a defensive flank on the outskirts of the village, then finding that an enemy machine gun was still in action, with a revolver in each hand and followed by one man, he rushed and captured the gun killing eight of the crew. At this time he was wounded, but refused to have the wound dressed until he was satisfied that the defense was organized.
It was only after the action that Gee allowed himself to be taken to an aid station to receive treatment for the gunshot wound. He returned to France during April 1918 but was evacuated home suffering from his previous injuries. On 11 November 1920, Robert was one of 100 service men and the only Royal Fusilier chosen to form the Honor Guard at the internment of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey.
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| Captain Gee Shows His Victoria Cross to the Boys of Cottage Homes Orphanage Where He Had Been Raised |
After unsuccessfully studying for The Bar, Gee decided to pursue a career in politics, initially narrowly defeated in December 1918 for the seat representing Consett, Co. Durham. On 2 March 1921, he ran again, defeated future prime minister Ramsay MacDonald and became Unionist Member of Parliament for Woolwich East. He lost his seat in 1923 but won another election in 1924. Gee remained in politics until 1927 when he resigned his seat as M.P. for Bosworth, Leicestershire, although by this time he had already migrated to Western Australia. He died in Perth, Western Australia, aged 84.
Source: The Fusilier Museum London; The Great War: Personal Stories
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