The sound of anti aircraft guns firing at night while Clive Lee slept was the reason he signed up to volunteer in the British Army five days after his 17th birthday in March, 1943.
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The Evandale man grew up at Southend-On-Sea, a seaside town at the mouth of the Thames estuary in England.
But this year is not about honouring his service.
Anzac Day is a fitting time to mark a special milestone and many relatives of Mr Lee have flown to Tasmania for the occasion.
For the family 2017 is all about Mr Lee’s father Bertie who 100 years ago was mentioned in a dispatch for gallant and distinguished service in the field.
“My father’s role was very much a linesman, putting up cables and trying to maintain communication by phone because radio had only just started and that’s what he got his mention in the dispatches for working on putting up cables that had been broken in gun fire,” he said.
“He was ordered to stop and come down from the pole but he wouldn’t, he stayed up there, and instead of the lieutenant doing his nut and putting him on a charge for not obeying an order he reported him for gallantry.”
Despite hailing from the United Kingdom the family also have a special place in their heart for Tasmanians.
“We would not be here today but for a Tasmanian,” said Mr Lee.
“Dad was laying in a trench in Ypres, he had been gassed, was semi-conscious and there was a retreat.”
He said a solider making the jump across the trenches fell and saw that Bertie was still alive.
“He picked him up on his shoulder and dad could see that there was a patch that had a ‘T’ and he could tell he was Australian because of his hat,” Mr Lee said,
“Dad spent two-and-a-half years after the war trying to track him down.”
Following in his father’s footsteps Mr Lee was also a member of the Royal Signals.
“In Britain most people did volunteer, of course there are always skivers who got out of things but most people wanted to do their bit,” he said. “It took a little persuasion because it was supposed to be 17-and-a-half but I said I looked more like 19.”
Both his parents were air raid workers and their home town was evacuated in 1940 reducing the population from 138,000 to just 32,000.
Tuesday will be the first Anzac day Mr Lee, his son Garry and grandson Ryan march together.