Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas and Annie Lester. The War Diary for today records. Heavy artillery bombardment of enemy positions commencing at 5.00am and continuing until Zero hour (8.30pm) + 3 minutes. Coys begin to assemble in trenches in the CITE DU RIAUMENT at 5.00pm under orders of Lt Col TRIMBLE 5th Battn LEICESTERSHIRE REGT (2 Coys B and C) and Lt Col YOOL, 4th Battn LINCOLNSHIRE REGT (D Coy). The assembly was complete at 7.45pm and at 8.00pm the enemy barraged the position of assembly though fortunately little harm resulted. At 8.30pm the assault commenced under cover of heavy artillery. At Zero + 3 the field artillery put down a shrapnel barrage which crept forward on to HILL 65. On the right progress was good, troops reaching their objectives in ALMANAC TRENCH and B and C Coys under Captain G. ABELL (B) and Lt HYSLOP (C) commenced “mopping up”. They found a large number of enemy in FOSSE 3 where there were in buildings with many dugouts. These were dealt with, with bombs and mobile charges. Heavy casualties were inflicted upon the enemy and 2 officers – 12 other ranks taken prisoner. C Coy were greatly impeded by uncut wire which prevented them silencing a machine gun which was troublesome. The whole operation was a great success in that destruction was caused to enemy dugouts and casualties inflicted. On the left D Coy under Captain A. J. WAKERLEY “mopping up” for the 4th Battn LINCOLNSHIRE REGT met with more serious opposition in AHEAD TRENCH and suffered many casualties. Captain WAKERLEY being killed and 2nd Lt R. F. Wagstaff slightly wounded. The trenches were entered and many dugouts bombed and many casualties inflicted upon the enemy. The withdrawal commenced at 1.00am on the 9th June and all Coys were back in cellars by 3.00am. A Coy has specially training for wiring but was not called upon. 2nd Lt’s E. C. DOUDREY, J. DOUGLAS, D. T. SLOPER, J. A. PARKINSON were wounded and there were 70 other ranks killed or wounded.