Educated at Wellington College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst,[1] Lees was commissioned into the Royal West Kent Regiment in 1914 at the start of the First World War.

[2] After the War he transferred to the new Royal Air Force and in 1928 became Officer Commanding No.

[2] He served in the Second World War as Air Officer Commanding No.

[2] After the War he became Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief RAF Reserve Command before retiring in 1949.

[2] In that role he introduced a tie[3] and trophy[4] for members of the Air Training Corps.