"J.J. Speed, then (1887) Assistant Manager at the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield, made certain improvements in, and was to play an important role in evolution of the (Lee Enfield) service rifle. He took out a number of patents on various improvements to the Lee system, some of which were yet to be incorporated . Acknowledgment of his patents is found on commercially produced Lee Metford and Lee Enfield rifles which are marked "Lee Speed Patents"

Joseph Speed first came to the Enfield factory as an engineer at the age of twenty five, and worked his way up to the post of Asst. Manager through his ability and application. There was considerable controversy over his taking out patents at a time when he was a government employee, and unlike Metford and other inventors who made contributions, he received no monetary reward from the War Office for the utilization of his inventions."

(The British Service Lee, P.25)