CLS Chronicle 25/10/1917
Hooge Crater Cemetery
Hooge Crater Cemetery
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John Edward Lake one of 6 known children was the 2nd born of 3 sons, he had 3 elder sisters. His parents John Edward and Ann Lake, born 1852, originated from Norwich, Norfolk, where they were married between 1872 and 1874. The family migrated to the north east, his elder sister, Florence Mary was born in 1875 at Byker, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, also the birth place of Edith Rachel in 1877, they then returned to Norfolk where Benjamin was born in 1880. A year later they had returned to Byker and transferred to Scotswood where John Edward Jnr and Frederick were born in 1886 and 1891 respectively. As a labourer John Edward Snr often moved his family in search of work, in 1891 they were living at 13, Blackett Terrace, Benwell, a suburb of Newcastle. Florence May (16) was employed as a domestic servant, Benjamin (12) a fireman at the colliery, Edith (14) assisted her mother at home, Elizabeth (11) and John Jnr (6) were scholars, Frederick was only 1-year-old.
Edith Rachael Lake was married January 8th 1898, at Benwell, district of Newcastle to Nicholson Dobson born 1876 at Durham. In 1901 John Edward, who was employed as a brickyard labourer, was living with her and her 9-month-old daughter at 9, William Street, Benwell, however, he moved from Northumberland to Chester-le Street, County Durham over the next 4 years. He met local girl Harriet Hannah Miller born at Castle Eden in 1885 who had an illegitimate daughter Sarah, born August 2nd 1902. They were married at Chester-le-Street in 1905, their daughter Margaret Jane was born at Birtley in 1906, Edith 1908 at Chester-le Street as was Elizabeth Ingleby Lake in 1911 while they were resident at 27 Hopgarth, Chester-le-Street.
John Edward Lake aged 16 months, died 30th May 1915 and was buried in Ropery Lane Cemetery.
The Lake family were living at 10, Melville Street, Chester-le Street in 1914 when war was declared with Germany. John Edward enlisted, October 21st 1914, as Private 3957, he was posted to the 1/8th Battalion Durham Light Infantry a Territorial Force and training unit. January 16th 1915 he was appointed Lance Corporal but reverted at his own request to Private July 8th 1915 and fully trained departed to join his regiment at the front, July 10th 1915. The 1/8th D.L.I. attached to the 151st Brigade 50th (Northumbrian) Division having suffered heavy losses during the 2nd Battle of Ypres had amalgamated in June with the 6th D.L.I. until mid-August. They remained in Belgian on the Ypres salient until August 1916 then moved south to join the fighting on the Somme suffering heavily during the capture at Le Sars and at the Butte de Warlencourt, November 5th 1916. Private Lake since his arrival at the front had been plagued with illness, suffering repeatedly from influenza and scabies, he was repatriated to England November 6h 1916. Posted to the Territorial Force Depot the following day he transferred to the 5th Reserve Durham Light Infantry, November 22nd 1916. The 5th Reserve was a re-training unit for wounded and recuperating men in preparation for their return to the front line. John Edward received a change of service number and as Private 43716 departed to France via Folkestone landing at Boulogne, January 17th 1917, making his way to the 35th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples. He was posted to the 13th Battalion Durham Light Infantry January 19th 1917 joining his regiment in the field, January 22nd, attached to the 23rd Division in the trenches of the Ypres salient in Belgium. Private Lake made a will January 28th 1917 which reads, including any grammatical errors, “This is to scertify that in the event of my death I leave all I possess to my wife Harriet Lake, signed Private Lake J. 13th Durham L. I.”February 24th 1917 he was taken by the 69th Field Ambulance of the 23rd Division to the 23rd Dressing Station suffering from a fever, he returned to duty 2 days later. Private Lake was re-appointed Lance Corporal, April 29th 1917 and participated with his battalion at the Battle of Messines June 7th-14th and during the third British attack of the Third Battle of Ypres at the Battle of Menin Road September 20-25th 1917.
Lance Corporal 43716 John Edward Lake was killed in action, September 20th 1917, his body buried on the battlefield by his comrades and marked with a cross bearing his name and military details. Post war at the request of the French and Belgian Governments isolated graves and small concentrations were brought into larger cemeteries. In a small concentration at map reference J. 19. a. 9. 9. were found the remains of 8 soldiers, the crosses marking their graves were no longer present. By means of a disc they were each identified as Pte. 1976 G. W. Barr 1/5 D.L.I., L/Cpl. 43716 J. Lake 13/D.L.I., Pte. 11172 W. Bowen 10/R.W.K., and by means of a disc and a ring Private 203158 J. Coates 13/D.L.I. Of the remaining men one was identified as D.L.I. name unknown and the other unidentified not only in name but also regiment. They were brought into Hooge Crater Cemetery, near Ypres, Belgium, for reburial with all honour and reverence by an Army Chaplain. Lance Corporal John Edward Lake is at rest grave XIII. E. 14 alongside his comrade Private J. Coates of Shildon, County Durham.
His widow received all monies due to him, a pension for herself and their children and an application to include her daughter Sarah Millar was accepted after proof was provided to the War Office that John Edward had supported the child since their marriage. Harriet received 28 shillings 9 pence a week as of April 8th 1918. His awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, the disc recovered from his remains and his personal effects consisting of; a letter and 2 note books, were sent to her at 27, Hopgarth, Chester-le-Street, County Durham. She commissioned at a cost of 10 shillings 2 pence an additional inscription to be added to her husband's military headstone, it reads, “May His Reward Be As Great As His Sacrifice.”
Harriet Lake married John Henry Appleby in 1920 at Chester-le-Street and moved to 5, Poplar Terrace. Harriet H. Appleby-Lake nee Millar died aged 48 years in 1934, registered in the district of Chester-le-Street and is buried in Ropery Lane Cemetery.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
TheChester-le-Street Chronicle 25/10/1917 reports:-
An All Round Man
Mrs Lake, Hopgarth Chester-le-Street has received news that her husband was killed in action on September 20th. Lance Corpl. J. Lake was attached to the famous 8th D.L.I. being drafted to that unit shortly after they suffered so terribly in April 1915. In January of this year he was transferred to another battalion of the Durhams. prior to joining up he was employed as a coal-hewer at Chester Moor Colliery. he leaves a widow and three daughters.
The following is taken from a letter sent by one of the deceased's comrades in arms - "He was killed outright. I.m very sorry it was his misfortune for he was a downright, good, all round man and his loss is greatly mourned by his company."
The Chester-le-Street Chronicle 19/10/1919 reads:-LAKE - killed in action, September 20th 1917, L.Corpl. John Edward Lake (Jack) aged 32 years, the dearly beloved husband of Harriet Lake 28 Hopgarth, Chester-le-Street. A loving husband, kind and true. A better friend no on ever knew. Ever remembered by his loving wife and three children Maggie, Edith, Bessie and Little Sarah. deeply mourned by all who knew him. He answered the call.
John Edward Lake is remembered at Chester-le-Street on C105.12, C105.28 and C105.40 and at Chester Moor on C123.02
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 254
