Name
John Stephen Raymond Lake
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/06/1916
34
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Captain
South Wales Borderers
3rd Bn., attached 1st Bn. (or vice versa)
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LOOS BRITISH CEMETERY
Plot XVIII, Row E, Grave 10.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
St Mary's Parish Church Memorial, Watford,
St Andrew's Church Memorial, Watford,
Berkhamsted Collegiate School Memorial
Pre War
Born in Watford on 3 December 1881 and baptised 7 January 1882 at St Mary’s church, Watford, John Stephen Raymond Lake was the eldest of eight children born to Reginald John and Mary Beatrice (nee Green) Lake, and the grandson of George Lake of Bushey House in Bushey High Street. John attended Berkhamsted School, Herts, until 1899.
His parents were married 1879 in the Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, district. His father died in Watford on 28 February 1923 and was buried on 3 March in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford. His mother died in Watford on 5 February 1940, aged 81, and was buried on 8 February, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
At the 1891 Census the family was living at Beodriceworth in Alexandra Road, Watford, and Reginald and Mary had seven children: John Stephen Raymond, Ellen Mary Beatrice, Edith Carleton, Margaretta Eunice, Beatrice Victoria, Reginald St George, Katherine Madeline and Michael Neville. Birthplaces are given as Highbury, London for Reginald, Bury St Edmunds for Mary, and Watford for all of the children. The family’s ages are 44, 32, 9, 7, 7, 5, 4, 3, 1 and 6 months respectively. Reginald is working as a Barrister and Printer and the family has three servants, a nurse, an under-nurse and a cook.
At the 1901 Census, the family is still living at Beodriceworth, with all of the children except for John and Edith. It is possible that John was serving in the army at that time. [Note: The Ancestry record gives the family name as Zake]
At the 1911 Census the family is still living at Beodriceworth, a 14 room property in Alexander Road, Watford. The record shows that 7 of the children are still present and are all recorded as single. The only exception is Margaretta, but there is no indication that she had either died or married. The nurse, Ellen Bloxham, is now 54 and still living with the family. Reginald is working as a barrister, John is a stockbroker and Reginald a banker.
Wartime Service
John served in the South African Campaign and the 1908 Hart’s Annual Army List showed that, on 24 February 1906, he had received his commission as Captain in the 3rd Battalion of the South Wales Borderers. He was attached to the 1st Battalion of the South Wales Borderers on the Western Front, first entering France on 16 October 1914, and was wounded on 2 November 14 with a gun-shot to the thigh. He was killed in action on 16 June 1916, aged 34, and is buried at the Loos British Cemetery. His grave includes the inscription “HIS SERVANTS SHALL DO HIM SERVICE” which was requested by Mrs Lake of St Edmunds, Langley Road, Watford.
There are articles about John in the West Herts and Watford Observer on 15 August 1914, on 7 November 1914, on 24 June 1916 (including a Death announcement), and on 1 July 1916. There is also an article in the St Michaels’ Church Parish Magazine, dated July 1916, and a plaque dedicated to John and his brother in St Mary’s Church, Watford.
The following account of “How Captain J Raymond Lake Died” (written as ‘T’ not ‘J’) is included with his photograph in the Watford Observer and states:
“Captain John T Raymond Lake, South Wales Borderers, who has fallen in action, was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Reginald Lake, of Watford. He server through the South African war and was 35 years of age. Colonel Collier, writing to his parents says:- I was approaching the part of the line held by your son’s company when he was killed. The Germans threw over a heavy trench mortar which blew in a dug-out and killed three of his men. Your son, as was usual with him, was first in the field to see if there were any wounded to be helped. He had reached a point close to the first explosion when the enemy sent over a second heavy trench mortar, which blew in the trench just where he was, killing him instantly. He was buried in the soldiers’ cemetery by the English Church chaplain in a village nearby.”
His name and that of his brother Reginald St George Lake, who was also killed in action in November 1916, are on the side of their grandfather’s grave in Bushey churchyard.
John has an entry in the National Probate Calendar and the Register of Soldier’s Effects identifies his father as the administrator of his estate. His father applied on 20 February 1920 for the Clasp to John’s 1914 Star.
Additional Information
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk).
There are articles about John in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 15 August 1914, 7 November 1914, 24 June 1916 (including a Death announcement), and 1 July 1916. There is an article in the St Michaels’ Church Parish Magazine dated July 1916, and a plaque dedicated to John and his brother in St Mary’s Church, Watford.
After his death he was recorded as the son of Reginald J. and M. Beatrice Lake, of "St. Edmunds," Langley Rd., Watford. Served in the South African campaign. His name and that of his brother Reginald St George Lake, who was killed in action in November 19 and also features on Watford Borough Roll of Honour.
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Jonty Wild. Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
