Name
Lionel Aslin Peek
3/8/1918
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
24/10/1918
18
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
TR/10/170905
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
53rd Bn..
'B' Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
RICKMANSWORTH (CHORLEYWOOD ROAD) CEMETERY
FF. 5. 29.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Croxley Green Village Memorial, Croxley Green,
All Saints' Church Shrine, Croxley Green,
John Dickinson & Co Memorial, Croxley Mill, Croxley Green,
Rickmansworth Urban District Memorial
Pre War
Lionel was born in Croxley on 3 August 1900, the son of Arthur James and Susan Maria Axtal Peek of 196 New Road. Lionel was christened in Croxley Green on 7 October 1900. In 1911 both Lionel’s father and his eldest brother worked at Croxley Mill. Lionel himself is listed on the Dickinson memorial so it seems he followed in his father's footsteps.
The Watford Observer of 2 November reported his burial, with military honours, which took place on 30 October at Rickmansworth Cemetery in Chorleywood Road. According to the report, the body was borne from All Saints’ church to the cemetery on a gun carriage. The Rev Blois Bisshopp officiated at a service that was very well attended. Many people left beautiful floral tributes. The Croxley Green Volunteers, under Sergeant Beck, fired the salute over the grave and the ‘Last Post’ was played. Lionel was a popular member of the Church Lads’ Brigade and Village Football Club, who was esteemed for his large heartedness and enthusiasm.
He is recorded as enlisting in Bedford.
Wartime Service
Lionel Aslin Peek TR/10/170905, Private, ‘B’ Company, 53rd (Grad.) Middlesex Regiment. Died of pneumonia in the Connaught Hospital in Aldershot on 24th October 1918, aged 18.
The 53rd Battalion was a basic recruit training unit based at Aldershot so it appears Lionel died soon after enlisting.
The Army paid his father £2 18s 8d after his death. There was no war gratuity, presumably because his home service was not long enough.
Additional Information
In SDITGW as Lionel Astin Peek.
Lionel grave (not CWGC) bears the inscription:
IN LOVING MEMORY OF LIONEL ASLIN PEEK.
53RD MIDDX. REGT. WHO DIED OF PNEUMONIA IN CONNAUGHT HOSPITAL, ALDERSHOT. OCT. 24. 1918.
AGED 18 YEARS AUG. 3RD 1918.
DEARLY LOVED AND SADLY MISSED.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Tanya Britton, Brian Thomson, Croxley Green in the First World War Rickmansworth Historical Society 2014
