Pte 21559 George Henry Lake

Before George’s birth his parents lived at 14 Kent Street, Latchford, near Warrington, where his father was a barman. George had older brothers Harold, born in 1885, and Bertram Sheldon 1886, and younger siblings Fanny, 1888, Rose Gertrude 1890, and Philip 1892, all born in Warrington district.  They moved to Prescot by 1894, where Margaret 1894, and Elizabeth 1895 were born.

 

By 1901 his father is a public house manager in Fenton, Staffordshire, at 52 Market Street. They have eight children at home. His eldest brother Harold is a hairdresser, Bertram, 14, is an errand boy, and George is 9. They have two domestic servants.

By 1911 they have moved to Liverpool, where his father, 48, is managing a public house, at 114 Foley Street, Kirkdale. His mother, 43, is assisting in the business, George is 19, a hairdresser’s assistant, and Margaret, 17, and Elizabeth, 16 are at home. His brother Bertram is a Lance Sergeant with the 2nd Bn the King’s Regiment  in India, and his brother Philip is a stable lad at a racing stable near Newmarket, Suffolk.

 

George enlisted at St George's Hall, Liverpool on 03rd September 1914 joining the 19th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 21559. He gave his age as 23, and occupation hair dresser. He is described as being 5’ 5” tall, weighing 122 lbs, with a sallow complexion, grey eyes, and light brown hair, and has a scar on the back of his left leg. He gives as his next of kin his father George, Falcon Hotel, Foley Street, Kirkdale.

Formed on 07^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

 

On 22nd March 1915, whilst at Knowsley, near Liverpool, he was absent without leave, and was confined to barracks for three days.

 

Whilst at Belton Park in Lincolnshire, he was admonished for having a dirty rifle, on 05th July 1915.

 

George shipped to France with his battalion, disembarking at Boulogne on 7th November 1915. His service record shows: 

 

03/9/1916 awarded Class II Professional pay 

20/01/1917 to 30th Div. Depot

28/6/1917 to Field Ambulance

06/7/1917 admitted, tonsillitis

08/7/1917 discharged to duty

09/7/1917 rejoined unit 

21/7/1917 granted leave to U.K.

03/8/1917 rejoined from leave 

 

07/12/1917 to Field Ambulance, fever

10/12/1917 to Casualty Clearing Station, tonsillitis 

11/12/1917 to 3rd Canadian General Hospital, Boulogne

16/12/1917 to Base Depot, Boulogne

18/02/1918 to Base Depot, Etaples

28/02/1918 rejoined unit in the field 

 

The Germans launch their Spring Offensive on 21st March 1918.

 

On 28th March 1918 George was wounded in action, with a gunshot wound to the chest. He was admitted to No.6 General Hospital, Rouen on 30th March 1918, and died of his wounds on 01st April 1918, aged 26.

George now rests at St Sever Cemetery Ext, Rouen, France where the inscription on his headstone reads:

“UNTIL THE DAY BREAKS”

During the First World War, Commonwealth camps and hospitals were stationed on the southern outskirts of Rouen. A base supply depot and the 3rd Echelon of General Headquarters were also established in the city.

Almost all of the hospitals at Rouen remained there for practically the whole of the war. They included eight general, five stationary, one British Red Cross and one labour hospital, and No. 2 Convalescent Depot. A number of the dead from these hospitals were buried in other cemeteries, but the great majority were taken to the city cemetery of St. Sever. In September 1916, it was found necessary to begin an extension, where the last burial took place in April 1920.

The Cemetery and the Extension adjoin each other but have separate Registers.

During the Second World War, Rouen was again a hospital centre and the extension was used once more for the burial of Commonwealth servicemen, many of whom died as prisoners of war during the German occupation.

The cemetery extension contains 8,348 Commonwealth burials of the First World War (ten of them unidentified) and in Block "S" there are 328 from the Second World War (18 of them unidentified). There are also 8 Foreign National burials here. The adjoining St. Sever Cemetery contains 3,082 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There is also 1 French burial and 1 non war service burial here.

The extension was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield. 

His loved ones placed a notice in the Liverpool Echo on 8th April 1918:

“Died of wounds, April 1, at No.6 General Hospital, Rouen, aged 26 years, Private George H. Lake, K.L.R., the dearly-loved husband of Lillian Lake, 142 Wadham Road, Bootle, and the son of George and Margaret Lake, Falcon Hotel, Kirkdale.”

 

In the Echo, on 7th May 1918:

“Mr. And Mrs. Lake and Family desire to express their sincere thanks to relatives and friends for letters of sympathy at the sad loss of their three sons, Harold, George, and Philip, in France.  - 114 Foley Street, Kirkdale.”

 

George's personal effects were forwarded to his widow, Lilian, in September 1918:  Photographs, Cards, 1 Pipe, 2 Pocket cases, 1 Tobacco pouch, 1 Damaged penny, 1 Silver watch, with strap & coin & key attached. 

 

George earned his three medals.

 

Lilian, living at 142 Wadham Road, Bootle, received a Separation Allowance of 12/6d up to 06th October 1918, then a  pension of 13/9d a week.  She received his Army effects, including a War Gratuity of £16-10s.

 

In 1919 Lilian provided information on George’s living relatives;  his parents George and Margaret were still living at 114 Foley Street, Kirkdale, with daughter Elizabeth, 24; his brother Bertram, 31, was with the Army in Quetta, Baluchistan, India;  His sister Fanny, 29, was in Cairo, Egypt, and Gertrude, 27, was in Bangalore, India.