Bert Lake


Dec 10, 1882

Born in Woolwich, England

 

Oct 10, 1914

Shown on the payroll of the 45th Victoria Regiment Canadian Militia

 

Nov 10, 1914

Attested into the 21st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario

 

Ø  Number 59557 (temporary number 649)

Ø  Next of kin given as William Lake, father, 211 Sumach St., Toronto, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Carpenter

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Posted to “E” Company

o   This was later reorganized into “C” Company

The 21st Battalion trained in the Kingston, Ontario area through the winter of 1914-15.

 

Feb 25, 1915

Attached to the Garrison Military Police for duty

 

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec

 

 

May 15, 1915

Disembarked in Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue training

 

Jun 6, 1915

Attached to the MMP (Mounted Military Police) for duty

 

Jul 15, 1915

Transferred to the 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade and employed with the Mounted Military Police

 

Aug 15, 1915

Transferred to the 2nd Division Headquarters Staff Mounted Military Police

Appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal

 

Sep 13, 1915

Embarked at Southampton along with APM (Assistant Provost Martial) Headquarters

 

Sep 14, 1915

Disembarked in Havre, France and proceeded to St. Omer by train

 

May 18, 1916

Appointed to the rank of Acting Corporal

 

Jun 8, 1916

Attached to the No. 6 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) for rations only

 

Jul 4, 1916

Ceased to be attached to the No. 6 Canadian Field Ambulance

 

Oct 7, 1916

Admitted to the No. 2 Canadian Field Ambulance for dental work

 

Oct 10, 1916

Rejoined unit from the field ambulance

 

Oct 15, 1916

Attended at the No. 54 Field Ambulance for dental treatment

 

Feb 1, 1917

Placed under arrest for being drunk on duty

 

Feb 7, 1917

Tried by General Court Martial held at Fontaine Les Hermans, France and charged with

Ø  Drunk on duty

Ø  Escaping custody

After testimony was heard, he was found Not Guilty of the charge of Escaping Custody, but Guilty of the charge of Drunk on duty and was sentenced to 42 days Field Punishment #1 and forfeited his rank and reduced to the rank of Private

 

Mar 31, 1917

Transferred to the 24th Canadian Infantry Battalion

 

Apr 28, 1917

Joined the 24th Battalion on Vimy Ridge as part of a draft of 21 reinforcements

 

Dec 4, 1917

Granted 14 days leave to England

 

Dec 22, 1917

Rejoined the battalion from leave

 

Nov 29, 1918

Admitted to the No. 6 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads PUO (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin), a fever without a known cause.  He was transferred the same day to the No. 44 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) for further assessment and treatment

 

Dec 4, 1918

Transferred via the No. 1 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 1 Casualty Clearing Station and the diagnosis was changed to read Influenza

 

Jan 15, 1919

Transferred to the No. 57 Casualty Clearing Station

 

Jan 20, 1919

Transferred to the No. 7 Canadian General Hospital in Etaples

 

Jan 23, 1919

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Brighton

 

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the General Military Hospital in Colchester

Transferred to the QRD (Quebec Regimental Depot) for pay purposes while in hospital

 

Jan 28, 1919

Transferred to the Military Convalescent Hospital in Woodcote Park, Epsom

 

Mar 12, 1919

Discharged from hospital and transferred to the 23rd Reserve Battalion in Ripon

 

Apr 3, 1919

Transferred to the Canadian Concentration Camp in Kinmel Park, Rhyl and posted to the Military District #2 pending return to Canada

 

Apr 16, 1919

Embarked the SS Belgic in Liverpool

 

 

Apr 23, 1919

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded to Toronto, Ontario and Taken On Strength District Depot #2

 

Apr 29, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Toronto, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 281850

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge 116 Franklin Ave., Toronto, Ontario

Following his discharge, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 124 Winnett Ave., Toronto, Ontario

 

May 9, 1955

Bert Lake died while a patient of the Red Chevron Veteran’s Hospital in Toronto

 


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