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Nov 2, 1891
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Born in Hastings
County, Ontario to Christopher Thompson and Matilda (nee Boomhower) Lake
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Apr 3, 1916
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Attested into the
155th Battalion CEF in Bancroft, Ontario
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Number 637023
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Next of kin given
as Christopher Thompson Lake, father, Monk Road, Hastings County,
Ontario
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Previous
occupation given as Labourer
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No previous
military experience given
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Religion given as
Methodist
It appears that he
could not read or write as his signature is shown as an X and noted as
“his mark”. A
document written later appeared to have a shaky signature that was his
own.
The following
week, his 2 brothers Herman
Denis Lake
(killed in action April 9, 1917) and John
Nathaniel Lake
(killed in action May 27, 1918) attested into the same battalion
The battalion
trained in the Kingston, Ontario area
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Oct 17, 1916
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Embarked the SS
Northland at Halifax Nova Scotia
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Oct 28, 1916
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Disembarked at
Liverpool England and proceeded to the Bramshott Camp
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Dec 6, 1916
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Arrived at the CBD
(Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a
draft of 147 reinforcements from England and TOS (Taken On Strength)
the 21st Battalion.
The base
depot’s war diary reports that there was no coal and they
were short of wood for both heating and cooking.
The diary reports they were burning packing
crates to cook food
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Dec 8, 1916
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After leaving the
base depot Private Lake joined the 21st
Battalion in billets in Bully Grenay along with his brother Herman
Denis Lake
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Apr 9, 1917
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During the 21st
Battalion’s attack on Vimy Ridge, Private Lake received a
wound to his ear and was evacuated to the nearby field ambulance for
treatment
His brother Herman
Denis Lake
was killed during this same attack
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Apr 11, 1917
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Transferred to the
No. 1 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) for further treatment
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Apr 12, 1917
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Transferred via
the No. 15 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 30 General
Hospital in Calais
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Apr 23, 1917
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Discharged to the
base depot and posted to “A” Company for those
recovering from wounds and illness
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Apr 29, 1917
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After leaving the
base depot, he rejoined the 21st Battalion in
the 4th Brigade Camp at Aux Rietz
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May 19, 1917
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Attached to the 4th
Field Company, Canadian Engineers for duty
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Jun 1, 1917
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Rejoined the
battalion from temporary duty with the engineers
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Jun 12, 1917
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His brother John
Nathaniel Lake
joined the 21st Battalion
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Nov 20, 1917
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Admitted to the No
6 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads PUO
(Pyrexia of Unknown Origin) This was a fever without a known cause and
was then transferred to the No. 22 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station)
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Nov 21, 1917
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Transferred via
the No. 14 Ambulance Train and admitted to the No. 22 General Hospital
in Dannes Camiers
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Nov 23, 1917
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Transferred to the
No. 13 Convalescent Depot
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Nov 25, 1917
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Transferred to the
No. 6 Convalescent Depot in Etaples to continue his recovery
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Nov 26, 1917
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Transferred to the
No 13 Convalescent Depot in Trouville
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Jan 1, 1918
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Discharged to the
No. 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) in Etaples and posted to
“A” Company for those recovering from wounds and
illness
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Jan 16, 1918
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After leaving the
base depot, he joined the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp in Calonne
Ricouart
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Mar 1, 1918
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After leaving the
reinforcement camp, Private Lake rejoined the 21st
Battalion in billets in Lievin, France
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Mar 3, 1918
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Granted 14 days
leave
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Mar 20, 1918
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Rejoined the
battalion from leave
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Apr 29, 1918
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During the night
of April 28-29, the 21st Battalion conducted a
raid on the enemy trenches near Neuville Vitasse in order to gather
information and capture prisoners.
Private Lake received shrapnel wounds to his
legs and left arm. After
receiving first aid from the Medical Officer, he was evacuated to the
No. 6 CFA for treatment. Later
in the day he was transferred to the No. 3 CCS.
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Apr 30, 1918
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Transferred via
the No 27 Ambulance train and admitted to the No. 3 Canadian General
Hospital in Le Treport for treatment
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May 20, 1918
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Invalided to
England aboard the Hospital Ship St Denis
On arrival in
England he was admitted to the No. 10 Canadian General Hospital in
Brighton (Kitchener Military Hospital)
Posted to the EORD
(Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) for pay purposes while in hospital
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May 27, 1918
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His brother John
Nathaniel Lake was killed in
action with the 21st Battalion while Hercules
was in hospital
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Jun 5, 1918
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Transferred to the
Military Convalescent Hospital in Epsom
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Jul 31, 1918
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Discharged from
hospital and granted sick leave until August 10, 1918.
On completion of his leave he was ordered to
report to the 3rd CCD (Canadian Convalescent
Depot) to continue his recovery
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Sep 4, 1918
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Granted permission
to marry
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Sep 12, 1918
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Married in Epsom
and his next of kin was changed to read Mrs. Florence Lake, wife, 4
Beaconsfield Cottage, East St., Epsom, Surrey
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Sep 19, 1918
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Ceased to be
attached to the convalescent depot and posted to the 6th
Reserve Battalion in Seaford
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Jan 17, 1919
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Posted to the EORD
in Witley
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Feb 15, 1919
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Attached to the 1st
CDD (Canadian Discharge Depot) in Buxton pending return to Canada
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Mar 8, 1919
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Embarked the SS
Minnedosa in Liverpool with his wife
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Mar 17, 1919
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Disembarked in St.
John, New Brunswick
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Mar 19, 1919
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Discharged from
the CEF in St. John, New Brunswick
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Rank on discharge
Private
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War Service Badge
Class “A” issued number 80505
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Proposed residence
on discharge, Kingston, Ontario
Following the war
the British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at Bancroft,
Ontario
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Mar 11, 1931
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Died in Colborne,
Ontario of Pulmonary Tuberculosis and buried in the Lakeport Cemetery
in Colborne
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