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Oct 13, 1886
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Born in Hastings
County, Ontario to Christopher T. and Matilda (nee Boomhower) Lake
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Apr 10, 1916
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Attested into the
155th Battalion in Bancroft, Ontario
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Number 637038
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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
o
This was later
recorded as Farmer
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No previous
military experience given
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Religion given as
Church of England
The
battalion trained in the Kingston, Ontario area
His
brother, Herman
Denis Lake,
attested into the battalion the same day.
His older brother Hercules
Ross Lake
had volunteered a week earlier
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Oct 17, 1916
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Embarked the SS
Northland in Halifax, Nova Scotia
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Oct 28, 1916
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Disembarked in
Liverpool, England and the battalion proceeded to Bramshott
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Dec 8, 1916
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John’s
brother, Denis, joined the 21st Battalion at the
front
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Jan 31, 1917
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Transferred to the
newly formed 6th Reserve Battalion at East
Sandling to continue training. Shortly
after the transfer, the battalion moved to permanent quarters and
training area in Seaford
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Apr 9, 1917
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During the 21st
Battalion’s attack on Vimy Ridge, John’s brother Denis
was
killed in action and his other brother Hercules Ross Lake
was wounded
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May 10, 1917
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Transferred to the
21st Battalion
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May 11, 1917
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Arrived at the CBD
(Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a
draft of 97 reinforcements from England and TOS (Taken On Strength) the
21st Battalion
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Jun 4, 1917
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After leaving the
base depot, he joined the 2nd Entrenching
Battalion in Hersin
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Jun 12, 1917
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After leaving the
entrenching battalion, Private Lake joined the 21st
Battalion in billets in Coupigny, France
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Aug 16, 1917
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After receiving
shrapnel wounds to his right shoulder during an enemy counter attack at
Hill 70, he was admitted to the 1st South
African General Hospital in Abbeville for treatment
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Aug 28, 1917
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Transferred to the
No. 5 Convalescent Depot in Cayeux to continue his recovery
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Sep 6, 1917
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Discharged from
the convalescent depot and posted 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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Sep 18, 1917
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After leaving the
base depot, he joined the 2nd Entrenching
Battalion in Hersin
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Dec 5, 1917
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After leaving the
entrenching battalion he rejoined the 21st
Battalion in the Suburban rest camp near Villers au Bois
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Feb 4, 1918
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Granted 14 days
leave
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Feb 20, 1918
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Rejoined the
battalion from leave
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May 27, 1918
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The 21st
Battalion had moved into the support trenches in the Telegraph Hill
Switch, near Neuville Vitasse. In
the early morning hours they came under a heavy artillery barrage and
Private Lake received shrapnel wounds to his face, hands, legs and
abdomen. After
receiving first aid, he was evacuated to the No. 56 CCS (Casualty
Clearing Station) for treatment. On
arrival, he was declared to be dangerously ill.
While at the
casualty clearing station, Private Lake died of his wounds later the
same day and was buried in the nearby Bagneux British Cemetery near
Doullens, France
Following the war
the British War Medal, Victory Medal and Memorial Cross were sent to
his mother, Mrs. Matilda Lake, at Bancroft, Ontario
The Plaque (Dead
Man’s Penny) and Scroll were sent to his father, Mr. C. Lake,
at the same address
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