An emotive Boer War and Great War group of five to Captain John Stephen Raymond Lake, 3rd attached 1st Battalion, South Wales Borderers who was killed in action on 16th June 1916 whilst going to the aid of his men - his commanding officer was later to write: “The Germans threw over a heavy trench mortar which blew in a dug-out and killed three of his men. Your son, as was usual with him, was first in the field to see if there were any wounded to be helped. He had reached a point close to the first explosion when the enemy sent over a second heavy trench mortar, which blew in the trench just where he was, killing him instantly.”
Group of 5: Queen’s South Africa, three clasps: Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Lieut. G. S. R. LAKE, S. Wales Bord.); King’s South Africa, 2 clasps: South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lt. J. S. R. LAKE, S. W. Bdrs.) 1914 Star with clasp (CAPT. J. S. R. LAKE, S. WALES BORD.); British War and 1st the bronze striking Victory Medals (CAPT. J. S. R. LAKE)
Condition. Nearly Extremely Fine.
John Stephen Raymond Lake was born in Watford on 3 December 1881 and baptised 7 January 1882 at St Mary’s church, Watford. He was the eldest of eight children born to Reginald John and Mary Beatrice (nee Green) Lake, and the grandson of George Lake of Bushey House in Bushey High Street. He attended Berkhamsted School, Herts, until 1899.
Lake was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the South Wales Borderers on 16 Jan 1900 and first saw overseas service during the Anglo-Boer with the 3rd Battalion South Wales Borderers, being present in operations in the orange Free State Orange River Colony, Cape Colony and Transvaal. Promoted Lieutenant on 30 Jan 1901, he was advanced to Captain in 1908.
Following the outbreak of the Great War Lake went on attachment to the 1st Battalion of the South Wales Borderers and embarked for France on 16 October 1914. He joined the battalion in France on 28 October 1914 and was wounded in Ghelovelt the following day, receiving a gun-shot to the thigh. Having rejoined his regiment in France on 4 March 1916, he was killed in action on 16 June 1916.
The history of the South Wales Borderers 1914-18, page 217 reveals:
“There was another bad day in the middle of June when a heavy trench-mortar bombardment knocked out a whole Lewis gun team which had been posted to protect a mine-head in the centre of our line. Captain Lake also was killed.”
He was 34 and is interred in the Loos British Cemetery. His grave includes the inscription “HIS SERVANTS SHALL DO HIM SERVICE” which was requested by Mrs Lake of St Edmunds, Langley Road, Watford.
There are articles about Lake in the West Herts and Watford Observer on 15 August 1914, on 7 November 1914, on 24 June 1916 (including a Death announcement), and on 1 July 1916. There is also an article in the St Michaels’ Church Parish Magazine, dated July 1916, and a plaque dedicated to John and his brother in St Mary’s Church, Watford.
The following account of “How Captain J Raymond Lake Died” (written as ‘T’ not ‘J’) is included with his photograph in the Watford Observer and states:
“Captain John T Raymond Lake, South Wales Borderers, who has fallen in action, was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Reginald Lake, of Watford. He server through the South African war and was 35 years of age. Colonel Collier, writing to his parents says:- I was approaching the part of the line held by your son’s company when he was killed. The Germans threw over a heavy trench mortar which blew in a dug-out and killed three of his men. Your son, as was usual with him, was first in the field to see if there were any wounded to be helped. He had reached a point close to the first explosion when the enemy sent over a second heavy trench mortar, which blew in the trench just where he was, killing him instantly. He was buried in the soldiers’ cemetery by the English Church chaplain in a village nearby.”
The Times announced:
“… killed on June 16th., her was the elder son of Mr Reginald John Lake, I.C.R.C. and Mrs Lake of Beodricsworth, Watford. He was educated at Berkhamsted, he left school in December 1899 to volunteer for the South Africa War, and served as 2 Lieut and Lieut in the 3rd Battalion South Wales Borderers, in that campaign from February 1900 until the the battalion came home in April 1902. He gained both Queen’s and King’s medals with five clasps. Subsequently he became Captain in the Special Reserve of Officers and joined a Line Battalion on the outbreak of War, and was wounded at the First Battle of Ypres. He was on the Stock Exchange.”
His name and that of his brother Reginald St George Lake, who was also killed in action in November 1916, are on the side of their grandfather’s grave in Bushey churchyard.
