Pte 34257 George Lake

• Age: 22
• From: Bootle, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• D.O.W Wednesday 22nd November 1916
• Commemorated at: Warlincourt Halte Brit Cem
  Panel Ref: III.G.12

George Lake was born on the 04^th October, 1894 at 14a Lowndes Street, Liverpool. George and his older brother Edward Whitley Lake were baptised at St Jude's C. of E. Church, Liverpool, on the 02nd August 1895. Their parents, Robert P. Lake and Emily (nee Phoenix), were married at St Mary's C. of E. Church, Edge Hill in 1880. Emily Lake was born in Ruabon, Wales and Robert Lake was born in Liverpool and worked firstly as a mariner and later as a wool sampler, cotton porter and warehouseman. Eleven children were born to the marriage, three of whom died in infancy.

In 1881 the newly-married couple lived at 7 Lind Street, Walton, with their eldest son Charles Henry born 1881, and Emily's father, Charles Phoenix, a commercial traveller. Between 1883 and 1885 the family had, for a short time, been living in or around London where two children, Robert and Mary E., were born.

By 1891 they had returned to Liverpool and were living at 10 Lowndes Street, where George was born. 

The family had moved to 1 Beatrice Street, Bootle by the time of the 1901 Census. His father, Robert P. is a 46 year old cotton porter, his mother, Emily is aged 43 with no occupation listed. There are eight children in the household; Charles H. is a 20 year old baker, Robert is 18 and a clerk in a sack merchants office, Mary E. is 17 and is a soap factory hand, Arthur R. is 11, Edward W. is 9, George is 6, Edith is 4 and Lillian is 2.   

The 1911 census, taken when Emily Lake and her five youngest children were living with her unmarried sister Elizabeth Agnes Phoenix at 9 Ursula Street, Bootle. Elizabeth is a 62 year old box labeller born in Ruabon, whilst her sister, Emily is 58 years of age. She states that she has been married for 30 years and has had 11 children, 8 of whom have survived. Those children living with their aunt are; Arthur Roy is 21 year old warehouseman, Edward Whisley is a 19 year old baker's assistant, George, aged 16 is working as a junior clerk at a lead works, Edith is 14 and Lillian Phoenix is a 12 year old scholar. 

His father Robert died December 1912.

George enlisted in Prescot and was serving in the 20th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 34257 when he died of wounds on the 22nd November, 1916 aged 22.

He now lies in Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery, France, where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“PEACE PERFECT PEACE”

The site of the cemetery was chosen in May 1916. It was used from June 1916 to May 1917 by the 20th and 43rd Casualty Clearing Stations, in February 1917 by the 1/1st South Midland, and from April to June 1917 by the 32nd. The whole of plots VII, VIII, IX and X were filled in April and May 1917, the months of the Battles of Arras. From June 1917, the cemetery was practically unused until the fighting of May and June 1918, when field ambulances buried in it. After the Armistice the cemetery was increased by graves brought in from other small military cemeteries.

The cemetery now contains 1,266 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There are also 29 German and two French war graves.

The cemetery was designed by Charles Holden.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to his mother Emily.

His family remembered George on the first anniversary of his death in the Liverpool Echo on 22nd November 1917:

LAKE - In loving remembrance of George Lake, who died of wounds, November 22, 1916. (Whom to know was to love.) - Mother and Family.

Also in the Liverpool Daily Post on 22nd November 1917

LAKE - In loving memory of Private G. Lake, who died of wounds November 22, 1916. (Worthy of everlasting love.) - Ever remembered by his Sister-in-Law Sarah, 42 Oriel Road, Kirkdale.

LAKE - In loving remembrance of Private George Lake, who died of wounds received in action, November 22, 1916, aged 22 years. - Never forgotten by Lil and all at 30 Walton Village.

He was also remembered on the second anniversary of his death in the Liverpool Echo on 22nd November 1918

LAKE - In loving remembrance of GEORGE LAKE, who died of wounds received in action, November 22, 1916. (Whom to know was to love.) - Mother and Family and Lily Hollinghurst (fiancee). 

George is also commemorated on the following Memorials:

Bedford Road Council School,

Bootle War Memorial 

Bootle Civic Memorials.

We currently have no further information on George Lake, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.