Name
Edward Lake
24/07/1886
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Pirton School Memorial
Biography
Edward appears on the School War Memorial, confirming that he attended the school. Parish records suggest only one man of this name who could have served, and he was born on July 24th 1886 (although his Canadian attestation papers record 1887) to Charles James (James) and Susan Lake (née Catterill). He would have been about eighteen at the outbreak of war. In all it would appear that three brothers served and survived – refer to Albert Lake for more family details.
Edward is absent from the 1911 Pirton census, so presumably he had already gone to Canada by this date. It is recorded that, before his emigration, he worked for Mr Davis which would have been at Rectory Farm.
Edna Lake, from Victoria Canada, is Edward’s daughter and she adds to our information. She confirms that Edward and Ernest were twins and that Edward emigrated to Canada in 1912 or thereabouts leaving his twin, Ernest, behind. Ernest had married Ellen Rose Titmuss in 1909 and he seemingly spent the rest of his life in Pirton. It is believed that Edward emigrated with four other Pirton men, Toby (Albert William) Buckett, Tom Abbiss, Charlie Stapleton and one of the Walkers, possibly Arthur Robert Walker. However, there is conflicting information for the emigration dates, including a North Herts Mail report which suggests 1909 or 1910 for Toby.
He arrived in New Westminster, British Columbia with his friends and, very shortly afterwards, started work as a labourer in the construction of the new main road, Columbia Street. He met Ethel Birch (b 1891 in London), who had also emigrated there. They were married on April 28th 1915.
The Parish Magazine of August 1916 records Edward as serving in the 131st Overseas Regiment. The North Herts Mail of November 30th 1916 tells us that he had been home to Pirton on leave before rejoining his Regiment.
The Parish Magazine of June 1917 records his Regiment as the Canadian Forester's Corps - Edna confirms this to be the case, and his attestation papers confirm that he enlisted on February 28th 1916. He served in France and was demobilised on April 5th 1919. Edward, Toby, Tom and Arthur all joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force returning to Europe to fight – their allegiance to Great Britain still being strong.
After the war he returned to New Westminster and then, a few years later, moved to Victoria, where he worked on the roads for the Municipality of Saanich. He lived there for the rest of his life. ‘Dad kept in touch with the Pirton boys and I remember them in my younger days.’ - Edna Lake (b 1923).
Additional Information
Text from the book ‘The Pride of Pirton’ by Jonty Wild, Tony French & Chris Ryan used with author's permission
Acknowledgments
Text from the book ‘The Pride of Pirton’ by Jonty Wild, Tony French & Chris Ryan used with author's permission, Edna Lake
