21405, Lance Sergeant, Philip LAKE
Aged 23
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Born in Warrington, Lancashire in Q4-1892 [Warrington 8c:267] to George and Margaret LAKE (née PERDUE)of 14 Kent Street, Latchford,
Warrington.
1901 census...Philip [8] was at 52 Market Street, Fenton, Staffordshire. where his father George [38], was public house manager (Foley Arms ?). Also there were his mother Margaret [34]; brothers Harold [15] a hairdresser; Bertram [14] errand boy, and George [9] as well as sisters Fanny H [12] and Rose E [10]. All these were born in Warrington. Sisters Maggie [7] and Elizabeth [6] were born in Prescot, Lancs. 1911 census... Philip [18] was a stableman at Lanwades Stud, Moulton where his accomodation appears to be in the loft over the stables. His parents were in Kirkdale,Liverpool, at 114 Foley Street where his father was public house manager, Also there were his brother George and sisters Margaret and Elzabeth. One child had died. |
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He enlisted in Newmarket. The 15th and 16th Cheshire were formed in 1914 as Bantam Battalions. This was to enable those men not tall enough to meet the Army's normal
minimum height restrictions to join up. The usual minimum was 5' 3" (160 cm) , but for the Bantams this was reduced to 5 feet (152.4 cm). The battalion landed at Le Havre on
31st January 1916. On 16 July 1916, the 16th Cheshires ( as part of the 33rd Division) went into the front line between Guillemont and Delville Wood, in the
south of the Somme battlefield, at a position known as Waterlot Farm. These positions had been captured in the days since the start of the Battle on 1 July.
A German counter-attack was expected and fresh troops were required. The expected counter attack was launched on 18 July and was repulsed but with heavy
casualties on 19th. The 33rd Division took part of High Wood on 20th after much hard hand to hand fighting, but suffered heavy casualties. 38 of Philip's battalion were killed that day and only 3 have identified graves, the rest are named on the Thiepval Memorial |
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