WILLIAM "BILL" LAKE  (My Father)

  22nd Sep 1913 - 5 Oct 1981

 

In August 1939 at the start of the war William Lake aged 26 worked for an engineering supply

company as foreman storekeeper. He lived at 57 De Laune Street Lambeth London with his wife

Emily and 8 month old daughter. His parents and siblings lived virtually opposite at 22 De Laune

St Lambeth. On 28th Sept his younger sister Clara died from Tonsillitis and Broncho Pneumonia

aged just18. 

 

1940 could not have started worse when William’s mother, Margaret, died on 2nd January from

pneumonia, the second family death in just 3 months. Food rationing started and the weather

was so cold the Thames froze. In May the conscription age was increased to 36 but Williams

employer told him he was part of an essential service as they were supplying war munition

factories.

 

In June the war got closer for him and the Lake family when France capitulated and the Channel

Islands became occupied, meaning he now had relatives under Nazi occupation. The year got worse when in September his father suffered a breakdown and was taken into hospital, which was then hit during a blitz. His father John William was transferred to Horton Hospital Epsom Surrey where he died on 28 September. Good news though was that on 7th October his second daughter was born in Bedfordshire away from the London blitz.

 

During a blitz in March 1941 the family home at 22 De Laune St was hit and his siblings had to evacuate and eventually moved to Kew Surrey. William with his wife and two children were still at 57 De Laune St, but by the end of the year they too had moved to 20 Burlington Ave, Kew.

 

On 10 January 1942 William joined the 63rd Surrey Home Guard in Richmond.

We know that one of his duties during this time was to guard Kew Observatory based in Old Deer Park Richmond. During this year his younger brother Henry was already in the army and based in Birmingham and another brother Herbert was an engineer with the Royal Air Force based in Canada. His cousin John Harold Henry Coombes was a prisoner of the Japanese in Changhi Singapore.

 

ENLISTMENT

In June 1943 William decided that he needed to do his duty despite his employer saying he was part of an essential service and on 3rd June he enlisted at Warley Birmingham. Why he enlisted in Warley we are not sure but his brother Henry was based in Birmingham so we presume he went to see him first. William was posted to the General Service Corps 51 Primary Training Wing. His training included, on the 5 July, a Fired War Course involving Rifle and Bren Gun firing which he proved to be very good at getting 50 1st Class for Rifle and 40 2nd class for Bren, the training also included C.A.P. Gas Chamber. He completed his training on 14th July Private William Lake No 14618094 was transferred to the Royal Corps of Signals.

 

On one occasion they were on the parade ground and volunteers were asked to take one step forward if they could drive, William stepped forward although he had never driven in his life but he thought I’ve watched people it can’t be that hard. After much crunching of gears he got the hang of it and that is how he learnt to drive. He never had a lesson and never took a driving test.

 

In January 1944 he passed his Trade Test as a Wireless Operator and posted to 12 Line Communications Signals 102 HQ Sub Area Beach Signals Section on 15 February. On 9th May he was appointed Acting Lance Corporal.

 

On 6th June 1944 William Lake took part in the largest sea borne invasion in history now known as D Day. He was part of the troop landings at Juno Beach which are known as the Canadian Beach but British Troops were also part of the force at Juno.

The first assault waves landed at 07.55 and landing craft had to beach amongst German obstacles. 306 landing craft were used during the landings and of these 90 were lost.

 

Whilst this was going on cruisers and destroyers were working to silence German guns. The cruisers HMS Diadem and HMS Belfast took on the batteries situated inland. HMS Belfast was the command ship for Bombardment Force E and was to support the landings at Juno & Gold Beaches. HMS Belfast is now part of the Imperial War Museum and the museum ship is moored on the River Thames near Tower Bridge.

 

William said very little about these events, like many soldiers of that time they didn’t want to talk about it. The one thing he did say however was that he was with some Canadian Indians (I believe the correct term now is First Nation people). He said they were the bravest people he ever saw. It is hard to get exact casualty figures but it is believed the 3rd  Canadian Infantry Division suffered 282 killed, 442 wounded and 47 missing other Canadian and British units are believed to have suffered a further 400 casualties.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE STORY BEHIND A FAMOUS PHOTOGRAPH

On 30th May over lunch Winston Churchill revealed to the King that he intended to join the fleet on D Day and the King said he would do the same. The King’s private secretary was thoroughly alarmed and persuaded the King that it would be wrong for either him or Winston Churchill to join the fleet. The next day Winston received a letter from the King begging him not to go. Following much letter writing Winston was persuaded not to go on D Day.

 

So on 12 June 1944 just 6 days after D Day, Winston Churchill visited Juno Beach accompanied by South African Prime Minister Field Marshall Jan Smuts & Field Marshall Alanbrooke Chief of Imperial General Staff. They were met at Juno Beach by Field Marshall Montgomery and it was at that meeting when a famous picture was taken. Winston Churchill was seen climbing down from a “duck” vehicle to be met by Field Marshall Montgomery with William Lake right in the middle of the picture.

 

The photo was published in newspapers the following day and the Times report quoted:  “Soldiers busy unloading craft stood in amazement at the sight of the familiar Trinity House Cap, the cigar, and the two fingers raised in the V sign. Men not actively engaged in unloading rushed up to the duck, some stood to attention and saluted others held back, waved and clapped their hands. General Smuts smiling cheerfully was at work with his cine camera as the party clambered into the waiting jeeps and drove off”

 

About the invasion on Juno Beach Field Marshall Alanbrooke stated:

“The French population did not seem in any way pleased to see us arrive as a victorious country to liberate France. They had been quite content as they were and we were bringing war and desolation to the country”

 

LETTERS TO HOME

On 2nd July 1944William Lake wrote to his sister transcribed as follows (some names removed)

 

Dear *

I know you are thinking it’s about time, poor old *, always last but never mind, never out of my thoughts & better late than never.

When Herb was in Canada we certainly had some wonderful letters from him but I’m afraid you won’t get them from me. For one thing I have not got it in me and another I haven’t such pleasant surroundings, the last reason of course, I’M NOT in Canada but somewhere in France – I bet you’d all like to know where- but again you’ll have to wait or guess.

 

Well, I was pleased to receive your letter as it keeps me “at home” and I am hoping it won’t be long before I am there but you know the army if they say you can’t go well you just stay.

 

The town here is only small and what there is has been knocked about so that doesn’t leave much to write about but anyway a few lines, hoping you are quite well and happy, how’s the wardens job going, OK have you resigned, if I remember correctly you didn’t even start !!!

 

Godnight * God Bless - til next time - Tons of Love Bill

 

William wrote to his brother Henry on 26 Nov 1944 and the following is a transcription of that letter:

 

My Dear Henry

You will no doubt be surprised to hear from me after this somewhat lengthy time but as I am writing I will try to tell you my picture of the last few months.

 

I last saw Emily and family last January when our son was born and apart for a quick couple of hours sometime in Feb or March I haven’t seen them since. In April we were taken to Southampton (which we later called the concentration camp) to prepare for the largest scheme ever attempted whilst locked and guarded in this camp. We were trained and briefed regularly for what was to be one of the greatest days in English History.

 

Yes a day picked in June was to be known as D Day and it was to be the hour to strike. As time grew nearer we learned more of what was to happen: these would go in on our beach, those would be on our left flank and the others would be on our right flank but above it all it was remarkably noticeable of the confidence with which the officers spoke and the confidence inspired into us, it was certainly a cut and dried job, in which all possible mistakes were accounted for and before I say more no better planning was possible.

 

By June the third we were on our 1sts, a sight I am sure Southampton will never see again, miles of tanks, jeeps, trucks, men, commando’s, marines, infantry etc and of course scores of ships. As we embarked and the ships were full of their particular cargo we moved to a particular spot off the Isle of Wight presumably to await the order to move.

 

At last after some 24 hours of anxious waiting we moved into the night slowly stealthily and silently.

 

The guns on the ship were manned and we being signals were asked to help on the lookouts – I was put on the main phone “on the bridge” over which came all the queries of the lookouts, objects all over the sea were queried, enemy aircraft here there and everywhere but of course we checked they were mostly “friendly” –

Thank Heaven.

 

At last guns began to sound and eventually we saw the beaches which were to become ours in the following hours – as I have already mentioned it went smoothly and perfectly and we soon got down to our job for which we were briefed.

 

We landed on a beach just by Courseulles which we made our home town nice and close to a friendly place called Caen ----- Well we are not allowed to talk too much but we were here for some considerable time of course manning wireless sets etc on various detachments doing a variety of jobs. It was here that we had a defence platoon, who in my opinion, were tops very smart and efficient infantry with whom you were well acquainted.

 

During those Normandy days we visited many places, now famous, and providing I do not hint at my present whereabouts I am permitted to mention some these include, Bayeaux, Caen, Rouen, Liseux, Falais Gap, Cambrae, Mons, Brussels etc. So you can see I have done quite a bit of travelling. Yes we have experiences but these will have to wait until I get home but although I felt the wrench from home I do not regret the experience.,, especially the D Day part.

 

Well now safely somewhere in Belgium we are resting and having a fairly easy time but no doubt will move very soon but a few days ago I received a most welcome parcel of cigarettes these at the moment are in short supply so you can guess how welcomed they were.

 

But now I find myself in a spot I’ve written a letter but to which address am I to send it no doubt Emily will know and forward it but before I close did you know that my family have been at Bedford since June.

 

For now many thanks and best wishes to you and yours for Xmas 44

 

Yours Sincerely Bill

 

(editing: some names have been omitted in this transcription)

 

 

AFTER D DAY

During the letter the city of Caen was mentioned. One of the objectives was for Caen to have

been captured on D Day instead it took two months, because the German forces used most of

their reserves to hold the city. 156 Canadian prisoners of war were shot by the 12th SS Panzer

division near Caen following D Day. The old city of Caen dating back to the middle ages was mostly destroyed.

The reconstruction of Caen took until 1962 and today little of the old city remains.

 

We know very little of Williams activities after D day but we do know that he was one of the allied soldiers in Brussels when the city was liberated on 3rd Sep. The photograph above was taken whilst Bill was in Brussels.

 

We do know that on 27th Nov 1944, the day after that letter had been written, William passed another Trade Test as Wireless Operator and Line BII and then on 22 December 1944 he embarked North West Europe and Disembarked UK on 23 December to attend a course.

 

MENTIONED IN DISPATCHES

Following this course he embarked UK on 12 Feb 1945 landing somewhere in North West Europe the same day. On 22 March 1945 he was “Mentioned in Dispatches” in the London Gazette. A soldier mentioned in dispatches is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldier's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy. For this William received the decoration of a single bronze oak leaf. We have been trying for many years to find out what William actually did to get this Mention in Dispatches but to date have been unsuccessful. We will continue to try and find the relevant war diaries that will give us this information.

 

WAR ENDS

On 4th July he was appointed Acting Corporal and then on the 12th was posted to 53 Reinforcement Holding Unit. In August he returned to the UK and posted to a holding battalion until 4th December when he was again sent back to North West Europe.

 

He remained in Europe and on 13th April appointed Acting Lance Corporal until 28th May 1946 when he was apppointed Acting Corporal. He returned to the UK on 23rd June and discharged on 17th July. He remained on the Army reserve until 30 June 1959.

 

He received the 1939/45 Star, France & Germany Star & the War Medal 1939/45 & the Bronze Oak Leaf.

 

After leaving the army Bill went back to work for Richie & Co but in 1952 started his owm business called Burlington Engineering & Supply Co with a partner Cyril Dwyer. When Cyril died in the early 1960's Bill bought Cyril's share in the company to make it a family business with 3 members of the family working there. This was followed by two further companies Tool Modifications and Porthampton Engineering.

 

Unfortunately by 1980 he was suffering with heart problems and on 5 Oct 1981 he died of a heart attack.