William Lake was born in Warrington, Lancashire, England, in 1860, the son of Philip and Margaret Lake (née Holt) of Powys Street, Warrington. His father was a grocer’s porter and later a provisions dealer. He was one of eleven children in the family.
He was educated at The People’s College, Warrington, under the tutorship of a Mr. Brawmall, and on completing his education, he became a draper and then a commercial traveller.
He married Martha Elizabeth Roberts in Warrington on the 1st November 1882, and the
couple had two sons – Ernest William (born in 1883), and Arthur Holt (born in 1887). Sometime later, he joined the Mercantile Marine as a steward and the family relocated to Liverpool. The family home was at 80, Brookdale Road, Sefton Park, Liverpool, Lancashire. Ernest Lake died on the 25th June 1903, aged 19 years, when he suffered head injuries as a result of falling from his bicycle. It was reported that the wheels of his bicycle skidded on tramway rails.
William Lake engaged as a second cabin bedroom steward in the Stewards' Department on board the Lusitania at Liverpool, on the 12th April 1915 at a monthly rate of pay of £4-5s.-0d. (£4.25p.) and reported for duty on the morning of the 17th April 1915 before the liner slid out of the River Mersey for the last time.
Having completed the liner’s voyage to New York, William Lake was on board on the 1st May 1915 when she began her return leg to her home port. Six days later, the steamer was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-20, within sight of the coast of southern Ireland and about 250 miles from Liverpool. William Lake was not counted amongst the survivors, nor was his body ever recovered and identified afterwards, despite his son travelling to Queenstown in the hope of finding his father - alive or dead. As a result, he is commemorated on the Mercantile Marine Memorial at Tower Hill, London. He was aged 55 years, although when he engaged, he gave his age as 49.
He is also commemorated on the family grave in Warrington Cemetery. Although the grave stones are broken and cracked and the cross, which once stood on the top, has been toppled and now lies broken in three pieces, the original inscription remains on a three tiered base. It states: -
WILLIAM LAKE
WHO WAS LOST ON THE
S.S. LUSITANIA, MAY 7TH 1915
AGED 55 YEARS
Administration of his estate was granted to his widow Martha, on the 15th June 1915 and his effects amounted to £165-16s.-0d. (£165.80p). In August 1915, she was also given the balance of wages owed to him in respect of his service before the vessel sank. This was reckoned from the 17th April until the 8th May 1915, 24 hours after the Lusitania had gone down.
The Liverpool and London War Risks Insurance Association Limited granted Martha Lake an annual pension to compensate her for the loss of her husband. This amounted to £25-11s.-10d. (£25.59p.) which was payable at the rate of £2-2s.-8d. (£2.13½p.) per month.
Martha Lake died, aged 87 years, in October 1946 after 31 years of widowhood, and is also commemorated on the family grave.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, Cheshire Diocese of Chester Parish Marriages 1538 – 1910, 1861 Census of England, 1871 Census of England, 1881 Census of England, 1891 Census of England, 1901 Census of England, 1911 Census of England, Cunard Records, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Probate Records, UniLiv. PR 13/24, PRO BT 100/345, PRO BT 334, PRO BT 351/1/78845, Deaths at Sea 1871 – 1968, Graham Maddocks, David Irving, Robert O'Brien, Stuart Williamson, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.
Revised & Updated – 14th February 2024.