Lake, John William

Date of birth:: February 23rd, 1920 (Winnipeg/Manitoba, Canada)
Date of death:: June 12th, 1943 (Teuge/Gelderland, The Netherlands)
Buried on:: Commonwealth War Graves General Cemetery Terwolde
Plot: 8A. Row: 1. Grave: 1.
Service number:: R/134599
Nationality:: Canadian (1931-present, Constitutional Monarchy)

Biography

John was born on February 23 1920 in Winnipeg, the son of Harry Lake and Lily A. Lake nee Sanford (both British) of Fort Rouge, Manitoba. They were married on October 28 1911 in Winnipeg.

His brothers were James Henry and Fredrick Lake.

He was a watchman CNR and member of the Anglican Church. His sports were roller and ice skating and horse back riding.

He enlisted on October 22 1941 in Winnipeg and he went thereafter on November 5 1942 overseas to the UK.

John was killed in action on Saturday June 12 1943 age 23 due to a crash before or after an attack on Düsseldorf Germany near the Kadijk of the village of Teuge, municipality Voorst.

The other fallen RAF Volunteer Reserve crew members were Sgt Alfred B. Magill age 22 in grave 8A-1-6, Sgt Edward N. Cummings age 22 in grave 8A-1-5, Sgt Gordon Glover in grave 8A-1-3 and F/O Charles B. Fleming age 28 in grave 8A-1-2
The other fallen RAF crew member was Sgt William F. Bradley age 25 in grave 8A-1-4.

On his headstone: HE IS NOT DEAD BUT SLEEPETH

Sgt Lipton Stephenson was the only RCAF crew member who survived the crash and he became then a prisoner of war and he was sent then to different prisoner of war camps and he survived the war. He was deceased in 2015 age 94 and his urn was buried on September 2, 2015 then at his request in presence of his Canadian family and other interested people next to his fallen comrades at the cemetery in Terwolde. He also has therefore an own headstone.

He served with the 100 (R.A.F.) Sqdn Royal Canadian Air Force.