Current Information:

Age-17

36, Chester Road, Wanstead

After the Battle of Loos in September and October, 1915, 47^th Division, including 18th London (London Irish) of 141 Brigade remained in that area of the front for the rest of the year. On 23rd December, 1915, 18th London 18th London took over the front line trenches in the Hohenzollern sector.  At 7am the next morning, Christmas Eve, a mine was blown which in turn caused a German mine to be blown and the crater that this formed was occupied by men from 18th London. The response from the enemy was a period of heavy, concentrated shelling that resulted in nearly 30 casualties. 16 of these were killed including Rifleman Lakeman.