Peterborough & The Great War

Biography

Christopher George Lane was born in Cleeve, Worcestershire in 1897.  His father Herbert was a colliery labourer and his mother Eliza came from Ruspidge in the Forest of Dean, they had eight children.  At the age of 14, Christopher was recorded in the 1911 Census as a crown woodman with the family living in Ruspidge.

Christopher enlisted a month before the war started, on 3 July 1914 in to the 1/1 Herefordshire Regiment and was posted to Rushden, Northamptonshire.  The Battalion later moved to Bury St Edmunds, North Wales and Bedford before they embarked on SS Euripedes at Devonport on 15 July 1915, sailing to Gallipoli via Egypt.  The Herefords landed at ‘C’ beach at Suvla Bay on Gallipoli at 7.20am on 9 August 1915.

After Gallipoli, Private Lane was discharged on 17 September 1916, as a result of his wounds, (details unknown) 12 days after signing the visitors’ book in Peterborough on 5 September 1916, where he wrote “Discharged from Army as result of wounds received at Suvla Bay. Wishes to thank the Ladies at the Soldiers Rest for their kindness to H M Forces”.  He lived in Rushden so he might have been on his way home ahead of his demobilization.  Christopher was awarded the 15 Star, British War and Allied Victory medals and the Silver War Badge.

Christopher married Amy Wood in 1922 at Wellingborough, Northants and they had two daughters: Madge (1923) and Kathleen (1927).  In 1939 the family were living at ‘Ruspidge’, Bedford Road, Rushden and Christopher was listed as an omnibus driver.

The Evening Telegraph, 10 May 1935, reports a minor accident at Rushden Bus Depot involving a reversing bus driven by Christopher George Lane, of 7 Wood-street, Higham Ferrers. http://bit.ly/2rqBTRS

Christopher George Lane died in October 1953 at the age of 56, whilst living at Ruspidge, 131 Bedford Road, Rushden. It appears that he named his house after the village where he was raised.

Please get in touch if you can tell us more about Christopher and his family.