Edward James Rake : From a Lonely Soldier to a Life in Australia

Family history often turns up unexpected stories—but every now and then, one feels especially personal. Edward Rake’s story is one of those: a life shaped by war, resilience, and a chance connection that changed everything. 

I had a wedding photo in my collection of my great-grand-uncle Edward and his wife, Maggie. I had no idea what I would discover about him, his life, and the background of their story.

Edward James Rake and his bride, Margaret Helen Munro Campbell on their wedding day in 1921 

Edward was born in Bermondsey, London, the seventh child of Richard Thomas Rake and Sarah Ann Cooper. He had two younger siblings including my great grandfather, Arthur Samuel Rake. 

His father died unexpectedly, when Edward was just 9 years old of Lobar Pneumonia Asphyxia, a severe bacterial lung infection.

As a young man, Edward joined the Royal Navy, serving as a stoker from 1900 to 1905. A role that would have exposed him to the harsh realities of life at sea.  

Edward James Rake - Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services

At the time of the 1901 census he was recorded as a patient at the Royal Navy Hospital in Alverstoke. 

1901 England Census - Royal Naval Hospital, Alverstoke, Hampshire.

At some point, Edward made his way to Australia. There’s no formal record of his actual arrival, but it seems likely he worked his passage as a ship’s cook—as he appears on an Inward Passenger List arriving in Sydney from Brisbane on 31 October 1914. 

Inward Crew and Passenger List - Anjana - Brisbane to Sydney - 31 Oct 1914

With the outbreak of the First World War, Edward enlisted as a Private in the Australian Imperial Force in November 1914 at Lismore, joining the 5th Light Horse Regiment. His service there was brief—he was discharged just over a month later as “no longer required.” Undeterred, he re-enlisted only eight days later in Brisbane, this time under the surname Reid, and joined the 9th Battalion.

AIF Record - Edward James Rake alias Reid

Edward served at Gallipoli, where, like so many others, he faced not only the dangers of combat but also serious illness. He suffered repeated bouts of enteritis and was sent back to Australia for several months to recover. Once well enough, he returned to his battalion—this time on the Western Front in France.

His service there was marked by more hardship. In March 1918, he was gassed and admitted to Tankerton Hospital in Whitstable, Kent, England. After recovering, he returned to France, only to be badly wounded later that year, suffering a gunshot wound to his left knee that resulted in a compound fracture. It effectively ended his time on active service.

He returned to Australia in May 1919 aboard the Wandilla, and spent time recuperating at Rosemount Military Hospital in Brisbane. He was formally discharged in March 1921, having earned the 1914–15 Star, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal.  Given he had no children, I wonder, what happened to his medals? 

World War One Medals - 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and Victory Medal

But among all the records and dates, one small detail stands out as something truly special.

Amid the hardship of war came an unexpected connection. In 1917, while sheltering in a dugout near Bapaume in northern France, Edward received a letter addressed only to “A Lonely Soldier.” Somehow, it found its way to him. The sender was Margaret Helen Munro Campbell. That chance correspondence grew into a relationship, and the two married on 23 February 1921 at Codrington near Lismore.

Lonely Soldier Romance
[The Richmond River Express and Casino Kyogle Advertiser Fri 4 Mar 1921]

During World War One up to 12 million letters a week were delivered to soldiers, many on the front line. The Royal Engineers (Postal Section) or REPS as it was universally known, was a part-time reserve unit in peacetime made up of GPO men who'd had a smattering of military training. This unit of postal workers was immediately subsumed into the Army when war broke out, but the Army was only in nominal command. This operation was controlled by the GPO. You can read more about this remarkable operation in this article World War One: How did 12 million letters a week reach soldiers?

Edward and Margaret settled in what is now Beverly Hills in Sydney—then known as Dumbleton—where Edward worked as a postmaster and Margaret as a grocer. They had no children, but built a quiet life together after the turbulence of war.

1928 Sands Directory

Edward passed away on 10 July 1950 in Greenacre (then East Bankstown), and was laid to rest at Rookwood General Cemetery.

Edward James Rake - Decased Estate Files and Funeral Notice

Like many family stories, Edward’s life is told through a mix of records, gaps, and small moments that carry great meaning. From a young sailor in London to a soldier on the other side of the world—and finally to a quiet life in suburban Sydney—his journey is a powerful reminder of the paths our ancestors took, and the unexpected turns that shaped their lives.

John Reeks - Ordinary Seaman, Royal Navy

The Brief Life of Ordinary Seaman John Reeks

John Reeks was born on 31 October, 1891, in Woonona, New South Wales, Australia to George Reeks and Maria Salisbury.  John was the younger brother of my great grandmother, Emma Sarah Reeks.

At just 16 years old, John enlisted in the Royal Navy on 24 September, 1908. He joined as an Ordinary Seaman aboard HMS Pyramus, registering under the service number 1089 for a period of 5 years. Interestingly, he listed his birth date as 21 October, 1889—making himself appear two years older than he actually was. 

At the time of enlistment, John was described as standing 5 feet 9 inches tall, with brown hair, grey eyes, and a dark complexion. He had no noted wounds or scars, and his civilian occupation was recorded as a bricklayer. John's parents, George and Maria Reeks, gave their consent for his enlistment.

Form of Engagement in the Royal Navy for John Reeks pages 1 and 4

John also declared that he had served with the St George English Rifle Regiment. John Cash Neild, the Member for Paddington in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, raised the St George’s Rifles in 1896. This was the nucleus of what became, in 1897, the 7th Volunteer Infantry Regiment (St. George’s Rifles), and in 1903, the 7th New South Wales Infantry Regiment (St. George's Rifles), and later that year the St George’s English Rifles Regiment.

It is likely that John would have served with the Bulli Company.  

St George English Rifle Regiment, Bulli Company c1910 [Wollongong City Libraries]

Tragically, John's naval career and young life were cut short. He passed away in Sydney on 22 May, 1909, just eight months after enlisting. He was laid to rest at Rookwood Necropolis in the Old Church of England section (Section 4, Row 1). His headstone reads: 

John Reeks

Ordinary Seaman. H.M.S. "Pyramus" 

Died 22nd May 1909

Aged 19 years

Peace Perfect Peace

Erected by the Ship's Company as a token of their esteem.

John Reeks Headstone - Rookwood Cemetery [Chris Pigott - FindaGrave]

John Murray McDougall

Able Seaman

The Collingwood Battalion

Royal Naval Division

John Murray McDougall was born 2 Apr 1894 in Glasgow, the son of George Graeme McDougall and Martha Orr Campbell Murray, my 2 x great grandparents, who were married 24 Nov 1882 in Dalrymple, Ayrshire. The family moved to Glasgow shortly after their marriage. John was the second youngest of five children, he was just 2 years old when his mother, Martha died shortly after the birth of his younger brother in 1896.

Collingwood Battalion on Parade  Gallipolli

John joined the Collingwood Battalion of the Royal Naval Division as an Able Seaman.

The Royal Naval Division landed at Cape Helles at the end of May 1915 and prepared for what is now known as the Third Battle of Krithia. Amongst their ranks were the sailors of the Collingwood Battalion.

On 4 June, the seven hundred strong Collingwood Battalion took part in the second phase of the attack. The Royal Naval Division advanced and captured the enemy front line but suffered heavy casualties. The Collingwood Battalion took over and seized the Turkish second lines four hundred yards further on. However, the neighbouring French troops were driven back by a counter-attack, leaving the Battalion's right flank exposed. Flanking fire caused devastating casualties amongst the Collingwoods, with over five hundred men killed or wounded, including 21 year old, John Murray McDougall.

ADM 242: Naval Casualties, Indexes, War Grave Rolls and Statistics Book, First World War

 The Battalion withdrew but their casualties were so heavy that the Battalion disbanded with the survivors being attached to other Battalions as reinforcements.

Helles Memorial, Gallipoli

John is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, a Commonwealth War Graves Commission war memorial on the Gallipoli peninsula overlooking the Dardanelles.

This is a battle memorial for the whole Gallipoli campaign and a place of commemoration for Commonwealth servicemen who died there and have no known grave.

The memorial bears more than 21,000 names.