Reginald Lambert Lack was born in Streatham Hill in 1891. He was the youngest son of John Lack and was 25 when he died. In November 1914, he married Elsie Radcliffe their married home was at Myrtle Cottage, Thames Ditton. She died in the 1970s and never remarried. Lack was educated at the Grammar School, Hingham, Norfolk and privately at Trafalgar House, Winchester by the Revd. Walter Naish. I am the proud owner of his portrait which was painted posthumously by William Carter RA brother of Sir Howard Carter who found Tutankamen’s tomb. The portrait painted in 1917 was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1918 and a plaque was affixed to the frame with the following words: “2nd Lieut Reginald Lambert Lack, who was mortally wounded at the Battle of the Somme 2nd July 1916 whilst gallantly rescuing a wounded comrade”. When war broke out in 1914, he was working in the United States and showed great promise as a business man. The moment War was declared, he made plans to return home. At the time, he wrote to his parents:"there will be no place for me in England after the War unless I come back and do my bit.” Reginald Lack was one of many who made 1st July 1916 famous for he went through the great charge with absolute fearlessness and contempt of death. The 14th Royal Irish Rifles penetrated to the fifth line of the German trenches, although only a very few escaped death or injury. He had according to witnesses, a charmed life on that day and whilst he was under heavy fire he rescued Lance Corporal C.B. McComb from his own Battalion who had been shot through the neck, and who was lying out between the lines. Writing to Lack's parents, Lance Corporal McComb described what happened: “.......On the first day of July at 7am, the Big Push began, and where we were we were getting on fine, having at 11am taken three of four lines of trenches which was our object. I was hit when just at the enemy's third line by a bullet, which went right through my neck, and I became unconscious for some time, but when I came to again my object was to get my wound stopped bleeding, so I started in a half-stupid way for our own lines. I got almost to our own lines when I met Mr. Lack, and when he saw my condition he helped me into our own trenches, got me some water, and took me a long distance down the trench, where he handed me over to a sergeant major, telling him to see that I was dressed at once, as I was suffering from haemorrhage from the wound. He had established a reputation for courage even before we left for the front. Sergeant Major Carson, of the Y.C.V. (later Lieutenant Carson), told Mr. McFadzean, whose son was awarded the Victoria Cross, that Mr. Lack would either win the Victoria Cross or be killed in the attempt.” Signed: Lance Corporal Chas. B. McComb, 14th Bn Royal Irish Rifles. B.E.F. (letter undated) The second day of the battle, 2nd Lieut Lack was bringing in a batch of German prisoners under heavy fire. He saw a brother officer, 2nd Lieut George Radcliffe, who was incidentally his brother-in-law, lying badly wounded and exposed to machine gun fire from the German trenches. He halted the prisoners, built up some earth round the wounded man for protection until he had taken the prisoners in, and then under tremendous fire went over the top into "No Man's Land" with Lieutenant Matthew John Wright to try and rescue Radcliffe. Whilst attempting to do this, Lieutenant Wright was killed by a trench mortar, and 2nd Lieut. Lack fell mortally wounded. He was seen to fall by some of his beloved Scouts, two of whom. Corporal Boyd and Sergeant Armstrong rushed out and carried him in still alive but severely wounded. For this act they were recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal and Reginald Lack was recommended for the Military Cross and mentioned in despatches. The MC was never awarded and I have no idea if the two Scouts received their awards. (Lt Wright was the son of the Presbyterian Minister of Newtonards. A memorial to him was placed in Newtonards Church after the war. A memorial stone to him was placed in Thiepval Wood in the 1920s but unfortunately vandals attempted to steal it and it was been in the safe custody of the Ulster Tower since the mid 1980s. Lack died as he was taken off the hospital ship in Dover and is buried in St. Nicholas Churchyard Thames Ditton. He has a non CWGC headstone.

Nicholas Pnematicatos