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The third brother, Joe Peake, although under age, joined the Royal Engineers, fully stretching his joinery skills in the construction of all the things needed to service the war. Joe's love of horses was another asset in the First World War, as he helped to look after and prepare horses before they were shipped to Cherbourg, France. A photograph of Joe in uniform (right) survives in our family archive. After Jack and Reuben had been killed, Lord Dunleath made a special request that Joe was not sent to France. As a result, he survived the war, and followed in his father's footsteps to become an accomplished carpenter. His skill with wood can be seen in his restoration work in Balligan Church, where the pews, panelling and pulpit were all his work. Joe continued to work on the Dunleath estate until his retirement, and lived to the grand old age of 91. The Peake family was related by marriage to William Gregory (known as Willie), who married Sarah, sister of Elizabeth Peake, on 17 December 1902.

Joe Peake in the uniform of the Royal Engineers (Courtesy of Harold Gordon)

William and Sarah lived with John Peake's unmarried brother, William Peake, at 38 Church Street, Downpatrick, where the latter ran a grocery and confectionery shop. William Gregory was a schoolteacher by profession, and a keen cricketer. Willie joined the army long before the First World War, and served in the Royal Artillery.

Postcard from William Gregory to his wife, showing his regiment training on Salisbury Plain, September 1904 (Courtesy of Nina Gregory)

A postcard sent to his wife at 38 Church Street on 30 September 1904, shows his regiment training in southern England, with a mark made above Willie's head in the ranks. A surviving photograph shows that he played in a regimental cricket team while away in the army.

At the outbreak of the First World War, Willie was transferred to France to man the heavy Howitzer guns, which were used to bombard the enemy. Despite suffering from shell shock, Willie survived the war and returned home to Downpatrick, where he got a job in the Motor Taxation Office. He became a well-known figure in Downpatrick, especially on the cricket field, where he played and later umpired with distinction.

William Gregory in a regimental cricket team, middle row, second from left (Courtesy of Nina Gregory)

William Gregory pictured with Downpatrick Cricket Team, c 1930, front row, 4th from left - (Courtesy of Nina Gregory)

The family's military service continued in the Second World War, when William and Sarah's son, Ted, joined the army.2 Ted's wife, Florence (known as Florie) joined the ATS and worked for most of the War in Ballykinlar Camp. My brother, Reuben, joined the Home Guard in 1940, at times manning an anti-aircraft gun stationed where the Parish Church of St Ignatius stands today at Carryduff, on the Comber Road. This was one of the few guns which protected Belfast against air raids during 1941-2.

When I remember the ultimate sacrifice made by my uncles, Jack and Reuben, in the First World War, I recall how in his later years my uncle Joe often recalled his brothers and those legions of friends gone before. The familiar words said in tribute at Joe's funeral were particularly poignant:

1. My mother, Mabel, worked for Lord Dunleath as an assistant cook in her early teens, and during the First World War she volunteered as an auxiliary nurse, looking after injured Belgian soldiers on Lord Dunleath's estate at Ballywalter.
2. Ted's sister, Lorna, will be remembered as the deputy organist at Down Cathedral, and a dedicated piano teacher in Downpatrick.

This article appears by kind courtesy of the Down County Museum.

It is also featured in its 2005 year book.

See also:

Somme hero: Robert Quigg VC 1885 - 1955

Battle of the Somme

Battle of the Somme - Memorabilia

The Larne Fallen

An Enniskillen VC

Lurgan Men in the Great War

World War I: Soldiers of Down

The Peake Brothers at War 1914-18

YOUR RESPONSES

Victor Blain - Feb '07
So much given by so many for the lifes we live today, fallen heros of battles be forever young, poppy laden fields of bloodred flowers, these where the men of the hour, not that we will remember them but that we must.
in the name of love and peace THANK YOU.....

Roy T Hughes - Feb '07
How can we ever forget the sacrifices made by the Peake family and thousands of thousands of other families during the the Graet War to end all wars.
They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old,age shall not weary them or the years condemm,at the going down of the sun we will remember them

David Smith-Wallace - Nov '06
Thank's what a great web site my great great great great grandfather was in the same regiment 13th royal irishrifles, his name is William Teggarty. Just looking for info if you now anything about him, can you let me know please.

C Jones - Aug '06
I read this article with interest. My grandmother's brothers and father were in the Royal Irish Rifles in WW1. I too have cards and letters from the front. They are heartbreaking to read.

John McDonald - July '06
They were a generation of young men who without equivocation gave their all. They lived in conditions where man is not supposed to exist except in death. They not only saw hell they walked into it. When the war ended many refused to talk about it lest they be thought to be liers. This world will probably not see their like again yet their courage and devotion is sorely missed.

Clive Palmer - March '06
To Sylvia,
You may be interested to know that my first child was named after your father. He is Luke Reuben Palmer. I am Joe's grandson Clive. As a child he would tell me often of his two brothers who died in the war. On every occasion it brought tears to his eyes when he thought of them. Right up to his death on March 4th 1990 he grieved for them, they were never forgotten. I promised him that if I ever had a son he would be named after one of his beloved brothers, it's just a shame he never lived to see him.

Sylvia Matthew - Mar 2006
My Grandmother was Mabel Peake making the Peake brothers my Great-Uncles. It was very interesting to read this article, especially as I remember as a child, visiting Joe Peake many times at Ballywalter. My father Reuben (Gordon) is mentioned as being a member of the Home Guard but I never knew he was named after my Grandmother's brother. I am delighted at being able to pass this information on to my own two children. Thank-you.

Karen Duncan Smith - Feb '06
The Peake brothers are my great uncles. My grandmother was Dora Peake. It was wonderful to read this article and share it with the rest of our family.

Thank you,
Karen Duncan Smith
Louisville, Kentucky
USA.

Gerard Peake - July '05
Hi my name is Gerard Peake and i was very interseted in this web page as it gave a great insight to my family history.

Clive Palmer - July '05
Dear Harold,
I stumbled upon this site by accident and found it very informative. I am Joe Peake's grandson and know little of the family history. Like Willie I am also ex-Royal Artillery and possible trained in the same camps as he did so long ago. Many Thanks, Clive.

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