James Arthur Lake (1878–1928)
This article was published:
- in the Biographical Register of the Australian Labour Movement, 1788-1975
- online in 2024
James Arthur Lake (1878-1928) boot clicker and trade union official
Birth: 1878 at Leeds, Yorkshire, England, son of John Lake (1839-c.1905), general dealer in cloth, and Fanny, née Taylor (b.1849). Unmarried. Death: 7 December 1928 in hospital at Perth. Religion: Anglican.
- Had arrived in Western Australia by 1910 when he is described as a farmer at Beadlucking, East Brookton, and his brother Samuel (1880-1952), a labourer, at Brookton. In 1917 electoral roll James is a boot clicker, living at Hay Street, Perth.
- His brother Sam enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 21 October 1914 and served with the 11th Battalion at Gallipoli and the 51st Battalion in France. He was invalided to Australia and discharged, suffering from war-related debility, on 5 August 1918.
- James was president (1914-1915) and secretary (1916-1927) of the Boot Operatives Employees’ Union. Helped to found the Workers’ Educational Union.
- Co-author with George Warner Whitbread of ‘Labor Vigilance’, an anti-ALP and probably Communist-inspired paper published 1927-28.
- Regular delegate at Labor conferences and was a member of District Council for some years.
- Member of the Royal Antedeluvian Order of Buffaloes Lodge No. 44 and the Buffalo Club, Perth.
- Cause of death: pernicious anaemia and cardiac failure.
Sources
Westralian Worker (Perth), 14 December 1928 p 3.
Additional Resources and Scholarship
- a new election may have to be held for secretary of boot employees union following Lake's death, Daily News (Perth), 10 December 1928, p 6
Related Entries in NCB Sites
- Lake, James Arthur
- Whitbread, George Warner (colleague)
Citation details
'Lake, James Arthur (1878–1928)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/lake-james-arthur-34300/text43033, accessed 10 May 2025.
Life Summary [details]
Birth
1878
Leeds,
West Yorkshire,
England
Death
7 December,
1928
(aged ~ 50)
Perth,
Western Australia,
Australia
Cause of Death
Cultural Heritage
Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.
Religious Influence
Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.