Name
George Drage
21/06/1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/04/1917
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
23044
Bedfordshire Regiment
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 5
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Arras memorial to the missing.
UK & Other Memorials
Royston Town War Memorial, Not on the Cheshunt memorials
Pre War
George Drage was born in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, on 21st June 1891, son of Arthur Drage a, Police Constable and Mary Ann Drage (nee Brazier). One of eight children although one died in infancy.
He was Baptised on 5th November 1899, in Cheshunt, Herts, with his sister Edith and brother Joseph.
1901 Census records George aged 9, living with his parents and three brothers William (17), Joseph (8) and Thomas (5) at, 53 Albury Grove Road, Cheshunt, Herts.
1911 Census records George aged 19, a Stonemason’s Apprentice, living with his parents, brother’s Joseph (18) and Thomas (15) in Queen’s Road, Royston, Herts. His father is recorded as a Police Pensioner and the Heath Bailiff.
George married Louisa Maud Chapman, in July 1911, in Royston, Herts. They went on to have three children George William Arthur Drage, Leslie Robert Drage and Frances Drage.
Wartime Service
George enlisted at Bedford, posted to the 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment with the service number 23044. In July 1916 the 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment was stationed at Landguard, Felixstowe, Suffolk, when they were mobilized for war, they left Felixstowe on 24th July, by train for Southampton, leaving the same day aboard the SS “Inventor” arriving at Le Havre, France, the following day the 25th, for service on the Western Front.
George was killed in Action on 23rd April 1917, during the Second Battle of the Scarpe (23rd – 24th April 1917), (Part of the Battle of Arras 9th April – 16th June 1917).
He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial to the missing.
Additional Information
Louisa received a widow’s pension of 26/3 a week from 14th January 1918, for herself and the three children, and his effects of £5-7s-10d, Pay Owing and his War Gratuity of £6. Louisa remarried in 1920 to Herbert J Martin. His younger brother Private 15627 Thomas Drage, of the 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, died on 10th January 1916, aged 20, of wounds he received in action.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Paul Johnson
