Name
Arthur Drake
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/04/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
10603
Bedfordshire Regiment
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 5
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Rickmansworth memorials, Not on the Watford memorials
Pre War
Son of Elijah DRAKE of Watford. As no marriage has yet been found for Elijah, William’s mother is unknown. Elijah died 1937 in Watford aged 81, and was buried 6 November in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford.
Census evidence suggests that Elijah was also known as William Walker and Elijah Walker. The reason for this is not known. He appears to have had eight children, six of which, including Arthur, were registered with the surname Drake, mother’s surname Roberts. The other two have not been traced. One of the six, Eli, was born in Rickmansworth on the 7th of May 1887 and baptised there on the 12th of June parents Elijah and Elizabeth Drake. Yet on the 1891 census the parents are Elijah and Elizabeth Walker and the children all have that surname. They were living Scots Hill, Rickmansworth. In 1901 the head of the family is William Walker, now a widower, and eight children, including Arthur age 4, have that surname. Arthur, and three of his siblings, were born in Croxley Green. They were living Cottages Eastbury, Watford. In 1911 the family is still called Walker but are at 58 Balmoral Road. Arthur age 14 is a Wood Chopper, while his father is living apart from his wife. (in 1901 he was a widower).
It may be that Elijah/William and Elizabeth were not married. No likely marriage has been found nor a death of Elizabeth. There is a note in one of his army records that his mother was Elizabeth Roberts, unmarried. Electoral Rolls show that Elijah Drake continued to live at 58 Balmoral Road but accompanied by William Darvill and his wife Nellie, Elijah’s daughter. He died in Watford in 1937 age 81. Arthur’s brother, private Eli George Walker, was killed 25th of September 1915.
Officially recorded as born in Rickmansworth and was living in Watford when he enlisted there.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Watford, was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 30 July 1915.
On the day Arthur died the Battalion was in training, and had been for some days, with no casualties reported, however he is reported as Killed in action, hopefully more information will be found to explain this. Perhaps, he actually died of wounds probably received them in the first half of April during the Battle of Arras as his Battalion was then in continuous action with many casualties.
Additional Information
After his death, monies due to Arthur, and later his War Gratuity, were paid to his father, Elijah Drake of 58 Balmoral Road, Watford.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Mike Collins, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH online via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
