Name
Henry Charles Drake
3/10/1888
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/10/1917
29
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
59137
Northumberland Fusiliers
24th Bn. (1st Tyneside Irish)
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 19 to 23 and 162.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is Commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memmorial to the missing in Belgium.
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, St Matthew’s Church Memorial, Oxhey, Bushey Baptist Church
Pre War
Henry Charles Drake was the oldest of nine children born to Henry Drake, a Lime Burner and Florence Drake (nee Tibbs).
His parents married 25 December 1887 at St Matthew’s, Oxhey. Henry died 20 September 1925 in Watford aged 58, and was buried in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Florence died 1945 in Watford aged 75, and was buried 10 September, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Henry was born 3 October 1888 in Bushey, Herts, and baptised 18 May 1889 at St Matthew’s, Oxhey.
1891 Census records Henry aged 2, living with his parents, and brother Ernest 1, in London Road, Watford. His Grandmother Elizabeth Drake was also living with the family.
1901 Census records Henry living with his parents and 5 siblings at Lime Kiln Cottages, New Bushey, Watford.
He has not yet been found in the 1911 Census, he is proving elusive.
Henry married Clara Amelia Collar of Oxhey, Herts, on the 15th February 1916, at St Matthew’s Church, Oxhey.
Wartime Service
Henry enlisted in Watford, posted to the Army Service Corps, with the Service No. T/4/107984, later transferred to the Northumberland Fusiliers with the Service No. 59137. His Medal Index Card indicates he landed in France on 26th June 1915.
He was killed in action on 23 October 1917, aged 29. He is remembered with honour at the Tyne Cot Memorial, panel 19 to 23 and 162. Henry is also commemorated at St Matthew’s Church.
He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals.
Additional Information
His wife, Clara Amelia Drake, later lived at 12 Grover Road, Oxhey, she never remarried, and died 1968 in the Watford district aged 73. The value of his effects were £4-11s-4d, Pay Owing and £10-10s-0d, War Gratuity, which went to his widow Clara. Has a entry in the National Roll of the Great War. Unfortunately, Henry’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing. His younger brother Ernest died on 16th January 1915, he is buried at the CWGC Rifle House Cemetery in Belgium.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
