Name
James Herbert Draper
Abt. 1877
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
04/05/1915
37
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Sergeant
CH/9972
Royal Marine Light Infantry
Chatham Bn. Royal Naval Division
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HELLES MEMORIAL
Panel 2 to 7
Turkey (including Gallipoli)
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Helles Memorial to the missing in Turkey and Gallipoli.
UK & Other Memorials
South Mimms Village Memorial
Pre War
James Herbert DRAPER was born in Bracebridge, Lincolnshire, his birth was registered in Lincoln in January 1877, son of James Kew Draper a Blacksmith and Maria Frances Draper (nee Rasen). One of five children although one died in infancy.
1881 Census records James Jr. aged 4, living with his parents, and brother Charles (1), at School House, Bracebridge, Lincs.
1891 Census, James Jr. (14) has left school and recorded as an Errand Boy, living with his parents, brother Charles (11), sisters Louisa (9) and Fanny (7), at 4 Beaufort Road, Tottenham, Middlesex. His father is still employed as a Blacksmith.
James Jr. enlisted at London on 22nd November 1892, into The Royal Marines for 12 years, giving his date of birth as 22nd October 1875, (we believe he was born in October 1876) and issued with the service number CH/9972. He re-enlisted on 29th July 1905.
He was promoted Corporal on 1st April 1901, Sergeant on 13th October 1906, Awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct medal on 26th January 1913
He served with them for a total of 22 years, 17 of these at sea, reaching the rank of Sergeant.
1901 Census, James Jr. aged 25, was single and a Private in the Royal Marine Light Infantry serving aboard H.M.S. Ophir, at that time the Royal Yacht, when the future King George V and Queen Mary undertook a voyage around The British Empire. (The Census gives the position of the ship at midnight on 31st March 1901, The Great Bitter Lake, Suez Canal, Egypt).
1911 Census records James Jr. aged 35, single and a Sergeant in the Royal Marines stationed at the Royal Marine Depot, Walmer, Deal, Kent. His parents had moved to South Mimms, where his father was now Head Porter at Clare Hall Hospital. They lived at The Lodge, Clare Hall Hospital, South Mimms, Herts.
James Jr. married Priscilla Paulson the daughter of Henry and Priscilla Paulson, on 30th September 1911, at Saint Giles Church, South Mimms, Herts. They went on to have one daughter Dorothy F Draper, born on 5th November 1912, in Eastry, Kent.
Wartime Service
At the outbreak of war James Jr. was a Sergeant serving with the Royal Marines, he was at Dunkirk, France, from 20th September to 2nd October 1914, then the defence of Antwerp, from 3rd October to 9th October 1914, then returned to England. While at Antwerp James Jr. Received a graze to the head when a bullet passed through his cap, and a bullet wound to his neck which nearly cost him his life.
James Jr. and the Chatham Battalion, Royal Marines sailed on the 6th February 1915, for Gallipoli via Malta, aboard HMTS “Cawdor Castle”, they arrived in Malta on 14th February 1915, sailing on 19th February 1915, for Lemnos arriving on 24th February 1915, due to weather conditions, it was not until mid March when they finally arrived on Gallipoli.
James Jr. was Killed in Action on 4th May 1915, aged 37, he has no known grave, he is commemorated on the Helles Memorial to the missing. Panel 2 to 7.
Additional Information
His service record is available on-line at Find My Past UK www.findmypast.co.uk
His wife Priscilla Draper was living at 21 Landseer Buildings, Millbank, Westminster, London, at the time of his death.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Brian Lodge
