Name
(William) Cecil Draper
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/05/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
33168
Leicestershire Regiment
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 5
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Markyate Village Memorial, St John the Baptist Church Memorial, Markyate
Pre War
William Cecil was born in 1897 in Markyate to William Draper, and Thirza (nee East).
On the 1901 Census the Family of William, Thirza (a straw hat sewer) and Cecil were living at New Town, Markyate,
On the 1911 Census the family of parents, Cecil (an errand boy), Eliza (born 1902), Ronald (born 1907), were living at High Street Markyate. Also recorded was Thomas East (Thirza’s father) and his daughter Ada.
Wartime Service
William attested on 4 Apr 1916 in the Essex Regiment as Private 6344. His Service Record, although found, is sparse of information with no detail of his movements.
At some time he was transferred to the Leicestershire Regiment as Private 33168. He went to France on 3 Nov 1916 to join 8th (Service) Battalion Leicestershire Regiment in the field. The 8th Battalion were part of 110 (Leicester Tigers – 6th , 7th, 8th and 9th Battalions) Brigade 21 Division and in 1917 were in the Arras Sector to take part in the Arras Offensive at the 1st Battle of the Scarpe ( 9- 14 Apr) and 3rd Scarpe (3- 4 May). It was in this last action on 3 May 1917 that William was reported Missing killed in action. His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Arras Memorial.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Anne & Gordon Mead
