No.8352, Private, Bernard Charles DRAKE
Aged 22
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Bernard Charles DRAKE was born Plumstead, Kent (2nd qtr 1892 Woolwich 1d:1242) son of Elias and Ann DRAKE (née ORBELL)
1901 census...Aged 9, he was at Barrow Street with his father Elias DRAKE [34] farm labourer, born Barrow; his mother Ann [32] born Barrow; brother Orbell William [7] and sister Ethel W [4] both born Plumstead. 1911 census...Aged 19, he was in the Norfolk Regiment at Malplaquet Barracks, Marlborough Lines, Aldershot. His parents and sister Ethel were still in Barrow. Brother Orbell (William) was in the Northamptonshire Regiment. In 1919 his parents and sister Ethel were still at Barrow Street. His brother Orbell William, with the Northamptonshire Regiment, died of his wounds in France in 1915 see here |
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He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds on 5th November 1910, givng his age as 18 years 7 months, a labourer, single, born in Barrow. He was 5 feet 10 inches tall,
weighed 126 lbs, chest 32.5 to 35 inches, Church of England, grey eyes, brown hair. Placed in Special Reserves, 3rd T Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment,
after 93 days (February 7th 1911) he was transferred while in Northampton to the regular Army, Norfolk Regiment No.8352. October 1914 he was in Belgaum,
India and posted with the Indian
Expeditionary Force to Mesopotamia on 16th December 1914. He was a trained telegraphist He was killed in fighting at Shaiba, Persian Gulf and buried in grave 39 in the cemetery there, but was moved after the war, with the rest of the graves there, to Basra. CWGC records 25 of the 2nd Norfolks killed on 14 April 1915, now all re-interred in Basra .
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
