Captain, Robert Edward DRAKE
Aged 36
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Robert Edward Drake was born in Great Wratting (Risbridge Q1-1878 4A:483), baptised in St Mary's, Great Wratting on 24th February 1878, 6th son of Rev. John and Ellen Louisa
DRAKE (née TODD).
1881 census...Aged 3, he was at The Rectory, Great Wratting with his father John DRAKE [44] rector of Little and Great Wratting, born London; is mother Ellen L [40] born Kensington; brothers William [9] Charles ]7] and Hugh [1]; sister Margaret [5]. All the children were born in Great Wratting. 1891 census...Aged 13, he was at Preparatory School, 4 Belvedere Belmont, Hove. His parents were still at The Rectory, Great Wratting with his brother William and sister Margaret. He was at Lancing College from 1891 to 1897 where it is recorded that he was remembered as a "rather small round boy, with short light hair, very wide set blue eyes and a most friendly countenance." He was a member of the Football XI from 1895 to 1897 and of the Cricket XI in 1896 and 1897. In 1897 the Lancing College Magazine wrote the following on his 1897 cricket season: "Has batted well and consistently throughout the season. His slow left hand bowling, with peculiar run and action, has been useful on several occasions. The best outfield in the XI." He was appointed as a Prefect in 1896 and played cricket for the OLs after he left the school. 1901 census...Not found in this census, but likely to be in South Africa. His parents were now at Hartsfield, Purley with his brothers Charles (solicitor) and Hugh (medical student) and sister Margaret. 1911 census...Aged 33, he was Lieutenant in 1st Lincolns in Aden. His widower father was at "The Chestnuts", Hall Street, Long Melford in Suffolk, with brother Arthur Wogan (solicitor) and sister Margaret. His mother died in Purley in 1908.
photo courtesy M.H.Barksdale |
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He joined the Militia and was commissioned 2nd Lieut. in the 3rd (Militia) Battalion Suffolk Regiment on the 3rd of September 1898, having passed 2nd in the examination for the Militia. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 29th of November 1899 and served with the Militia until he received a regular commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Lincolnshire Regiment on the 18th of April 1900. promoted to Lieutenant on the 1st of May 1902 while serving at Boer Camp, Trichinopoly in South Africa. He was promoted to Captain on the 3rd of August 1912 and appointed as Adjutant to his battalion on the 4th of November 1913, based at Victoria Barracks at Portsmouth. His Du Ruigny's Roll of Honour entry reads:- DRAKE, ROBERT EDWARD, Capt. and Adjutant, 1st Battn (10th Foot), the Lincolnshire Regiment.,s. of the Rev. John Drake; b. Great Wratting, co.Suffolk, 4 Jan.1878; educ. Lancing College; gazetted 2nd Lieut.Linconshire Regt., from the Militia,18 April 1900; promoted Lieut.1 May 1901, and Capt. 3 Aug 1912; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders, and died 8 Sept.1914 from wounds received in action at the Battle of the Marne the same day. On the 13th August 1914 the 1st Battalion Lincolnshire Regt entrained at Portsmouth for Southampton and went via SS "Norman" to France. They disembarked the following morning at Le Havre and entrained, reaching Landrecies on the 16th. They then marched to Mons where they fought their first action on the 23rd but had to join what was a general retreat from Mons where they were rearguard covering the withdrawal of 9th Brigade. They fought in Smith-Dorrien's delaying action at Le Cateau and then fell back to the Marne Valley. On the night of the 7th September, 1914 the 1st Lincolns were in billets at the village of La Bretonniere,leaving at 6am the following morning. At about 10.30am they had stopped to rest in a field near Bezu when their Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Smith, received a message from Brigade informing him that " a German battery was doing serious damage by shelling our column approaching the Marne." Robert Drake and C and D Companies, worked their way through the woods to the west of Bezu and crept to within 150 yards of the six enemy guns before rushing forward and shooting down most of the German gunners. When they emerged the woods to take the guns they were seen by the 65th (Howitzer) Battery Royal Artillery who mistook them for Germans and opened fire on them. They were forced to seek cover and had to abandon the guns. The burst of "friendly fire" had cost the Lincolns casualties of one officer killed with three wounded and some thirty other ranks killed or wounded. Robert Drake was one of the officers wounded but he died later the same day. He was mentioned in the Despatch of 8th October 1914. Presently unable to ascertain his entitlement to Queen's South Africa or King's South Africa medals and clasps, which will mean a trip to The National Archives, in Kew. He was initially buried as an unknown British officer. The mayor of Bezu said that he died 10th September in a field ambulance established in the village school. Finally identified, after a special exhumation, by collar badges of Lincolnshire Regiment, and spurs and boots made by J J Lillington of 88 High Street, Portsmouth and re interred in November 1920, now identified as Captain Drake.
  His plaque in Great Wratting church photo; Pierre Vandervelden www.inmemories.com He is NOT on the Great Wratting memorial, having a plaque in St Mary's Church. He is commemorated on the Long Melford war memorial. click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
