Name
William George Drage
26 Nov 1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/05/1917
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
43065
Northamptonshire Regiment
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 7.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Bishop's Stortford Town Memorial, Holy Trinity Church Memorial, Bishop's Stortford Not on the Hockerill memorials*1
Pre War
William George Drage was born on 26 Nov 1891 in Bishops Stortford (baptised 29 Jan 1892 in Hockerill) to John Drage, a fruiterer, and Edith Emily (nee Gilbey).
On the 1901 Census the family of Parents, William, John (born 1895), Edith (born 1896) were living at Potter Street, Bishop Stortford. Also recorded was George Shaw aged 8, a nephew.
On the 1911 Census William was living with his family of parents and Edith at 29 Potter Street, Bishop's Stortford when his occupation was as an Assistant in his father's business as a Fruiterer. There was also a domestic servant Kate Clements.
Wartime Service
No Service Record was found for William, initially he was enlisted as Private 27025 in the Bedfordshire Regiment and was then transferred to the 6th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment and given a number of 43065. At some time during his service he was promoted to Lance Corporal.
He may have been in France to take part in the Battles of the Somme Offensive with 6th Battalion , Northants being part of 18 (Eastern) Division. William was reported Missing believed Killed in Action during the 3rd Battle of the Scarpe (Arras) and his death was presumed to be 3 May 1917. His remains were not recovered and he remembered on the Arras Memorial. See also Additional Information below.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £4 10s and arrears of £4 1s 1d was paid to his father, who also granted probate in London on 22 Apr 1918 of £161 11s 8d. His father was described as "market gardener" and his address was given as 35 South Street, Bishop's Stortford.
William is also commemorated on his grandparents' (John and Mary Gilbey) headstone in Hockerill (All Saints) Churchyard. His inscription reads:
ALSO OF WILLIAM G. DRAGE. GRANDSON
KILLED IN ACTION IN FRANCE
DIED MAY 4TH-1917(*1). AGED 25 YEARS
KILLED IN ACTION IN FRANCE
DIED MAY 4TH-1917(*1). AGED 25 YEARS
*1 officially recorded as the 3rd.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer, Neil Cooper
