Name
Ernest Drake
30/09/1889
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/01/1915
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
2636807
Rifle Brigade
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
RIFLE HOUSE CEMETERY
IV. J. 1.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
No Inscription
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
St Michael and All Angels Church Memorial, Watford,
St Matthew's Church Memorial, Oxhey,
Bushey Baptist Church Memorial
Pre War
Born in Bushey on 30 September 1889, Ernest Drake was the second of nine children born to Henry and Florence Moore (née Tibbs) Drake. Baptised on 25th October 1889, at St Matthews Church, Oxhey.
His parents were married on Xmas Day in 1887 at St Matthew’s, Oxhey, Herts. and his father was a lime burner.
At the 1891 Census, the family were living at London Road, New Bushey in the Parish of St Matthew and by the 1901 Census they were at Lime Kilns, Oxhey. The 1911 Census shows them living at ‘Lime Kiln Cottage’, Chalk Hill, Oxhey, but it is not clear whether this is the same address as that given on the 1901 census.
On the 1891 Census, Ernest was one year old and living with his parents and one sibling, in New Bushey
By the 1901 Census, still living in New Bushey, he had five siblings and by the 1911 Census he had six siblings.
Note; By the time of the 1911 Census, information was generally filled out by the householder and therefore the same address may be described differently. Also, whilst Bushey is given as the place of birth, the address is recorded as Oxhey, these relate to the same Census area, with Bushey being the Civil Parish and Oxhey the Ecclesiastical Area.
He worked for two or three years as a printer, but left this job because his employers “did not think he would fit in the printing trade and so did not feel justified in burdening him with apprenticeship.”
Ernest joined the Army Reserve in the Rifle Brigade in in London 18 May 1908 for six years He was a printer aged 18, 5’4″ tall, C of E, in the Rifle Brigade.
Amongst misdemeanours committed were: having a light on in his tent after lights out – two days C.C. 27 September 1908; gambling in camp – seven days C.C.
Nevertheless, he re-enlisted for four years 16 July 1913.
Wartime Service
Ernest served as Private 5/9119 in the 1st Battalion of the Rifle Brigade, and this number may have been his pre-war service-number, as he was certainly 2636807 later.
Presumably called from the Army Reserve at the start of war, and unfortunately his behaviour was still not deemed acceptable by the Army and on 22 August 1914; being asleep on sentry duty – 21 days.
He made it overseas landing in France on 15 September 1914.
He died of wounds received in action at Ploegsteert on 16 January 1915 and was buried at Rifle House Cemetery in Belgium, grave IV.J.1.
He is commemorated at St Matthew’s Church Oxhey. He also has a brief mention in an article in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 1 May 1915.
Additional Information
He has a brief mention in an article in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 1 May 1915.
The value of his effects were £10-1s-3d, Pay Owing and £5, War Gratuity which went to his father Henry.
His mother Florence received a Dependents pension of 5/- per week.
His elder brother Henry was Killed in Action on 23rd October 1917, he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the missing in Belgium.
Much of the information was provided by, and used with, with the kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk. Information also sourced from the Our Watford History website - Please visit www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk.
His father, Henry, died 20 September 1925 in Watford aged 58, and was buried 23 September in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford, and his mother, Florence, died 1945 in Watford aged 75, and was buried 10 September, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
SDITGW has his records under 5/9119.
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer, Stuart Osborne
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk), Stuart Osborne, Andrew Palmer, Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
