William Ernest Drake (1885–1957)

Private

Machine Gun C0rps 87629  

Biography
William was registered as Ernest William Drake Q1 of 1885 at Burton upon Trent. His father, a labourer, had the wonderful name of ‘Honesty William Drake’. William was boarding at Crich by 1911 and worked as a gritstone quarryman. On 3 June 1911 he married twenty-six year-old Annie Eliza Allwood of Wakebridge at Mary's Church, Crich. She was sister to Frederick Alllwood and Arthur Allwood. In Jan 1918 he was discharged through wounds having served overseas. After his discharge, he lived at Wakebridge for the rest of his life.

Newspaper reports [thanks to Nivard Ovington]

Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald, 10 June 1911
CRICH
Drake–Allwood
The Rev Martyn Simmonds tied the nuptual knot between William Ernest, only son of Mr and Mrs H.E.W. Drake of Linton, Cambridge, and Annie, oldest daughter of Mr and Mrs Herbert Allwood , of Wakebridge, at the Parish Church, Crich, on Saturday. The bride, who was given away by her father, looked pretty in a dress of cream cashmere and cream hat, trimmed with pink roses. Mr Fred Harrison ably carried out the duties of best man.
The bridesmaids were Miss Elizabeth Allwood (sister) and Miss Jennie Worthy (cousin of the bride).
The bridegroom, who is a bellringer, Sunday School scholar, and chorister at the Parish Church, was the recipient of an easy wicker chair, a present from his fellow ringers, who rang a peal in his honour. Mr L.H. Griffith, his Sunday School teacher, also made him a present, amongst many others.

Derbyshire Courier, 3 November 1917
Pte W. Drake, Crich, Wounded

Medal Index Record
Drake, Ernest W. MGC Pte 87629 , awarded Victory and British War medals
Awarded Silver War Badge

Silver War Badge
87629. Pte Drake, Ernest William, Badge 377,282, enlisted 6/12/15; discharged 31/1/18 aged 32 years 12 days; served overseas

CENSUS INFORMATION

1891: Hawkins Lane, Horninglow, Burton on Trent

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
Honester Drake Head 31 Labourer Barrow, Suffolk
Caroline Drake wife 28   Burton on Trent
Emily Drake daughter 8   Burton on Trent
William Drake son 6   Burton on Trent
Annie Drake daughter 4   Burton on Trent
Nellie Drake daughter 2   Burton on Trent
Minnie Drake daughter 1   Burton on Trent
George Leeder lodger 24 Labourer Norfolk, Long Stretton

RG12 piece 2205 folio 80 page 19

1901: Derby

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
Ernest Drake Head 43 Publican Barrow Hill, Suffolk
Caroline Drake wife 40   Burton on Trent
Ernest W Drake son 16 Tramway worker Burton on Trent
Nellie Drake daughter 12   Burton on Trent
Minnie Drake daughter 11   Burton on Trent
Florrie Drake daughter 9   Burton on Trent
Gertie Drake daughter 7   Burton on Trent

RG13 piece 3214 folio 176 page 35

1911: Church View, Crich

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
William Drake Boarder 26 Gritstone quarryman Burton on Trent

RG14PN20984 RG78PN1251 RD436 SD4 ED13 SN179

[In 1911 William Drake was living with John Worthy and family]

1918 Voters List
William Drake, Wakebridge, absent on military service.

1939 Register
There is one Ernest W DRAKE dob 20th Jan 1886 in Bristol in 1939.