Matthew Drake
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Matthew Drake was born in Manchester in 1880 to Scottish born couple, George and Mary Jane Drake nee White. At the time of his birth, they were resident at 3 Juniper Street, Hulme, Manchester. He already had a sister, Agnes born in Manchester in 1877 and soon had two brothers, George and Henry. In 1891 the family was living at 123 Jessop Street, Manchester where George was working as a shirt sewing machinist, having previously been a glass blower. In 1901, Matthew found himself working at 21 Irvington Square, Kensington, London, as 1 of 5 servants to Wilfred and Violet Smith, an army officer in the Grenadier Guards. In 1904, Matthew marries Edith Mary Fawcett at Fulham and it must have been very shortly after this, that Matthew took up the roll of police constable in Worksop living at 146 Kilton Road. They must have arrived in Worksop by 1908 as his first daughter, Agnes was born and followed up by Winifred in 1909, then Edith in 1915.
Ex P.C. Mathew Drake Worksop Guardian 17 August 1917 Much uncertainty prevails at the time of writing respecting the fate of ex. P. c. Mathew Drake, Shaw Street, Worksop, of the Grenadier Guards, a well known and popular member of the force. Drake had been in France since November, 1916, and the report is that he has been most severely wounded. This information is contained in a letter received from the Hospital Chaplain, and further news is anxiously awaited by Mrs. Drake, with whom great sympathy is expressed in her suspense. She has three little daughters. Further information contained in a letter which has reached the Nott’s Police Authority, emphasises Drake’s serious condition. Both Mr. and Mrs. Drake come of soldier families, and have a number of relatives serving with H. M. S. Forces. Since writing the above, news has been received that ex. P. C. Drake has died of wounds received in action. Great sympathy is felt with Mrs. Drake and her three young children. Letter sent to Mrs Edith Drake from the C of E Grenadier Guards Chaplin dated 30/7/1917. Dear Mrs Drake, I have just left your gallant husband who I am sorry to say has been severely wounded by shellfire. As we got him to the shelter he held my hand. I helped him in with the medical officer He was hit in the arm and leg. I said I would send you a line. He said “God bless the” that was his message to you all. He was very cheerful consider-ing the pain he was suffering. He behaved most gallantly. His officer was also seriously hit but was able to walk with the help of * and I hope he will get over it, I hope you will have better news of your husband later on but I will not know how he goes now that we have sent him off to hospital. I can only send this short line and I regret your husband should have been hit and my sympathy. I earnestly hope news will be good when you hear from him, yours sincerely. Matthew Drake died two days later and was buried in the Bleuet Farm Cemetery, Belgium
Research by Colin Dannatt
