7th Battalion, Rifle Brigade
Percy Edward Drake was born in Folkestone, Kent in 1891, the son of Ralph Edward and Mary Ann Drake of 143 High Street, Cheriton. At the time of the Great War he was working as a cellar man and in July 1915 was living in Mount Pleasant Road, Tottenham, north London.
He enlisted on 17 July 1915, for the duration of the war, stating his age to be 24 years and five months. Three days later he was posted to the Rifle Brigade at Winchester, where he was given the regimental number of S/13482 and the rank of Rifleman. Following training he crossed to France on 30 December 1915, to join 7 (Service) Battalion, Rifle Brigade (41st Brigade, 14th Division), probably as part of a re-enforcement draft.
On 17 August 1916 the battalion went into the front line. On 18 August it took part in an attack on Orchard Trench, located next to the north-western corner of Delville Wood. Its left flank came under fire from Wood Lane, which continued west from Orchard Trench and only a small part of Wood Lane was able to be occupied. Percy Drake (in ‘A’ Company) was wounded (gun shot wound in back) in this action. According to the Battalion Casualty Return there was one Officer killed and five wounded. Amongst the Other Ranks, there were 62 killed, 191 wounded and 11 missing.
After treatment at a Dressing Station, Percy was transferred to 38 Casualty Clearing Station, thence to Boulogne and ultimately to the UK. He ended up in the Red Cross Hospital, Great Western Road, Gloucester, where he died of his wounds on 7 February 1917, age 27.
He was buried in Gloucester Old Cemetery, in the presence of his parents. The funeral was reported in the Gloucester Journal of 17 February 1917. It was attended by many of the staff of the hospital and the Gloucestershire Volunteer Reserve provided a firing party. His grave is marked by a standard CWGC headstone and he is commemorated on the local war memorial in All Souls’ Church, Cheriton.
Researched by Graham Adams 12 February 2020 (revised)