Alfred George Drake (1894-1915), a Corporal in the 8th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade, was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously. An extract from The London Gazette 21 Jan 1916 records 'For most conspicuous bravery on the night of 23 Nov 1915 near La Brique, France. He was one of a patrol of four which was reconnoitring towards the German lines. [Click to continue…]

George William Drake, the younger son of George Drake and Emily (formerly Jarvis) was born in 1897 at Great Warley, Essex, and was was the second of their two sons to die in this war. His parents were married 10 Oct 1891 at Little Burstead, Essex. His grandparents were John Drake and Sarah Ann Poulter, who were married 17 Oct 1858 at Bethnal Green [Click to continue…]

This is one of four stories about sibling members of a Howes family, compiled and contributed to www.howesfamilies.com by John Howes, the grandson of one of them.  The four siblings, all of whom had their lives profoundly affected by the war are (Peter) Frank Howes, Leonard William Howes, Cyril Frank Howes and Eleanor Margaret Howes. (Clicking on [Click to continue…]

Alfred Drake was born in 1867 in Kelvedon Hatch, Essex, the second son of Elijah Drake and Elizabeth (formerly Beadle) of Navestock, Essex (a member of an extensive Navestock Drake family). In the 1911 census he was an unmarried farm labourer and Army pensioner aged 44 living with his widowed father in Navestock (also a farm labourer and aged 80 in [Click to continue…]