Herbert Edward Drake

A Private with the 2nd Battalion, Herbert died on 26th of September 1917 at the age of 20.

Herbert was born at Forncett Saint Mary, Norfolk, in 1897, a son of Frederick and Sarah Ann Drake. In 1901 his family lived at Norwich Road, Forncett St. Mary. By 1911 they were living at Victoria Road, Oulton Broad, and Herbert was a jobbing gardener.  

In 1916 Herbert married Elsie Sabina Bryant: this was registered in the Mutford district. In 1918 Elsie lived at 4 Waveney Cottages, Beccles Road, Oulton Broad.

Herbert volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He served with the Suffolk Regiment, service number 13892. He was posted to the 8th Battalion and arrived in France with the battalion on 25 July 1915. Herbert was wounded and his name appears in the War Office Daily list of casualties dated 3 November 1916. Subsequently he was posted to the 2nd Battalion. 

On 26 September 1917 the 2nd Battalion were involved in an attack at Zonnebeke, east of Ypres. This attack was judged to be a complete success, but one officer and 36 other ranks, including Herbert, were killed. 

Initially Herbert was reported to be wounded and missing and later it was concluded that he had died on, or since, 26 September. Hebert is buried at Dochy Farm Cemetery. Most of the burials in this cemetery come from battlefield graves in the local area. Commonwealth War Graves records show that Herbert was exhumed and reburied at Dochy after the war, but do not show where he was buried originally.  

Herbert’s name is recorded on the war memorial at Saint Margaret’s Church.