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DRAKE, Godfrey
 | Rank: Private/Second Lieutenant Year of death: 1917 Date of birth: 1892 third quarter Date of death: 01/08/1917 Place of death: Western front Service number: (private) 20309 Regiment: West Yorkshire Regiment Medals: Victory & British war medal (possibly) Cemetery location: Lijssennhoek Military Cemetery, Poperinge (Grave ref X1V A 16) Where remembered?: He is also remembered on Oliver’s Mount Memorial, Gladstone Road school Memorial and on his grandparents gravestone in Dean Road cemetery FB 100 |
Biographical Information
Godfrey was born in Scarborough in the third quarter of 1892 the only son of Henry Ward and Florence Jane Drake. He was baptised Godfrey Ward at St. Mary’s Anglican Church on the 25th of September 1892. At that time the family were living at 2, Brunswick Terrace.
The 1901 census shows Godfrey to be living at the same address but but with his grandparents John and Isabella. His natural parents do not appear on this record.
Godfrey attended Gladstone Road school and his name appears on the Memorial to pupils who lost their lives in the Great War.
The 1911 census finds Godfrey aged 18 living in Bradford at 22, Darly Street. Obviously a boarding establishment as on the return are listed a housekeeper a commissionaire three servants and nine shop assistants one of which was Godfrey.
Godfrey enlisted in the West Yorkshire Regiment, joining the Hussars. He was later commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the Alexandra’s 2nd battalion. He served on the western front.On his grandparents gravestone it states that he “ died of wounds received in action in Belgium.” He died on August 1st 1917.
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