Terry Denham Posted 3 December , 2010 Share Posted 3 December , 2010 CWGC added the following WW1 casualties to the Debt of Honour today. Pte Gilbert Victor DREW 30092 1st Bn, Somerset Light Infantry Died 01.07.17 Age 19 Commemoration: Brookwood (United Kingdom 1914-1918) Memorial, Surrey, UK Pte James MacPHAIL S/23251 5th Bn, Cameron Highlanders Died 29.09.18 Age 20 Commemoration: Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium Pte Finlay McLEAN 16895 10th Bn, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Died 05.05.18 Age 27 Commemoration: Brookwood (United Kingdom 1914-1918) Memorial, Surrey, UK Staff Nurse Margaret Evans THOMAS Territorial Force Nursing Service Died 08.11.18 Age 28 Commemoration: Brookwood (United Kingdom 1914-1918) Memorial, Surrey, UK NOT FORGOTTEN The following three were In From The Cold Project cases. Pte MacPhail died in action (Volunteer: Diane Shakespeare) Pte McLean died post-discharge of tuberculosis (Volunteer: Jim Grant) S/Nurse Thomas died of influenza (Volunteer: Chris Harley) Pte Drew who died post-discharge of diabetes was put forward on behalf of David Underdown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_Underdown Posted 3 December , 2010 Share Posted 3 December , 2010 The complete story of Gilbert Drew (well as complete as I've been able to maange so far) is at http://yourarchives.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php?title=Gilbert_Drew He is probably buried in Dinder church yard, I have an obit from the Wells Journal that states his funeral was at the church. He had been a bell ringer there, and his father was sexton, but I've not been able to get to Taunton to check the burial records, and searches of church yard have found only his parents' (later) grave. I have a lookup request out for anyone who might be going to the Somerset Heritage Centre http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=156652 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
River97 Posted 3 December , 2010 Share Posted 3 December , 2010 Rest in peace, gone and no longer forgotten. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisharley9 Posted 3 December , 2010 Share Posted 3 December , 2010 May They Rest In Peace Margaret Thomas should really go to Jim Strawbridge who provided the following on her "Thomas - Remarks: There is a memorial wall plaque in the cathedral at St. Asaph, Llanelwy, Flintshire to the five Welsh nurses (Frances Ethel Brace, Jane Roberts, Margaret Dorothy Roberts, Margaret Evans Thomas and Helena May Rowlands). This mentions that she was a member of the Territorial Force Nursing Service whilst the York Minster panels show her as with the QAIMNS. She is also commemorated on the plaque in the church of St. Bartholomew the Less which is in the grounds of St.Bart’s hospital. Judy Rieck, whilst making enquiries at the cemetery office of the Tottenham and Wood Green Cemetery, was advised of a nurse by the name of Marion Thomas being buried in their cemetery. We suspect that this is actually Margaret Evans Thomas and enquiries continue. If so, she is one who should, perhaps, be commemorated by the CWGC as she was in uniform at her death. " Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piorun Posted 3 December , 2010 Share Posted 3 December , 2010 God rest their souls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will O'Brien Posted 6 December , 2010 Share Posted 6 December , 2010 Raising a glass to their memory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisharley9 Posted 1 March , 2011 Share Posted 1 March , 2011 Pte Finlay McLEAN 16895 10th Bn, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Died 05.05.18 Age 27 Commemoration: Brookwood (United Kingdom 1914-1918) Memorial, Surrey, UK Grave Found Lambhill Cemetery Glasgow Lair 1482 Sect O Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisharley9 Posted 20 April , 2011 Share Posted 20 April , 2011 Pte Gilbert Victor DREW 30092 1st Bn, Somerset Light Infantry Died 01.07.17 Age 19 Commemoration: Brookwood (United Kingdom 1914-1918) Memorial, Surrey, UK His grave has now been found at Dinder My thanks to CGM for her help on this case Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_Underdown Posted 21 April , 2011 Share Posted 21 April , 2011 Thanks CGM - I had previously found the National Burial Index entry but initially it was felt to be too much a secondary source. What details are given in the memorial inscription index please? If his parents are actually in the same grave then I already have a photo (which I've previously passed to Terry Denham) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisharley9 Posted 22 April , 2011 Share Posted 22 April , 2011 MEMORIAL INSCRIPTION DREW Gilbert Victor Parish Records Collection 1538-2005burial Day: 1 Month: Jul Year: 1917 Birth day: Birth month: Birth year: Age: 19 Forenames: Gilbert Victor Surname: DREW Place: Dinder Dedication: St Michael and All Angels County: Somerset Country: England Type: Kerb Reference: 13777 Notes: Record source: Somerset Memorial Inscriptions Data provider: Somerset & Dorset Family History Society Transcriptions © Somerset & Dorset Family History Society David This what CGM provided in addition to the Burial index entry Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_Underdown Posted 22 April , 2011 Share Posted 22 April , 2011 There is a kerb around the grave on which his parents' memorial stands, but it's difficult to see from how the entry is put together how that could be confirmed, unless the same reference number is used Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_Underdown Posted 10 May , 2011 Share Posted 10 May , 2011 Thanks to CGM we have now have a plan of Dinder churchyard showing the location of Drew's grave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisharley9 Posted 10 May , 2011 Share Posted 10 May , 2011 A good result all round; my thanks to CGM for following this one through & providing all of the relevant docs Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CGM Posted 10 May , 2011 Share Posted 10 May , 2011 It will be interesting to see if he shares a grave with his parents. Remembering Gilbert, aged just 19. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_Underdown Posted 10 May , 2011 Share Posted 10 May , 2011 I can't make the photo of his parents' grave that already had match up with the location shown on the plan - it would appear there's a single monument immediately behind the parents' plot, then a group of three monuments and then a boundary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_Underdown Posted 10 May , 2011 Share Posted 10 May , 2011 The other intriguing thing is that the burials index shows Gilbert's brother Harold Sidney was buried at Dinder in April 1921. The newspaper report of Gilbert's burial states that three of his brothers were also serving. The eldest brother, Arthur George, had enlisted in 1915, a chauffeur he went to the ASC, but due to varicose veins didn't serve overseas until after the Armistice, he is listed as the informant on the DC, and was reported to have been present at the funeral. James Percy, also a chauffeur, enlisted also in August 1915, probably on the Derby Scheme as he was not mobilised until August 1917 and the served in Waterways and Railways RE at home. He was also present at the funeral. The only brother not to attend the funeral was Albert Cecil so I had assumed that he was the third serving. However, what if they weren't counting James Percy, and it was actually Sidney who was the third, is there the possibility of a second non comm in the same family? Unfortunately I've not been able to find papers for the other brothers and there are too many MICs to be sure of picking the right one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_Underdown Posted 17 May , 2011 Share Posted 17 May , 2011 And finally, here it is: the signs of "gardening" down one side were to reveal the inscription which is on the inner edge of the kerb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisharley9 Posted 7 June , 2011 Share Posted 7 June , 2011 Name: DREW, GILBERT VICTOR Initials: G V Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Somerset Light Infantry Unit Text: 1st Bn. Age: 19 Date of Death: 01/07/1917 Service No: 30092 N.B.: Recent research has shown that Private Drew is buried here. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Section A. Grave 46 Cemetery: DINDER (ST.MICHAEL) CHURCHYARD Finally accepted - thanks to everyone who played their part in finding this lads grave Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_Underdown Posted 8 June , 2011 Share Posted 8 June , 2011 Thanks in particular to CGM for managing to get hold of the churchyard plan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CGM Posted 8 June , 2011 Share Posted 8 June , 2011 Thank you. I in turn have passed on our thanks and copied the updated CWGC Debt of Honour entry to the very helpful volunteer at the Somerset and Dorset Family History Society who provided the plan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisharley9 Posted 7 November , 2011 Share Posted 7 November , 2011 Re Margaret Evans Thomas We are almost there. I have just got her service record which shows a burial at Pwllheli New Cemetery Council have been e mailed Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisharley9 Posted 28 November , 2011 Share Posted 28 November , 2011 Staff Nurse Margaret Evans THOMAS Territorial Force Nursing Service Died 08.11.18 Age 28 Commemoration: Brookwood (United Kingdom 1914-1918) Memorial, Surrey, UK Grave found Pwllheli Borough Cemetery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webnut Posted 29 October , 2012 Share Posted 29 October , 2012 Hi all, sorry to bump up an old thread but I joined the forum today after following David Underdown's links elsewhere which led me here. Gilbert Victor Drew is my great grandfather's brother. A family member recently sent me the Drew family tree and that is how I discovered Gilbert, I knew nothing of him until then. My grandfather was born 4 years after Gilbert died, and was given the same name - I assume in honour of his uncle who had passed away. My grandfather died in the late 80's but his sister is still alive aged 81. She knew of Gilbert Drew dying during the war but not much else about him. I just want to say thanks for the additional information in this thread and for having Gilberts name added to the CWGC Debt of Honour. Now that I know about Gilbert I will remember him and my Grandfather, who served in the second world war. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CGM Posted 29 October , 2012 Share Posted 29 October , 2012 Welcome to the forum webnut. Please don't apologise for reviving this thread, we are always very pleased when we can share our information with members of the family of a casualty. The Somerset and Dorset Family History Society, who provided the plan of the churchyard and gave us a great deal of help, wrote an article about the search for Gilbert's grave and published it in the November 2011 edition of their magazine, The Greenwood Tree. "Remembering Gilbert Drew" I will look out my transcription of it and send it to you. Regards CGM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_Underdown Posted 29 October , 2012 Share Posted 29 October , 2012 Again, no apologies needed for reviving this thread. When I was first researching Gilbert I found an old RootsChat thread from a family member asking about him (I wonder if this was the person who have you the family tree), so I always hoped his story would be found by the family. In fact, when CGM first mentioned that the family history society wanted to do an article I said to her that the one loose end I wanted to tie up was getting the story to the family. The one thing I've never been able to find is a picture of him, so if you ever find anything in an old family album, I'd love to see it (as would Alan Regin who looks after the bellringers' roll of honour, and who physically found Gilbert's grave) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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