23373 Private Arthur Draycott of the 11th Battalion London Regiment Killed in action 3rd May 1917

[ATNOMIS]

Pals

I bought medals and Death Penny for 23373 Private Arthur Draycott of the 11th Battalion London Regiment Killed in action 3rd May 1917

 

Any information on Arthur before joining up Please

 

Arthur Draycott CWGC

 

Born Chester July 1894 in Chester, Cheshire, his father, John, was 39 and a Publican and his mother, Henrietta at 14 Frodsham Street whichwas a Public House called The Ermine Vaults. Sadly knocked down years ago on regeneration. 1901 Census

 

In 1911 Census His moher and siblings are living with an Aunt on John's side in Rhyl, Denbighshire, Wales. The Aunt ran Preton House Marine Drive Rhyl. His Mother ans sister assissit with the Guest House.

Jane Draycott Age53

Harriette Marion Draycott Age31

Mary Draycott Age24

Hilda Draycott Age18

Arthur Draycott Age16

Elizabeth Kayes Age88

Anne Kayes Age56

Herry Angestus Jenner Age64

 

Arthur Enlistment Place in Fulham. I'd like to know how he ended up in London and what work he was doing.

 

His CWGC gave the famly address John and Henrietta Draycott, of Roft Castle Cottage, Marford, Wrexham.

 

I believe he was Killed at Cherisy on the Hindenburg Line  

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Cheshire22]

The Cheshire Post – 16 June 1917.   Private A Draycott of the Royal Fusiliers, the notice of whose death in action recently appeared in the Observer, was a former pupil at Grosvenor School, and a member of St John’s Choir, Chester.  When residing at Rhyl he completed his education at Rhyl Intermediate School and from there obtained an appointment on the staff of the London and Provincial Bank in London. Responding to his country’s call, he joined the Royal Fusiliers and had been serving at the front since July.  The Sergeant of his platoon has written to Private Draycott’s mother narrating how he met his death the morning of May 3rd.  His comrade spoke of him as being a good soldier and cheerful, willing and much admired for his cool courage, and added that he will be greatly missed by all members of his platoon.

 

[Cheshire22]

Flintshire War Memorials website 

 

Draycott, Arthur

• Name of Researcher / Enw’r ymchwylydd:Geoffrey Alexander Mitchell.
• Name of Memorial / Enw’r gofeb:Rhyl War Memorial.
• Regiment/Catrawd:11th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers.
• Service Rank and Number / Rheng gwasanaeth a rhif:Private No.23375.
• Military Cemetery/Memorial / Fynwent milwrol:The Arras Memorial at Faubourg-D' Amiens Cemetery, Arras.
• Ref No Grave or Memorial / Rhif cyfeirnod bedd:Bay 3.
• Country of Cemetery or Memorial / Gwlad y fynwent neu gofeb:France
• Medals Awarded / Medalau a ddyfarnwyd:1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
• Date of Death / Dyddiad Marwolaeth:3 May 1917
• Circumstances of Death / Dyddiad ac amgylchiadau marwolaeth:

  Killed in action aged 23 years.

• Commonwealth War Grave Certificate / Tystysgrif Bedd Rhyfel y GymanwladView certificate 

Arthur Draycott was born in Chester, Cheshire during 1895.

The 1901 Census shows that the family lived at 14 Frodsham Street, Chester, Cheshire.  The head of the family was John Draycott aged 46, a Publican.  His wife Henrietta Draycott (nee Perrit) aged 40, who had been born in Geneva, Switzerland and their four children – John Draycott aged 12, William Draycott aged 11, Hilda Draycott aged 8 and Arthur Draycott aged 6 years.  Also living with them was Elizabeth Eaton aged 17, who was employed by the family as a Domestic Servant.

The 1911 Census shows that Arthur now lived with his Aunt, Mary Jane Draycott, at Picton House, Marine Drive, Rhyl, Flintshire where she was a Lodging House Keeper. After leaving school in Rhyl Arthur obtained employment in London with the London and Provincial Bank.

On 21 January 1915, he enlisted at Fulham, London as a soldier with 11th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers.

The Cheshire Post – 16 June 1917.   Private A Draycott of the Royal Fusiliers, the notice of whose death in action recently appeared in the Observer, was a former pupil at Grosvenor School, and a member of St John’s Choir, Chester.  When residing at Rhyl he completed his education at Rhyl Intermediate School and from there obtained an appointment on the staff of the London and Provincial Bank in London. Responding to his country’s call, he joined the Royal Fusiliers and had been serving at the front since July.  The Sergeant of his platoon has written to Private Draycott’s mother narrating how he met his death the morning of May 3rd.  His comrade spoke of him as being a good soldier and cheerful, willing and much admired for his cool courage, and added that he will be greatly missed by all members of his platoon.

On 6 November 1917, payments of £1.14s.11d were made by the War Office to Henrietta Draycott, William Draycott, Hilda Draycott and John Draycott.  On 19 December 1919, a War Gratuity payment of £2.10s.0d was made to Henrietta and on 1 March 1920 further payments of £1.5s.0d were made to William and Hilda Draycott.

Private Arthur Draycott is also remembered on a Roll of Honour Plaque which was on display at The County School, Grange Road, Rhyl.

He is also remembered on The North Wales Heroes Memorial Arch, Deiniol Road, Bangor, North Wales and on a Remembrance Plaque at The Royal Alexandra Hospital, Marine Drive, Rhyl, Flintshire.

There is a Flintshire Roll of Honour Card for Arthur Draycott at the County Archives Office, Hawarden, which is undated.

[ATNOMIS]

Cheshire

Thank you

 

The Sergeant of his platoon has written to Private Draycott’s mother narrating how he met his death the morning of May 3rd.  

 

Do we know how he met his Death?

I was looking for him on the Chester Town Hall Memorial. Thakfully he is Remembered

 

Simon

[ATNOMIS]

Medals Awarded / Medalau a ddyfarnwyd:1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.

 

His MIC and Medal Roll only Show BWM & Vic

 

 

[Cheshire22]

Sorry I just copied it from the Website 

[ATNOMIS]

Cheers Muck.

[MaxD]

While he is not mentioned by name (as is usual) the war diary for 11 RF has a fairly detailed account of the action on 3 May 1917.  He may well have been with B Company who lost all their officers in the action and many missing.   The action took place to the west of and towards Cherisy in the area of squares O 30 and O 31,  link map/image https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=14&lat=50.2435&lon=2.9064&layers=101465080&right=BingHyb although some men of B and D Companies were reported to have got beyond Cherisy.

 

He was with 11 Battalion Royal Fusiliers

 

Max

[clk]

Hi Simon,

 

22 hours ago, Cheshire22 said:

Draycott, Arthur

Name of Researcher / Enw’r ymchwylydd:Geoffrey Alexander Mitchell.

 

Medals Awarded / Medalau a ddyfarnwyd:1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.

 

20 hours ago, ATNOMIS said:

His MIC and Medal Roll only Show BWM & Vic

 

I didn't see a Star entitlement in the medal rolls either. His BW&VM roll shows his overseas service dates as:

Image source: Ancestry.co.uk

 

My guess would be that he served/trained at home with another unit (or units) was transferred to the 10th Bn for overseas service, but was transferred to the 11th whilst still at the IBD, then subsequently joining them in the field. The 11th Battalion war diary appears to show drafts on 31st August (50 men); 3rd September (55); 16th September (2); 23rd September (17); and 28th September (19).

 

22 hours ago, Cheshire22 said:

... a War Gratuity payment of £2.10s.0d was made to Henrietta and ... further payments of £1.5s.0d were made to William and Hilda Draycot

 

The total of £5/- payment points towards overall service counting from circa February 1916, which would appear to be at odds with...

23 hours ago, Cheshire22 said:

On 21 January 1915, he enlisted at Fulham

...unless he attested then, was sent to the reserve, and mobilised subsequently.

 

According to the LLT the 'B/' prefix to his service number was used by the "Bankers Battalion" Royal Fusiliers, which again according to the LLT was the 26th Bn. There are some surviving service papers which show:

 

B/23337 McNeill (a bank clerk) - attested 1.12.1915, and mobilised (voluntarily) 18.1.1916. Posted to the 26th Bn 19.1.1916

B/23373

B/23377 Westaway (a bank clerk) - attested 27.12.1915, and mobilised on ????. Posted to the 26th Bn 25.1.1916

 

An enlistment date of 21 January 1916 would fit in with above. Perhaps there is an error/typo on the Flintshire War Memorials website.

 

Regards

Chris

 

 

[ATNOMIS]

15 hours ago, clk said:

Hi Simon,

 

 

 

I didn't see a Star entitlement in the medal rolls either. His BW&VM roll shows his overseas service dates as:

Image source: Ancestry.co.uk

 

My guess would be that he served/trained at home with another unit (or units) was transferred to the 10th Bn for overseas service, but was transferred to the 11th whilst still at the IBD, then subsequently joining them in the field. The 11th Battalion war diary appears to show drafts on 31st August (50 men); 3rd September (55); 16th September (2); 23rd September (17); and 28th September (19).

 

 

The total of £5/- payment points towards overall service counting from circa February 1916, which would appear to be at odds with...

...unless he attested then, was sent to the reserve, and mobilised subsequently.

 

According to the LLT the 'B/' prefix to his service number was used by the "Bankers Battalion" Royal Fusiliers, which again according to the LLT was the 26th Bn. There are some surviving service papers which show:

 

B/23337 McNeill (a bank clerk) - attested 1.12.1915, and mobilised (voluntarily) 18.1.1916. Posted to the 26th Bn 19.1.1916

B/23373

B/23377 Westaway (a bank clerk) - attested 27.12.1915, and mobilised on ????. Posted to the 26th Bn 25.1.1916

 

An enlistment date of 21 January 1916 would fit in with above. Perhaps there is an error/typo on the Flintshire War Memorials website.

 

Regards

Chris

 

 

 

 

Chris

 

Thank you

 

Simon

On 12/05/2019 at 18:32, MaxD said:

While he is not mentioned by name (as is usual) the war diary for 11 RF has a fairly detailed account of the action on 3 May 1917.  He may well have been with B Company who lost all their officers in the action and many missing.   The action took place to the west of and towards Cherisy in the area of squares O 30 and O 31,  link map/image https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=14&lat=50.2435&lon=2.9064&layers=101465080&right=BingHyb although some men of B and D Companies were reported to have got beyond Cherisy.

 

He was with 11 Battalion Royal Fusiliers

 

Max

 

 

Max

 

Thank you

 

Simon