CHARLES WILLIAM DRURY

RANK: Corporal.

SERVICE NUMBER: 16668.

REGIMENT: 8th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers.

BORN: Robin Hood near Rothwell Leeds.

ENLISTED: Leeds.

GAVE HIS LIFE: 26/11/1916.

AGED: 29.

CEMETERY: Grandcourt Road Cemetery is about 11 kilometres north-north-east of the town of Albert Somme France.

GRAVE /PANEL :

The CWGC shows the following details:


"Son of Mary Ann Drury, of 8, Denton Terrace, Morley, Leeds, and the late Charles Drury."

Charles Wilfred was the son of Charles a Quarryman Born Bilston Yorkshire 1850 and Mary Ann Marchant Born Potternewton Leeds 1852 who married at Leeds in 1877. Charles had an older brother James William who survived the war and three sisters Mabel, Rose and lily.


Charles had achieved a West Riding Scholership which entitled him to join Leeds Boys Modern, after leaving school Charles attended St John College York, training to be a teacher.


After two years charles became the assistant head master at Park Gate Central School Rotherham South Yorkshire. It was said "he was a most Poular teacher and his football team won many trophies".


Charles joined up in January 1915 into the Northumberland Fusiliers, and was sent to Imbros Crete shortley after the evacuation of Suvla Bay near Gallipoli Turkey, Charles was then sent to Egypt serving Est of the Suez Canal.

Charles was promoted to Corporal and proceeded to France, after fighting in the trenches he was detached to Divisional Headquarters for a short time and was transferred back to his battalion.


On the evening of the 27th November 1916 Charles was posting lookouts and on returning to his dug out a German Morter Shell landed and Charles lost his life.


His Company Officer Wrote:

" He was a good man and a good soldier, beloved alike by officers and men"

Charles was buried at Grandecourt Road by his comrades however the cemetery Charles now lies in peace at was not started until the spring of 1917.