Raymond DREW (1883–1916)

Raymond Drew

Raymond Drew was born in Eton, Berkshire on 30 October 1883. His fathr was the son of Frederick Drew, the son of the tutor John Drew, who was born in Southampton in c.1836 and was a tutor living at S. Mary Abbott Kensington in 1875. His mother was Sara Constance Waylen, the daughter of Alfred Waylen, gentleman, and his wife Anne, who was born in Islington on 9 January 1847 and baptised at St John's Church in Hampstead on 13 April.

His parents were married in St Saviour's Church in South Hampstead on 21 August 1875 and had four children:

Mabel Drew (born in Eton in 1877, registered second quarter)
Frederic Henry Drew (born in Eton, registered first quarter of 1880)
Helen Drew (born in Eton in 1881, registered fourth quarter)
Raymond Drew (born in Eton on 30 October 1883).

Soon after his wedding Raymond’s father Frederick Drew was appointed science master at Eton College. At the time of the 1881 census his parents were living at High Street, Eton with their first two children and two servants.

At the time of the 1891 census, Raymond (7) was living at Keates Lane, Eton with his parents and his three older silbings, and their five servants (a cook, parlourmaid, housemaid, kitchen maid, boys’ maid, and a nurse).

Raymond's father Frederick Drew died at Bournemouth, Hampshire at the age of 55 on 28 October 1891. His effects came to £2,961 17s. 9d., and his executor was his wife Sara

Raymond's widowed mother Sara Constance Drew moved to Oxford with her children, and by 1897 they were living at 19 Farndon Road in St Margaret’s parish.

Raymond started Oxford Boys' High School in George Street in January 1892 at the same time as his older brother Frederick, but he left in July 1893 to attend the Oxford Preparatory School (Dragon).

He won the Second Classical Scholarship at Rossall School in Fleetwood, Lancashire and went to board there in 1897.

At the time of the 1901 census Raymond (17) was boarding at Rossall School. His mother was living at 19 Farndon Road with her daughter Helen, plus a 13-year-old boarder and just one servant. .

In 1902 Raymond went up to Pembroke College, Oxford, where he rowed in the college eight for three years.

In 1906 he joined a teak rubber firm, the Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation, but came back from Burma to Oxford and kept the Easter Term of 1907. He did not, however take his degree, having one group to pass.

In 1911 Raymond’s mother was still at Farndon Road, this time with her daughter Mabel and her son Frederick (described as a Church of England missionary in Melanesia), plus one servant. Her daughter Helen (29) was an assistant mistress at a secondary school and living alone at 17 Temple Road, Croydon. Raymond himself (27) was probably abroad at this time.

On Sunday 11 June 1911 his brother Frederic Henry Drew of St Stephen's House was ordained Deaconfor the Bishop of Melanesia by commission from the Archbishop of Canterbury. He died in the Solomon Islands on 8 March 1915, aged 35.

When war was declared Raymond was back in Burma with the same trading corporation as before, but immediately returned to England to volunteer for the army.

Raymond Drew's grave

In the First World War Raymond Drew joined the 22nd Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers as a Private (Service No. 543) in September 1914. He soon rose to Serjeant, and was killed in action at Vimy Ridge in France at the age of 32 on the night of 23/24 May 1916 and was buried in the Zouave Valley Cemetery, Souchez (II.B.17).

Right: Photograph of Raymond Drew’s grave in France. The text reads:

[Emblem of the Royal Fusiliers:
A rose surrounded by garter inscribed
HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE]

543 SERJEANT
R. DREW
ROYAL FUSILIERS
24TH MAY 1916. AGE 32

†

IN THE LIGHT
SHALL WE SEE LIGHT

This is one of the 40% of war graves that bears a personal message at the end (for which the family had to pay 3½d per letter).

Raymond Drew on school plaque

Drew is remembered on the war memorial at the Dragon School; on a plaque in the Old Boys’ High School, George Street (right); on the war memorial outside St Margaret’s Church in north Oxford; and on a wooden plaque inside Pembroke College Chapel (below).

Raymond Drew in Pembroke Chapel

Administration was granted in London to the Public Trustee on 6 October 1916. He left £1,657 6s. 8d.

His obituary in the Oxford Chronicle of 2 June 1916 is shown below:

Obituary of Raymond Drew

After the War

Raymond’s widowed mother and his two sisters

At the time of the 1921 census Mrs Sarah Constance Drew (74) was living at 19 Farndon Road with her daughter Mabel (44) and their servant.

Her other daughter Helen Drew (39) was in 1921 the headmistress of Lilley & Stone's Girls' School in Newark, Nottinghamshire and living at 63 London Road in that town with her unmarried cousin Anne Black (55); then from 1923 to 1927 she was the headmistress of Colston's Girls' School in Bristol (now renamed Montpelier High School). Helen Drew died in Brighton at the age of 45 on 17 April 1927 and was buried at Wolvercote Cemetery

Mrs Drew died the following year at the age of 83 and was buried with her daughter on 26 May 1928. Miss Mabel Drew remained at 19 Farndon Road until 1954. She died at the age of 80 and was buried at Wolvercote Cemetery on 9 October 1957.

First World War Memorial, St Margaret’s Church, Oxford

Raymond DREW (1883–1916)

After the War

Raymond’s widowed mother and his two sisters

See also