Person

Ina Francis Drake, was born sometime in 1890 to parents, Walter and Sarah Drake who resided in Queensbury, Bradford, Yorkshire. His father was a wool sorter in the Bradford textiles industry. Ina was the youngest of three brothers and had two sisters. He worked as a joiner before the war, and later enlisted in Halifax. He joined the 6th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry (DLI).

The 6th fought at the Battle of Arras, as part of the 151st brigade. The battle was part of a combined effort by the British and French to break the heavily fortified Hindenburg line; the British attacked at Arras and the French attacked the line further south. 151st brigade operated south of the Scarpe River (which cut the battlefield in half) and had early success taking objectives on 14th of April when the 151st managed to take the high-ground around the Village of Heninel. It is likely that Ina was killed during this attack.

Birth date: 1890

Death date: 14-Apr-1917

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: Queensbury, Bradford, Yorkshire, England (Birthplace)
13 Sandbeds, Queensbury, Bradford, Yorkshire (1911 Census)

Organisation membership: 1st Regiment, 6th Battalion Durham Light Infantry
Regimental Number: 250848

Employment: Joiner (1911 Census)

Family: Father: Walter Drake (1911 Census)
Mother: Sarah Drake
Brothers: Amos Drake, George Frederick Drake
Sisters: Elizabeth I. E. Drake, Lilian J. H. Drake

Military service:

Assignment: 6th Battalion Durham Light Infantry
Rank: Private
Enlisted: Halifax
Deployment: France

Medal(s): Victory Medal
British War Medal

Memorial(s): Arras Memorial Bay 8
DLI Book of Remembrance, Durham Cathedral

Gender: Male

Contributed by Daniel Hyatt