Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Private W. S. Drake, Royal West Surrey Regiment, who was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916

1914-15 Star (G-5535 Pte. W. S. Drake. The Queen’s R.); British War and Victory Medals (G-5535 Pte. W. S. Drake. The Queen’s R.) very fine (3) £300-£400

William Samuel Drake was born in St. Julien’s, Norfolk, and attested for the Royal West Surrey Regiment at Norwich. He served with the 7th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 17 September 1915, and was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916. On this date the Battalion was involved in an attack west of Montauban- going over the top at 7:30 a.m. heavy fire at first held up the advance in front of the Breslau support trench, and they later fought on through Back Trench and Train Alley to Montauban Alley. After almost 12 hours; fighting the final objective was reached, and consolidated on a front of about 200 yards. Total casualties were 532. Drake was amongst those killed, and he is buried in Dantzig Alley British Cemetery, Somme, France.