Edward Harcourt's Story.
An E. H. Drowley is listed on St. Mary's Weaverham the R.o.H., the Fallen Memorial and the St. Mary’s Memorial, this was an Edward Harcourt Drowley;
C.W.G.C. remember Edward at the Oxford Road Cemetery, Belgium. His Service No was M2/200200, his Regiment A.S.C. (Air Service Corps.) 402nd Mechanical Transport Coy. Attd. Heavy Bty. Canadian Corps. Edward died 10th Nov. 1917, aged 19, son of Charles E. and Catherine A. Drowley of Heathfield Villa Milton. (33 Milton Rough)
Guardian articles Friday 30th Nov., Tuesday 11th Dec. & Friday 14th Dec. 1917.
“Mrs. Drowley of Heathfield Villa, Milton, Acton Bridge, received notification last week that her only son, Corporal E.H. Drowley, (Commonwealth War Graves state Private.) of the M.T. A.S.C. (Motor Transport, Army Service Corps.) had been killed in action. A stretcher bearer wrote that Corporal Drowley was killed instantly and he saw him buried in a little cemetery behind the lines.
Corporal Drowley was 19 years of age and prior to joining the Army 14 months ago was chauffeur to Sir Aubrey Brocklebank of Sandiway. When a boy he was the leading chorister at Sandiway Church. He was educated at Sandiway Council Schools and Witton Boys Church Walk School.
His mother is assistant mistress at Sandiway School..........as the result of enquiries as to how he met his death she has received the following letter from Second Lieutenant Norman F. M. Fletcher...”In reply to your letter dated the 22nd November 1917, I greatly regret to have to inform you that the information you received from one or our men was true. On the morning of the 10th inst. your son was with his lorry delivering ammunition to his battalion and his lorry was the last of five. After unloading and going on a little way to turn round and come home, his lorry was hit simultaneously by two shells, one in the front and one at the back. At the same time his chum Private Dowton was driving and your son was standing on the step. He must have been killed instantly. (Checking the C.W.G.C., It would appear that Private Dowton, Regt No DM2/075006, was killed at the same time, he was from Fulham, London.)
Your son was most respected and liked by all of us. I personally knew him from January last and I liked him immediately and always found him a most efficient and conscientious worker. I can only express my deepest and sincerest sympathy together with that of the men of the column and I should like to say that with them I feel I have lost a friend as well as one of my best men.”
Edward was born in Aberganenny, Monmouthshire and he enlisted at Liverpool. Corporal Drowley was awarded the British War and Victory Medals.
Red Cross/V.A.D. records have a Mrs Kate Drowley, Mistress Sandiway Bd. Sch. Cut out Sewing, children knit woollen comforts for wounded.
[On checking the 1911 census the Drowley’s lived at Merlewood. Lodge Cuddington. Catherine Anna Drowley was head of the family. Checking Freebmd it appears that father Charles E. died in Abergavenny June 1910.
Researched Bob Heaton