Tom Drury, 1869 - 1918

Tom Drury

Tom was born youngest son of William Drury and Ann (formerly Wood) at Eagle in Lincolnshire, on 29th June 1869. Tom's father farmed at Eagle where Tom spent all of his childhood. When Tom was 14 the family moved to Thorpe on the Hill and a year later he left home to begin a printers apprenticeship on 20th November 1884, with Samual White in Newark, Notts.

By 1890 Tom had completed his apprenticeship and had moved to nearby Loughborough to take up employment for Alfred Clarke's of 32 Swan Street, Loughborough as a printers compositor. Within seven years he had met and married Lucy Warren, daughter of a local coachbuilder and their first child William was born shortly after. During this period Tom also served in the Notts and Derby Militia.

Lucy with baby William in 1897

The family lived at Station Street Loughborough and within six years they had their second child, Eva in December 1903. Tom continued to work for Mr Clarke up until the outbreak of war. By 1914 they had moved to Devonshire Square.

Devonshire Square, Loughborough

...and now.

Tom volunteered at Loughborough Drill Hall a few weeks after the outbreak of war on the evening of 24 September 1914 with his brother-in-law Thomas Warren and other friends. He was 44 years old, but informed them that he was ten years younger. For some reason they were assigned to the 9th Battalion South Staffs Regiment (rather than the local Leicesters) at Lichfield. They served in the Armentires area until April 1916. Following duty on the Somme Front, the division was sent to the Ypres salient. In June 1917, the 23rd was part of the spear head attack at Messines. Whilst Tom was serving at the front Lucy gave birth to their third child, a boy called Lyn. Sadly Lyn died at the age of 5.

In October 1917 Tom was transferred to the 1/6th South Staffordshire Regiment. Soon after he was attached to the 240th Employment Coy and transferred to the Labour Corps (probably due to his age). All this time he was an officer's cook.

Tom's war service in more detail

Tom was killed at "the headquarters division" on 6 July 1918. He is buried in Pernes France. He was killed when a shell hit the mess, probably during an artillery barrage.

Tom's grave in Pernes Cemetery

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October 15, 2010