thosewhosurvived

graves

IN MEMORy by Pierre Vandervelden

The visit of Commonwealth graves in Communals Cemeteries & Churchyards in Belgium & France

Lance-Corporal James Drane for Christopher, Nichola, Alexander, Molly & Joseph Noble

Lance-Corporal James Drane 7063, 1st Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment.
James enlisted at Leeds, West Yorkshire, on the 9th May, 1903.
He was reported 'Missing' on the 22nd September, 1914 and then comfirmed as a Prisoner Of War at Gustrow.
He was captured on the Chemin des Dames on the 20th September 1914. The Germans came forward under a 'White Flag' (meaning surrender).
They threw it away and opened fire on the West Yorkshiremen!
James was repatriated to Switzerland via the Red Cross in 1917 and discharged in November 1917 (no longer fit for War Service).
He was awarded 1914 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal & Silver War Badge.

James, back row left, with comrads.

Postcad sent Christmas Evening 1917 by James to his wife Gladys, from Switzerland during rapatriation via the Red Cross.