Roll of Honour

Lost on the Protected Cruiser HMS Hawke. 

Harry Thomas Draper was born in Smallheath, Birmingham on 5th December, 1887, his parents being George Draper and his wife Betsy Prentice who were married in 1884. The 1881 Census of Stoneleigh indicates that the couple had met while both were working as servants at Dale House Farm belonging to a Thomas Harris.
The 1901 Census shows the family were living in Bolton Road, Aston, Birmingham. George, aged 37 was born in Birmingham, and is recorded as working in a steel rolling mill. His wife Betsy, aged 44 was born in Stoneleigh, Warwickshire. There were 6 children, all boys and all born in Birmingham; Harry Thomas was the third oldest at 13 and was in the cycle trade. William, 16, was a Filler, Samuel, 10(or perhaps 14?), a woodworker, Ernest, 11, Alfred, 3, and Arthur, 1, made up the family.

By 1911, the family lived in Faulder Road, West Hartlepool, presumably moving there for work between 1901 and 1906. Mother Betsy had died in Hartlepool in 1906 and in 1911,George was a widower working as a Stocktaker in the local steel works. The 1911 Census indicates that the couple had 7 children but only 6 had survived.

Harry Thomas Draper was a Stoker on HMS Hawke when it was sunk by the German submarine U9 in the northern part of the North Sea. Although there were some survivors who were taken to Aberdeen, 525 crew members lost their lives including Harry Thomas whose body was not recovered. He appears not to have been married.
His father George was living at 32, Faulder Road, West Hartlepool, at this time.
Harry's name is on the Chatham War Memorial.