Major Arnold Inman Draper

• Age: 36
• From: Bebington
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 21st October 1917
• Commemorated at: Kemmel Chateau Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: O.38

By 1911 Arnold is a boarder at the home of Edward and Hannah Lloyd at 11 Trafalgar Drive, Lower Bebington. He is recorded as being 30 years of age and a Clerk. 

Arnold married Evelyn Mary Ward in the 3rd quarter of 1912. The couple had two children; Joan Inman Draper born on 05th July 1913 and John Hugh Draper born on 25th March 1916.

Arnold enlisted at St George's Hall, Liverpool joining the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 16130. He was stationed at Prescot Watch Factory with the rest of his battalion and would travel to Knowsley Hall for training with the other Pals battalions stationed there.

He soon applied for a commission. This was granted in March 1915 and he was Gazetted Second-Lieutenant in the Battalion in the same month. All 4 of the Liverpool Pals Battalions left Liverpool on 30th April 1915 for further trading at Belton Park, Granntham and Lark Hill Camp at Salisbury Plain.  The London Gazette of 06/05/1915 records Arnold's promotion to Temporary 2nd Lieutenant. He was in the original draft that first crossed to France in November 1915, attached to ‘C’ Company.

From the 7th March 1916 until the end of that month, he was attached to the Base Horse Transport and was granted leave in England in April and December 1916. He was appointed acting Captain in command of ‘A’ Company on 14th August 1916 and temporary Lieutenant on 1st September 1916,and these appointments were both Gazetted on 17th November 1916. His Captaincy was confirmed and made temporary on 22nd October, being Gazetted on 17th January 1917.

News of his promotion to Captain was recorded in the local press, at home, alongside details of his brothers:

FIVE OFFICER SONS

THREE PROMOTED: ONE GETS HONOURS

Three of five sons of Mr Hugh Draper of Bebington, serving in the forces in France, have recently received promotion, viz. :-

Lieutenant Arnold Inman Draper, King's Liverpool Regiment, to be Captain.

Second Lieutenant Charles N. Draper, A.S.C., to be Lieutenant.

Flight Commander Christopher Draper, R.N.A.S., to be acting Squadron Commander. This officer has also been decorated by the French President with the "Croix de Guerre" and "Palm" in recognition of his services when engaged in air raids, by bringing down on one occasion two enemy machines, and a third shortly after, while sharing with another officer in the destruction of a fourth.

Their brother's, Second Lieutenant W. R. Draper, Liverpool's, and Second Lieutenant G.C. Draper, Cheshire's (attached Royal Warwick's) are saving with their battalions in the trenches. 

He was granted six days local leave to Rouen in March 1917. On 28th March 1917, during the fighting around Arras, he was buried by a shell and had to be dug out by his men. Although he was shocked and slightly wounded, he remained on duty.

Evidence of his bravery and leadership skills appear in the war diaries of the 17^th Battalion:

"On the night of 4^th July 1917 at 12.30am Lt. Aidan Chavasse and a party of 8 other ranks left our trenches to patrol the German front line with the object of ascertaining the disposition of the enemy, obtaining identification, and killing any occupants. This patrol on nearing the enemy wire encountered a German patrol which opened fire on them wounding Lt. Chavasse. Our patrol withdrew to our lines, but Lt. Chavasse was missing. Capt. A.I. Draper, Capt. C. E. Torrey, Capt. F. B. Chavasse (RAMC), 2^nd Lt. C.A. Peters and Lance Corporal H. Dixon (11531) searched ‘No Man’s land’ for him. During the search, Capt. C.E. Torrey was wounded and taken into our trenches. 2^nd Lt C.A. Peters and L/Cpl H Dixon discovered Lt. Chavasse in a shell hole; 2^nd Lt. Peters was killed when returning to our line for assistance to carry the wounded officer in. L/Cpl Dixon remained to bandage his wounds. After waiting the arrival of necessary assistance L/Cpl returned for stretcher bearers to carry Lt. Chavasse in, but on going back the party were unable to find the officer and had to return on account of dawn breaking.”

He achieved further promotion to the rank of Major, this was reported in the Birkenhead News on 01st September 1917:

PROMOTION FOR HESWALL OFFICER

Captain A. Inman Draper of "Winterdyne" Rocky-lane, Heswall has been appointed Major, whilst on active service in France. Major Draper, who is the son of Mr. High Draper, "The Firs", Bebington and grandson of the late Mr Inman of the famous Inman Line of Liverpool was on the staff of the Bank of England, Castel-street, Liverpool, when war broke out, and joined the 17th Battalion of the King's Liverpool Regt. (1st Liverpool Pals) on September 8th 1914 as a private. He was gazetted as second lieutenant in March 1915, and promoted to captain in August 1916. He has been engaged in some of the fiercest battles in France, among which can be mentioned the Somme, Messines and Arras, also being wounded and buried by a shell, having to be dug out by his men. Major Draper is an ardent sportsman, has played for the Rock Ferry cricket team, is an international hockey player, being chosen to play against Germany at Hamburg a few years ago, played for North against South in England, and is an enthusiatic swimmer. The many prizes, suitably inscribed, to be seen at his home bear witness to his prowess as an all round athlete. Rossall school old boys and present will be glad to hear of the promotion of one of their old school fellows. Dr Cahvasse, son of the Bishop of Liverpool is in the same battalion.                 

He was killed in action in Belgium on 21st October 1917, in the front line at Hollebeke, near Ypres. At 20.30,the Battalion was in the process of being relieved by the 2nd Battalion The Bedfordshire Regiment, when a stray shell landed in the trench and exploded at his feet, wounding him and three other ranks. He died shortly afterwards. He was 36 years of age.

The Battalion Diary records the events of 21st October 1917 as follows:

"8:30pm Battalion relieved by 2nd Bedfordshire Regiment and marched independently to PARRAIN FARM CAMP - Arrived 10:30a.m. CASUALTIES: MAJOR A.I.DRAPER Killed and 3 O.R. wounded"

He was buried two days later at 14.30 in Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery, in Grave O.38. A large number of officers and men from the Battalion attended his funeral and the service was conducted by The Reverend E W Moore, Chaplain to the Forces, who officially notified the War Office of his death.  

On the 23rd Ocotber 1917 the diary records his funeral:

"FUNERAL: A large number of officers and O.R. attended the funeral of MAJOR A. I. DRAPER at KEMMEL Cemetery at 2.30pm"  .          

Arnold's headstone bears the epitaph:

"AND THY JOY NO MAN TAKETH FROM THEE. ST JOHN" 

Kemmel Chateau was north-east of Kemmel village and the cemetery was established on the north side of the chateau grounds in December 1914. It continued to be used by divisions fighting on the southern sectors of the Belgian front until March 1918, when after fierce fighting involving both Commonwealth and French forces, the village and cemetery fell into German hands in late April. The cemetery was retaken later in the year, but in the interval it was badly shelled and the old chateau destroyed. There are now 1,135 Commonwealth burials of the First World War in the cemetery and 21 from the Second World War (which all date from the Allied withdrawal ahead of the German advance of May 1940). The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

The Commanding Officer of the 89th Brigade Brigadier – General F C Stanley said of him:

“His was a very fine influence in the 17th Battalion, and a great favourite amongst us all. “

Following his death Arnold received an obituary in Wisden:

"MAJOR ARNOLD INMAN DRAPER (King's Liverpool Regt) killed October 21, aged 35. Rossall XI, 1898; Rock Ferry CC. Hockey International. Had been wounded."  

Further tributes were paid to Arnold as follows:

Major A.I. Draper, who has made the supreme sacrifice, was a well-known International hockey forward, having played for England in various matches from 1904 to 1908. Educated at Rossall School, the late officer, as is the custom at the seat of learning, commenced to play the "Rossall" style of hockey on the dry sands of the seashore. As a forward he was a remarkably skilful dribbler, and his stick work was beautifully finished, neat and clever. But Major A.I. Draper was not always a big asset in the science of combination, and this probably prevented him from reaching the topmost rank in first class forward play. Passing is usually a weakness amongst most Rossall hockey players, as in the "Rossall" game the art of scientific combination is not at all studied. The main feature being dribbling and shooting, Major A.I. Draper played several good games for England as inside right, and once operated in the middle position. He was quite a brilliant shot, and for some years took regular part in the North's trial matches, as well as for Cheshire County and the Bebington H.C. For the latter club the late gallant officer was a tower of strength, and in the latter years he played at full back. Major Draper was highly popular in hockey circles, for he was a good and keen sportsman, with a genial and lovable disposition which brought him hosts of friends. 

BEBINGTON

THE LATE MAJOR ARNOLD I. DRAPER

Major Arnold Inman Draper, who was killed in action on the 21st inst, was the son of Mr Hugh W. Draper of Bebington, being the eldest of five brothers serving in his Majesty's Forces. He was educated at Rossall, where he first played hockey, in which he afterwards achieved such distinction. A member of the Bebington team, he was chosen for the county in 1901 and for the North in 1903. He became an international in 1904, playing for England against Scotland. In later years he devoted his time to cricket, proving a valuable member of the Rock Ferry club as a good all-round cricketer. At the outbreak of war he was among the first to join the "Pals" Battalion of the K.L.R. as a private, in which regiment he obtained a commission in 1915, attaining the rank of Major in September last. His Colonel writes:- "It did not take me long to learn what a sterling character he had and how deservingly popular he was with both officers and and men.  It has been a great shock to the Battalion." In civil life he was a member of the staff of the Liverpool branch of the Bank of England, where he was highly esteemed by his chiefs and colleagues.

ROLL OF HONOUR

KILLED IN ACTION

DRAPER - On October 21st, killed in action, aged 35 years, Arnold Inman Draper, of Heswall, Major K.L.R., eldest surviving son of Hugh W. Draper of Bebington, and dearly loved husband of Evelyn Mary Draper. 

Probate was granted to his widow on 11th January 1918.

Soldiers Effects to widow Mrs Evelyn Draper, the Pension record has no award.

Evelyn Mary Draper and one of her children were in attendance at the ceremony at Liverpool Cathedral on 20th July 1924 where the Scroll of Honour was dedicated.

Arnold is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Lockers Park School

St Andrew's Church, Bebbington

Rossall School

Lower Bebington Methodist Church

Heswall Memorial

Bank of England, Liverpool 

Grateful thanks are extended to Marcus Wardle of The Hockey Museum, James Ormandy and  also Henry Shepherd of Rossall School for the assistance in providing this biography.

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