Post card sent from Sergeant William Henry Drabble to his mother Alice from Braintree in early 1916. The message describes a planned Inspection by the King which occurred on the 19th Feb 1916.

Served in ‘B’ Company. He is buried in Philosophe British Cemetery, Mazingarbe (grave ref. II.U5). ‘The Sherwood Foresters in the Great War 1914-1919, 1/8th Battalion’, p.209 (St Elie and Hill 70, 1917-1918): ‘Our most unpleasant experience undoubtedly was on October 4th when we got caught in the bombardment connected with an attempted Boche raid on the 7th Battalion whom we were relieving … B Company unfortunately got mixed up with some of the shelling and lost several men, including Sergt. Drabble, who was killed.’ Serge. W. H. Drabble Worksop Guardian 2 November 1917 Information has been received by Mr. and Mrs. Drabble, Easthorpe, Southwell, that their eldest son, Serge. W. H. Drabble, Sherwood Foresters was killed in action on October 4th, two days prior to his 23rd birthday. Sergt. Drabble was offered a commission in February last, but he declined. For nearly 12 months prior to the War, Sergt. Drabble was assistant with Mr. G. T. Smith, grocer, Bridge Place, Worksop, by whom he was highly esteemed. Of a very genial disposition, he made many friends amongst the young men in the town. He was a keen footballer and a member of the Worksop Thursday Team. The news of his death will be deeply felt by his friends in Worksop, and their sympathy will go out to his parents in their bereavement.

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