1880
Born
3 January 1880
January 3rd 1880 Hull— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
Thomas Batty Drewery
1880 – 1941
✓ Validated against records · 2026-07-02
Thomas Batty Drewery — Tom — was born in Hull on 3 January 1880, the eldest child of William Drewery, a Lincolnshire man come north from Holbeach, and his wife Martha Batty of Aldbrough. The 1891 census finds the family at Benningholme, near Skirlaugh, his father a farm hind; and at twenty, in November 1900, Tom took the old way out of farm service and enlisted at Beverley in the East Yorkshire Regiment.
The army made him. He served in India from 1901 to 1905, and was the regimental drummer for six and a half years — his son remembered him as a bugler, and that playing the Last Post was among the most harrowing things he ever did. He embroidered, beautifully: two pictures of the regimental crest hung in the house all his life. On his transfer to the Reserve in 1908 the army wrote him the character of a model soldier — exemplary conduct, not one offence in eight years, “intelligent… a good power of command… tactful in his way of handling men” — and noted, in passing, a trade that would decide the rest of his life: “a proficient platelayer.” He came home to be coachman at Portington Hall near Eastrington, and there met Harriet Ann Harrison, a domestic servant of the village; they married in Eastrington church on 28 November 1908.
They settled at Sandholme, in a Hull & Barnsley Railway cottage, Tom a platelayer on the line; seven children followed. He shot for the Portington rifle team — top score of the match in the Hull Daily Mail of February 1910 — and then, in 1914, the Reserve called him back. He landed in France in January 1915 with the East Yorkshires, through the Second Battle of Ypres and Loos; sailed with the division for Salonica at the end of that year; and served out the war in Macedonia and Egypt — malaria his only wound — transferring to the Royal Engineers to lay military railways. He came home on 5 February 1919, a corporal, his character assessed Very Good.
Then twenty-two more years on the Hull & Barnsley — platelayer to the last — and the full life of a village man: secretary of the village hall, chairman and secretary of half Eastrington's societies, cricket, football, and the cups he had won in the army for cross-country running. When the second war came he served again in his way: the 1939 Register sets him down, at fifty-nine, “platelayer, railway — Observer Corps.” He died of a heart attack on 4 July 1941, aged sixty-one, and was buried in Eastrington churchyard, where the church's Great War plaque already carried his name. His son Arthur was by then a prisoner of war in Germany; Arthur's death in captivity, three years later, Tom was spared.
Composed from validated records · 2026-07-02
- Birth
- January 3rd 1880 Hull
- Marriage
- November 28th, 1908 to Harriet Ann Harrison in Eastrington (P.R)
- Death
- July 4th 1941. (M.I. Eastrington Church)
- Parents
- Martha Batty born Aldbrough, East Yorkshirea William Drewery born Holbeach, Lincolnshire
- Siblings
- Thomas Batty Drewery born January 3rd 1880, Hull Fanny Drewery born April 15th 1883, Swine, baptised May 13th, Swine Eliza Drewery born January 2nd 1885, Swine, baptised February 22nd Swine Mary Drewery born May 24th1891, Benningholme Grange, baptised June 28th, Swine
- 1891c
- Living in Benningholme, Skirlaugh with family (indexed as Draney) William Drewery, Head, aged 38, born 1862 Holbeach Martha Drewery, Wife, aged 29, born 1862 Alborough Thomas Drewery, Son, aged 11, born 1880, Hull Fannie Drewery, Daughter, aged 7, born 1884, Swine Eliza Drewery, Daughter, aged 6, born1885 Swine Occupation of father: Farm Hind
- 1898
- Joined the Army - the East Yorkshire Regiment
- 1901c
- Private in the Infantry 38/64 Regimental Depot, Whittington Heath, Nr Lichfield, Staffordshire 'Thomas joined the army in 1898, aged eighteen and served in the army (possibly with the East Yorkshire Regiment) in India, the Khyber Pass and the North-West Frontier. He was a bugler and found playing the Last Post one of his most harrowing experiences. He enjoyed embroidery and two of his pictures of the regimental crest hung in the house until his death when they disappeared despite being promised to Ida Crabb. Thomas left the army after six years and took up the position of coachman at Portington Hall near Eastrington. It was here he met Harriet Ann Harrison' Thomas William Drewery, Son ARMY RECORD - Pre- WW1 Joined the East Yorkshire Regiment at Beverley November 21st 1900 aged 20 years 10 months, enlisting for 7 years Army Service and 5 years Reserve. Served in India from the 24th October 1901 to the 19th January 1905 and at home from February 20th 1906 to the 20th November 1908. In 1906 he took a Mounted Infantry Class. From 1908 until the outbreak of war in 1914, Tom was in the Reserves. On transfer to the Reserves in 1908 his conduct and character were described as exemplary - no offence and no instance of drunkenness in the whole service of 8 years. Asked what trade he desired in civil life, he said the police. It was also stated that he was intelligent, had a good power of command and was tactful in his way of handling men. In addition he had served as the Regimental Drummer for 6 and a half years. He was also a proficient platelayer. His physical description was given as waist 34 inches, chest 38 inches, boots 9, complexion fresh, hair light brown, scar over right eye.
- 1908
- Marries Harriet Harrison in the Parish Church, Eastrington Thomas Batty Drewery, Bachelor of Hive and this parish, labourer, aged 28 and Harriet Ann Harrison, Spinster of this parish, Eastrington , Domestic Servant, aged 25, were married by banns in the presence of George Harrison and Esther Harrison Fathers: William Drewery, Publican, John Harrison, Labourer
- 1909
- Living in Portington as Groom
- 1910
- EASTRINGTON RIFLE MATCH An interesting and evenly contested match took place last weekend between a Portington team and an Eastrington team on the Eastrington range, resulting in a win for the former by 6 points. The conditions were ten shots each in two rounds, range two hundred yards, possible 50 scores.Portington Captain Liversidge 16, 16, 32; Tom Drewery 23, 22, 45; Norton 23, 21, 44; Mons Eekstein Wetherall 24, 15, 39; Kirkwood 20, 23, 43; Total 247. Eastrington totalled 241 Hull Daily Mail, February 22nd 1910
- 1911c
- Living in Sandholme Thomas Batty Drewery, Head, aged 31, married, worker, born Hull Harriet Drewery, wife, aged 28, married, born Eastrington Fannie Drewery, daughter, aged 1, born Portington Thomas William Drewery, son, aged 2 months, born Sandholme Address: Sandholme, Howden Occupation: Railway Platelayer The house had 5 rooms
- 1914-1918
- 'In 1914 Thomas was called up to serve with the East Yorkshire Regiment first in France, and then Belgium. After at least twelve months he came home on leave, following which he was sent out to Selonica, in Greece and then to Egypt. He was never wounded but he did catch malaria. He had no further leave until 1918 when the war ended.' Thomas William Drewery, Son Tom Drewery, East Yorkshire Regiment is recorded on a plaque listing men who served in the First World War in the vestry of St. Michael 's Church, Eastrington Genuki - Eastrington
- 1917
- Baptism record names occupation as Army Groom
- 1918
- Register of Electors: Bishopsoil, Gilberdike Thomas Batty Drewery, Ings Nook Lane Harriet Drewery, Ings Nook Lane
- 1920
- Occupation recorded as platelayer
- 1919-41
- 'When he came back from the war he worked on the railways for the Hull and at Barnsley Railway Company. The line was built by Hull businessmen to transport coal. He worked for the company until his death in 1941 aged sixty years. He and Harriet, together with their family lived in a cottage in Sandholme, Gilberdike. Thomas was a very social person and enjoyed many activities including sport. He enjoyed cricket and football and won cups whilst in the army for cross country running. He was very interested in local affairs. He was secretary of the village hall and chairman and secretary of many organisations' Thomas William Drewery Son
- 1939 Register
- Living at Yokefleet Cottages, Howden R.D. Thomas B. Drewery born January 3rd 1880 Platelayer Railway, Observer Corps Harriet (Ann) Drewery born 7th April 1883 Unpaid Domestic Duties Dorothy D. Drewery born 29th October 1917 Shop assistant Evelyn Drewery born 18th October 1921 Shop Assistant Irene Drewery born 30th November 1926 At School
- 1940
- Daughter Mary marries George Hall Son Bill marries Ida Crabb
- 1948
- Daughter Irene marries Joseph Kitching
- 1941
- On July 4th, Tom dies from a heart attack, and was buried in the churchyard in Eastrington. 'It is possible that his heart attack was brought on by the news of his son Arthur 's capture by the Germans at Dunkirk.' Thomas William Drewery, Son Memorial Inscription: Eastrington Churchyard: 'In loving memory of Thomas B. Drewery died July 4th 1941 aged 61 years. Also Harriet Ann dear wife of Thomas, died December 5th 1967 aged 83 years. Also Arthur G Drewery son of the above buried in the British Cemetery, Germany, August 1944 aged 31 years. At rest.'
In your grandmother’s words · from her notebook
Family
Parents
The children of William & Martha
Thomas Batty Drewery b. 1880this page · · ·
Marriage
Children
Photographs
3 photographs are with the family — family sign-in
Life
Confirmed — anchored to a recordEstimated — inferred
1891
Census · 1891
1891
Living in Benningholme, Skirlaugh with family (indexed as Draney) William Drewery, Head, aged 38, born 1862 Holbeach Martha Drewery, Wife, aged 29, born 1862 Alborough Thomas Drewery, Son, aged 11, born 1880, Hull Fannie Drewery, Daughter, aged 7, born 1884, Swine Eliza Drewery, Daughter, aged 6, born1885 Swine Occupation of father: Farm Hind
— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1900
He enlists — the East Yorkshire Regiment
1900 at Beverley
Enlisted at Beverley, 21 November 1900, aged 20 years and 10 months. Conduct and character: exemplary — no offence, and no instance of drunkenness, in the whole service of 8 years. Regimental drummer 6½ years. A proficient platelayer. Complexion fresh, hair light brown; scar over right eye.— Army service record, East Yorkshire Regiment (1900–1908)
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research, cited — not yet re-verified at the image:
- Army service record, East Yorkshire Regiment (1900–1908) — Tom's pre-war service papers, transcribed in full by Janet Brock: enlisted at Beverley for 7 years' service and 5 in the Reserve; India, 24 October 1901 – 19 January 1905; Mounted Infantry Class, 1906; transferred to the Reserve 20 November 1908. Asked what trade he desired in civil life, he said the police. from Mum’s research
1901
Census · 1901
1901
Private in the Infantry 38/64 Regimental Depot, Whittington Heath, Nr Lichfield, Staffordshire 'Thomas joined the army in 1898, aged eighteen and served in the army (possibly with the East Yorkshire Regiment) in India, the Khyber Pass and the North-West Frontier. He was a bugler and found playing the Last Post one of his most harrowing experiences. He enjoyed embroidery and two of his pictures of the regimental crest hung in the house until his death when they disappeared despite being promised to Ida Crabb. Thomas left the army after six years and took up the position of coachman at Portington Hall near Eastrington. It was here he met Harriet Ann Harrison' Thomas William Drewery, Son ARMY RECORD - Pre- WW1 Joined the East Yorkshire Regiment at Beverley
November 21st 1900 aged 20 years 10 months, enlisting for 7 years Army Service and 5 years Reserve. Served in India from the 24th
October 1901 to the 19th
January 1905 and at home from
February 20th 1906 to the 20th
November 1908. In 1906 he took a Mounted Infantry Class. From 1908 until the outbreak of war in 1914, Tom was in the Reserves. On transfer to the Reserves in 1908 his conduct and character were described as exemplary - no offence and no instance of drunkenness in the whole service of 8 years. Asked what trade he desired in civil life, he said the police. It was also stated that he was intelligent, had a good power of command and was tactful in his way of handling men. In addition he had served as the Regimental Drummer for 6 and a half years. He was also a proficient platelayer. His physical description was given as waist 34 inches, chest 38 inches, boots 9, complexion fresh, hair light brown, scar over right eye.
— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1908
Married Harriet Ann Harrison
28 November 1908 at Eastrington
No. 65 — Banns of Marriage between Thomas Watty Drewery (Bachelor) of this Parish and Harriet Harrison (Spinster), Par. of Selby. Published: 1st, on Sunday Nov. 8th; 2d, Nov. 15th; 3d, Nov. 22nd — by William J. Barrett.— Banns — Eastrington (1908)
28 November 1908, Eastrington parish church — Thomas Batty Drewery, bachelor, of Hive and this parish, labourer, 28; Harriet Ann Harrison, spinster, of this parish, domestic servant, 25. Witnesses George and Esther Harrison; fathers William Drewery, publican, and John Harrison, labourer.— The marriage certificate (1908)
Thomas Batty Drewery, bachelor, of Hive and this parish, labourer, 28, and Harriet Ann Harrison, spinster, of this parish, domestic servant, 25, married by banns — witnesses George and Esther Harrison; fathers William Drewery, publican, and John Harrison, labourer. 28 November 1908.— Marriage register, Eastrington (1908)
No. 65 — Banns of Marriage between Thomas Watty Drewery (Bachelor) of this Parish and Harriet Harrison (Spinster), Par. of Selby. Published: 1st, on Sunday Nov. 8th; 2d, Nov. 15th; 3d, Nov. 22nd — by William J. Barrett.— Banns — Eastrington (1908)
The record image is with the family — family sign-in
Read at the image record Evidence
Confirmed against the original record, read at the image:
- Banns — Eastrington (1908) — Eastrington banns book, PE 150/20/1/1, entry no. 65 (East Riding Archives; findmypast image ...PE-150-20-1-1-VERS-1537-1900/00014), read 4 July 2026. Two details worth their place: the curate's "Watty" for Batty, and her residence — the parish of Selby, where service had kept her; she came home to marry. read at the image
- The marriage certificate (1908) — The certificate Mum photographed — it is shown on Tom's page, and its text is carried there in full. Her age is entered as twenty-five; she was twenty-four — the first of two records to age her a year (the 1939 Register repeats the trick with her birth year). GRO index: December quarter 1908, Howden district, volume 9D page 189. index entry — original not yet seen
- Marriage register, Eastrington (1908) — Eastrington parish church — the certificate is photographed on this page. Hive is the neighbouring hamlet. from Mum’s research
- Banns — Eastrington (1908) — Eastrington banns book, PE 150/20/1/1, entry no. 65 (East Riding Archives; findmypast image ...PE-150-20-1-1-VERS-1537-1900/00014), read 4 July 2026. The curate wrote him "Thomas Watty Drewery" — Batty misheard — and entered his bride "of the Parish of Selby", where service still kept her; three Sundays later they married at Eastrington. read at the image
1909
Groom at Portington
1909
Living in Portington as Groom— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1910
The Eastrington rifle match
1910
An interesting and evenly contested match took place last weekend between a Portington team and an Eastrington team on the Eastrington range, resulting in a win for the former by 6 points… Portington: Tom Drewery 23, 22 — 45.— Hull Daily Mail — the Eastrington rifle match (1910)
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research, cited — not yet re-verified at the image:
- Hull Daily Mail — the Eastrington rifle match (1910) — Hull Daily Mail, 22 February 1910, transcribed by Janet Brock. Ten shots each in two rounds at two hundred yards; Tom's 45 was the top score of the match. from Mum’s research
1911
Census · 1911
1911
Living in Sandholme Thomas Batty Drewery, Head, aged 31, married, worker, born Hull Harriet Drewery, wife, aged 28, married, born Eastrington Fannie Drewery, daughter, aged 1, born Portington Thomas William Drewery, son, aged 2 months, born Sandholme Address: Sandholme, Howden Occupation: Railway Platelayer The house had 5 rooms
— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1914
In 1914
1914
Thomas B. Drewery — East Yorkshire Regiment, 6582; Royal Engineers, Acting Corporal, WR/143039. Victory, British, 1914–15 Star. Theatre of war first served in: (1) France; date of entry, 15.1.15.— First World War medal rolls
Confirmed in index record Evidence
Found in an index or transcript — the original page not yet read:
- First World War medal rolls — Campaign-medal index (TNA WO 372, via findmypast): Thomas B. Drewery, Acting Corporal WR/143039, Corps of Royal Engineers — formerly 6582, East Yorkshire Regiment. Rolls: Victory & British, RE/102 B61 11351; 1914–15 Star, RE/15 254. His date of entry matches the 2nd East Yorkshires' landing at Le Havre, 16–19 January 1915; the battalion's diary then runs through the Second Battle of Ypres and Loos to Salonica, Doiran, and the Dardanelles forts. index entry — original not yet seen
1917
A wartime baptism entry
1917
Baptism record names occupation as Army Groom— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1918
On the electoral roll — Ings Nook Lane
1918
Register of Electors: Bishopsoil, Gilberdike Thomas Batty Drewery, Ings Nook Lane Harriet Drewery, Ings Nook Lane— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1919
Back to the railway
1919
'When he came back from the war he worked on the railways for the Hull and at Barnsley Railway Company. The line was built by Hull businessmen to transport coal. He worked for the company until his death in 1941 aged sixty years. He and Harriet, together with their family lived in a cottage in Sandholme, Gilberdike. Thomas was a very social person and enjoyed many activities including sport. He enjoyed cricket and football and won cups whilst in the army for cross country running. He was very interested in local affairs. He was secretary of the village hall and chairman and secretary of many organisations' Thomas William Drewery Son
— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1920
In 1920
1920
Occupation recorded as platelayer— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1939
The 1939 Register — Yokefleet Cottages
1939
Yokefleet Cottges, sch. 129 — Thomas B. Drewery, 3 Jan 80, Platelayer Railway [margin: Observer Corps.] — Harriet Ann Drewery, 7 Ap 83, unpaid domestic duties — Dorothy D. Drewery, 29 Oct 17, Shop Assistant — Evelyn Drewery [→ Thoms], 18 Oct 21, Shop Assistant — Irene Drewery [→ Kitching], 30 Nov 26, at School.
— The 1939 Register, Yokefleet Cottages
Read at the image record Evidence
Confirmed against the original record, read at the image:
- The 1939 Register, Yokefleet Cottages — 1939 Register, RG 101/3203F/013/21, schedule 129 (findmypast) — the register itself read 4 July 2026, confirming Janet Brock's transcription to the letter: "Observer Corps." stands inked in the wartime margin against his line, and his recorded date of birth is exact, 3 January 1880. The neighbouring schedule is a permanent-way lengthman's — railway cottages, end to end. The red ink of later years records two daughters' married names: Evelyn to Thoms (1943), Irene to Kitching (1948). read at the image
1940
Family weddings
Two of his children married in 1940: Mary to George Hall, and Bill to Ida Crabb.
1941
Died
4 July 1941
Memorial inscription, Eastrington churchyard — died 4 July 1941.— Memorial inscription, Eastrington
The record image is with the family — family sign-in
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research, cited — not yet re-verified at the image:
- Memorial inscription, Eastrington — Gravestone in Eastrington churchyard (photographed on this page); the church's First World War plaque in the vestry lists “Tom Drewery, East Yorkshire Regiment” among the men of the parish who served. from Mum’s research
1944
His son Arthur, prisoner of war
1944
DREWERY, Gnr. George Arthur, 833224. 201 Bty., 51 Anti-Tank Regt., Royal Artillery. 10th August, 1944. Age 30. Son of Thomas B. Drewery and Harriet Drewery, of Gilberdyke, Yorkshire. 11. G. 17.— The war-graves register — his son Arthur
The record image is with the family — family sign-in
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research, cited — not yet re-verified at the image:
- The war-graves register — his son Arthur — The printed register of the Berlin 1939–1945 War Cemetery — Janet held the page, and it is shown here; the entry formally names Arthur's parents. Verified against the CWGC's online register, 2026. Taken prisoner in the fall of France in 1940, Arthur died in captivity three years after his father. from Mum’s research
1948
After him
His youngest, Irene, married Joseph Kitching in 1948.
Our research
Memory and the record
Open research · Eastrington & the East Yorkshire Regiment
Tom's page is where family memory and the army's paperwork meet — mostly agreeing, sometimes not.
- 1898 or 1900? His son Bill remembered Tom joining up in 1898, aged eighteen, and serving “in India, the Khyber Pass and the North-West Frontier.” The service papers say he enlisted at Beverley on 21 November 1900, and served in India 1901–05. The memory of the bugler rhymes with the record's regimental drummer; the Frontier is possible for an East Yorkshires man of those years but stands unevidenced. The record wins the dates; the memory keeps the colour.
- A one-digit question. Janet's note of his medal card reads WR/43039; the campaign-medal index reads WR/143039. The card image would settle it.
- The 1921 census is indexed — the household at Bishopsoil, Howden district — but unopened (findmypast charges separately for 1921 views). It belongs on this page when opened.
- The embroidered crests. Two pictures of the regimental crest, worked by Tom himself, hung in the house until his death — promised to Ida, and vanished. Family memory records the loss; nothing more can.