Birkenhead survivors

John Drake

COLOUR-SERGEANT  DRAKE  a young non commissioned officer was in charge of the file of Royal Marines on board the Birkenhead.  In 1848 he had been promoted  from Private to Corporal -  the recommendation reading…

 `Private John Drake lately serving on board the Waterwitch and now in Haslar hospital be promoted to the rank of Corporal in consequence of his having fought gallantly  after receiving two wounds as reported to their Lordships by Commander Mansfield late in charge of the Brazilian slave vessel Romeo Primero when the prisoners attempted to recapture the vessel; the Deputy Adjutant General directs that Private John Drake be so promoted to Corporal and that this order be read at each of the Divisions of Royal Marines`.

In 1850 he drafted to the Birkenhead at Portsmouth and sailed with the ship to Ascension Island then to the Cape of Good Hope returning to England to take on drafts for the Kaffir War.

 He was standing on the forecastle when the troopship struck the rock and was thrown down by the force of the shock. In the terrible moments which followed he attempted to save the life of Cornet Rolt of the 12th Lancers and almost succeeded in doing so. When the ship sank he was one of those who, on regaining the surface, clung to the main topmast from which he was rescued with another Royal Marine (John Cooper), on the following afternoon by the schooner Lioness. Sgt. Drake always spoke warmly of the courageous conduct of Captain Salmond the Birkenhead`s master.

This veteran survivor of many perils of the sea was Dorsetshire born and bred. His father was a game-keeper to Lord Portman and young Drake was trained to be a woodman.  However he decided on a career at sea  - in September 1843 he joined the Royal Marines.

Following the disaster he served in the Baltic and Black Sea 1854-55 and in China 1860. He was discharged on September 22 1864 after 21 years service.

John Drake was an Queen's Almsman at Westminster Abbey 1876-1905.  The origin of this title goes back to the 16th century when Henry VII founded an Almshouse near the Church in the time when the Abbey was a Benedictine monastery.  The almsmen appointed had always served the Crown. Today  appointments are suggested by the Dean of Westminster and Royal Warrants are still issued by the Sovereign to the office.  The Almsmen were included in the foundation set up in 1560 by Elizabeth I when the Abbey became a Collegiate Church. However, they lost the use of the almshouses some centuries ago.  The duties when he was an Almsmen would have been to attend the Abbey on various Sundays, help with the collections and seating the congregation etc.  He was also a "tomb shewer" or guide showing visitors the monuments 1883-87. He died on Easter Monday April 24 1905 very shortly after he left the Abbey. 
 

 Birkenhead Home      Site Home     Next Survivor