Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the only son of E. and W. Drinkwater of Coalville, Leics.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday July 5th, 1918

LOCAL CASUALTIES

Pte. Douglas Drinkwater, of the Leicesters, is reported to have been killed in action. He was about 22 years of age, and formerly worked as a baker for the Coalville Co-Operative Society, and resided in James Street. His parents have now moved to Burton-on-Trent, his father, Mr William Drinkwater, being a goods guard on the Midland Railway.

Coalville Times article - Friday January 24th, 1919

COALVILLE CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY

EMPLOYEE’S ROLL OF HONOUR

The 140th quarterly meeting of the Coalville Workingmen’s Co-Operative Society was held in the Adult School Hall on Saturday evening, Mr C. W. Brown, jnr. presiding over a good attendance.

The chairman said it was the first time since he had been chairman that he had been able to wish the members a happy new year, except with bated breath. They were glad that peace was at hand. The war had made many homes sad and they all hoped that at the peace conference now sitting some method would be arrived at in dealing with disputes between nations which would prevent anything of the kind happen again (hear, hear).

A letter was read from Mr W. Stacey, thanking the members for their vote of sympathy with him on the death of his son.

The chairman said that it had been remarked that the Society had made many appeals to the local Tribunal, but it was not generally known that 85 of their employees had joined the Forces. He regretted to say that ten had made the supreme sacrifice, their names being:

J. Horrocks (boot department), E. Stinchcombe, W. Mace (stables), J. Brooks (Bagworth grocery), V. Hancox, W. Tyers (Ellistown grocery), D. Drinkwater (Central bakery), W. Collier (Hugglescote grocery), R. Brooks (butchery), and T. Wild (tailoring).

Coalville Times article - Friday July 18th, 1919


COALVILLE SOLDIERS WELCOMED

The employees of the Coalville Co-Operative Society organised a garden party on Wednesday as a welcome home to their fellow employees who have been serving in the Forces. A company of about 250 were taken by motor ‘bus to the Barrow Hill Farm, Osgathorpe, recently purchased by the Society, and there had tea and games, a pleasant time being spent. The Coalville Coronation Band was present. Of the 83 employees who served in the Forces, 7 were killed. The number recently returned and who were welcomed on Wednesday, was 42. Mr W. Scaysbrook (chairman) read the following to the assembly:

“Coalville Workingmen’s Co-Operative Society. – The primary object of our gathering to-day is to afford the opportunity of welcoming back to our midst those of our fellow employees and comrades who, responding to the call of duty, have endured danger and hardships in order that civilisation might be protected from the ravages of a ruthless foe, and in order that life for all nations shall be more worth living. The Society, with which we are associated, has made its contribution to the common cause, no less than 83 of its employees having joined the military, naval and air forces. To all who have been spared to return, we to-day give a whole-hearted “welcome home,” and at the same time express our deep appreciation of the services they have rendered, and our gratitude for having taken their part in protecting our hearths and homes. To all those who are still in service, we wish a speedy return to the more peaceful pursuits of our movement, so that they, with us, may help forward the day of the Co-Operative commonwealth. At a time like this we cannot forget, and we would not if we could, those of our number who have made the supreme sacrifice of their lives, and once again offer our deepest sympathy with all those who, through the tragedy of war, have lost those who were dear to them. Their names are:

J. W. Brooks, W. Brooks, W. Mace, T. Wild, R. Stinchcombe, W. Collier, R. Brooks, W. Tyers, V. Hancock, J. Horrocks and D. Drinkwater.

In conclusion we venture to express the earnest hope that never again shall you be called upon to leave your homes to engage in warfare, but trust that your future may be peaceful and prosperous, and worthy the sacrifices that have been made. – July 16th, 1919.”

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 11/4/2018