Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Benjamin B. and Jane Ann Drewett. His brother Herbert also fell.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday April 9th, 1915

We are pleased to hear that Mr Charles Drewett, son of Mr B. B. Drewett, of Hugglescote (the president of the Coalville Men’s Adult School) has been given a commission, being gazetted second lieutenant in the East Yorks Regiment. He paid a short visit to his home during Easter and while there received the notification from the War Office. He joined Kitchener’s Army in August and has since been training in various parts of the country. Mr C. Drewett is an old pupil of Mr L. L. Baldwin, surveyor to the Coalville Urban District Council, and for some time before the outbreak of war, held a Government surveying appointment in Nottingham.

Coalville Times article - Friday July 7th, 1916

COALVILLE URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL

DEATH OF LIEUT. C. DREWETT

Before the business commenced, the chairman made reference to the sad news received that day that 2nd Lieut. Chas Drewett had been killed in action. He said Lieut. Drewett was a son of Mr B. B. Drewett, of Hugglescote, a former member of the Council, whom they all knew, and there was a special reason why he should mention the fact and that was that the late officer was formerly connected with the Council. He served his apprenticeship under Mr Baldwin, their surveyor, and they were all well acquainted with him. He (the chairman) was sure that the sympathy and condolence went out to the parents and family in the great bereavement they were suffering under. He moved that a letter of condolence and sympathy be sent from the Council. This was seconded by Mr Fellows and carried in silence by the members rising from their seats.

LIEUT. C. DREWETT KILLED

We regret to record that on Thursday of last week, 2nd Lieutenant Chas. Drewett, of the East Yorkshire Regiment, son of Mr and Mrs B. B. Drewett, of Hugglescote, was killed in action in France.

On Monday morning, Mr and Mrs Drewett received a telegram from the War Office announcing that their son had been missing since June 29th and this was followed by the sad news of his death in a letter from the Colonel of the regiment. Extracts from Col. Pease’s letter are as follows:

“Your son, Charlie (as we called him) was killed by two rifle shot wounds last night. He died doing his duty bravely, and I can’t tell you how distressed we all are. He was a general favourite and a good officer, and I feel it as if I had lost another son. Unfortunately, his body had to be left in ‘No Man’s Land,’ but we know where he is and are sending a party of his platoon under Sergeant Aket to try to bring him in tonight. The sergeant carried him some distance last night, towards our lines under fire, but as he got nearer, the fire got worse and he was obliged to leave him. A volunteer party from his platoon are going out tonight and I hope later to be able to tell you that he lies in a soldier’s grave near here.”

Writing next day, (30th) the Colonel adds: “I regret very much to have to say that our search party, last night, under Sergeant Aket, were unable to find the body of your son. I am trying to put the place on a map and let you know the exact spot later.”

The deceased officer was 25 years of age. He had a genial disposition and gentlemanly bearing at all times which had won for him much popularity and esteem among his associates both in civil life and in the army, and wide public sympathy is felt for the family in their bereavement. He received his early training under Mr W. Fellows, at the Hugglescote Baptist School, and later at Ashby Grammar School, and after serving his articles under Mr L. L. Baldwin, the Coalville Urban Council’s surveyor, he proceeded to Nottingham, and was filling an appointment as surveyor there in the Government’s Land Valuation offices when war broke out. He joined up almost immediately and after his training in various places, was given a commission in the East Yorkshire Regiment. Mr Drewett’s eldest son is also serving with the forces.

Coalville Times article - Friday July 14th, 1916

HOW LIEUT. DREWETT DIED

SHOT WHILE RAIDING ENEMY POSITIONS

Further particulars as to how Lieut. C. Drewett, of the East Yorkshire Regiment, met his death are to hand in a letter received by his parents, Mr and Mrs B. B. Drewett, of Hugglescote, from a brother officer, Lieut. W. H. Dyson.

Lieutenant Dyson writes: “It is with deep regret that I write to break the sad news to you of the death of your son, Charles. He was killed early this morning in front of the German wire when nobly carrying out his duties with a raiding party. I ask you kindly to accept my very sincere sympathy and deepest regret in the loss, which I share with you, of a very gallant officer. I may say my brother officers and men in my company share with me in my expression of sympathy. I have known your son since he joined us 12 months last April, and all the time he has been with us, he has been loved and respected by his brother officers and men. He was always cheerful and ready to undertake any duty allotted to him and will be sorely missed by us all. I had the honour to shake him by the hand, and wish him good luck just before he started out last night, and it may be some consolation to you to know that I believe he was thoroughly prepared for, and expected, what happened and yet he was most cheerful in conversation. You may wish to know that his servant, Private A. Holland was with your son on the raiding party, and was assisting him when he received his fatal wound, being himself killed shortly afterwards. I sent a party out tonight to recover his body but regret to say that this will be impossible as owing to the terrific bombardment, proceeding now for some time, no trace could be found of him, the ground being ploughed up.”

Coalville Times article – Friday April 2nd, 1920

WAR MEMORIAL AT HUGGLESCOTE CHURCH

UNVEILED BY COL. R. E. MARTIN

A tablet which has been placed in Hugglescote Parish Church, to the memory of men from the parish who fell in the war, was unveiled by Lt.-Colonel R. E. Martin, C.M.G., on Saturday afternoon in the presence of a large congregation.

The tablet is of excellent design, in keeping with the handsome edifice, and is of a permanent character, the names of 101 men being inscribed on Swithland slate, set in a frame of Ketton stone, surmounted by a cross and crown encircled in a carved laurel wreath, with similar carvings on either side. The inscription runs as follows:

“Their name liveth for evermore.”

“To the Glory of God, and in imperishable memory of the men of the parish who fell in the great war, 1914 – 1918.”

The names of the men inscribed on the tablet are as follows:-

H. A. Attwood, C. T. Beadman, J. Brooks, W. Baker, J. E. Briggs, H. G. Blackham, J. T. Bishop, J. Barrs, G. Barrs, R. Beadman, E. Bonser, G. Beale, J. G. Bennett, E. S. Boot, W. Berrisford, F. J. Betteridge, F. P. Benistone, J. W. Cawley, F. Chamberlain, J. A. Crookes, R. A. Cross, L. Cross, J. Cox, P. Cliff, J. W. F. Collier, C. Drewett, H. B. Drewett, S. Dodds, A. Elkin, H. C. Elkin, J. Farn, H. Fletcher, H. Finch, L. Finch, G. Firban, G. Gadsby, A. Gamble, S. F. Gamble, W. Gray, W. O. Hoden, O. Hallam, B. Hatter, J. Haywood, W. Hill, F. Hill, J. E. Hibbert, G. Hart, G. H. Highfield, E. Harper, J. W. Harper, H. Hall, J. E. Holmes, J. Jones, W. Jones, F. J. Kirby, I. V. Kelham, H. Lewis, W. Lewis, W. Massey, H. O. Moseley, T. Marriott, G. Martin, J. A. Moult, J. Maunders, J. Moon, I. Mycroft, W. Newbold, O. H. Pratt, J. A. Pegg, F. Pink, E. H. Palmer, W. Riley, A. T. Richardson, W. Rogers, C. Simmons, E. A. Stinchcombe, J. Summers, S. Summers, C. Shilton, G. Slatter, J. Smith, J. C. Shaw, S. Smith, G. Spencer, S. C. Smith, J. W. Setchell, W. Statham, A. G. Tovell, S. T. Timson, J. Tebbatt, F. Whitmore, E. Willett, B. Walker, H. Watson, C. H. Walker, J. Woods, T. Willett, A. Wright, A. Wood, J. Young and W. Young.

As the congregation passed into the church, members of the Hugglescote Church Lads’ Brigade, with the ex-Sergt.-Major W. Hill in charge, lined up on either side of the entrance and two of the Brigade with bowed heads and leaning on reversed rifles, stood by the memorial, covered with the Union Jack.

The service, which was very impressive, was conducted by the Rev. Canon Broughton (vicar) and opened with the hymn, “Stand up for Jesus.” Then followed prayers and collects. Psalm 130, and a lesson read by the Rev. J. C. Wallace, after which the clergy and choir proceeded to the memorial, led by the churchwardens, Messrs. W. E. Canner and J. W. Fletcher.

In unveiling the tablet, Colonel Martin said “To the glory of God and in imperishable memory of the men of this parish who fell in the great war 1914 – 1918, I unveil this tablet, which has been erected by their fellow parishioners in grateful recognition of their self-sacrifice.”

The “Last Post” having been sounded by buglers of the Church Lads’ Brigade, the choir and clergy returned to their places and Colonel Martin gave an address from the chancel steps.

He spoke of the memorable days in August 1914, when the principles on which our national life is based were being assailed, and it was the part of every true man to stand in defence of them. They had tangible proof that the spirit which was then evoked in the nation was the same spirit as that shown by their forefathers who went out to fight country’s enemies. He would never forget the day about the end of August, 1914, when the North Midland Territorial Division, which had been mobilised about three weeks, was told to fill up its ranks for service abroad. It fell to him, among others, to come back into Leicestershire to try and explain to the people what they were up against, and he remembered what a splendid response they gave. In the North Midland Division, between 80 and 90 per cent of the men said they were prepared to go anywhere, though many of them were married men who had never experienced Army service before. Many things have happened since – much self-seeking, a desire to get rich quickly, many apparent inequalities of justice and self-sacrifice – but he was sure they could all take comfort from the fact that there was tangible proof given in those days that the nation was sound at heart and could be trusted to do the right thing when the crisis really arose. And what happened when the armies got overseas and began their real work? He ventured to say that no one had the privilege of serving in a better battalion. The men from that district – Coalville men they always called them – were a splendid lot of men filled with genuine enthusiasm for fitting themselves for the part which they had to play, and who on getting across the water, proved themselves as good as the best. He went on to speak of evidences of practical Christianity displayed by the men, and of deeds of heroism which came to his notice. One instance he recalled was when they were between Hill 60 and Ypres. When the Brigadier realised that he had in the ranks men accustomed to mining, he formed a number of Coalville men into a mining section, whose duty it was to construct projecting galleries in front of the trenches, to find out if the Germans were under-mining. One day a member of the party came across a German mine filled with German explosives in large quantities, and it would have been a very natural thing for him to want to get away from it as soon as possible, but instead of that, he crawled over the top and disconnected the mine and came back and reported it to his commanding officer. This man, whose name was Starbuck, had no thought for his own safety, but first took steps to safeguard his comrades.

Proceeding, Col. Martin said his services came to an end in October, 1915, but he had always felt ever since then that the war had been worth while, if for nothing else than for the fine spirit it brought out, and if the same spirit could be shown in regard to present day problems, it would go a long way towards reaching a solution. He was not one of those who said this country ought to have stood aside and have taken advantage of the trade while other countries were fighting. The people, who said that, he thought, were wrong. He thought that what the people of this country did when they found what they were up against should be an example and pattern to them now. If the war had done nothing else, with all the misery, self-sacrifice and sorrow, he believed they were worth while because they afforded the opportunity which was taken by so many of showing a truly Christian spirit. He believed that experience had not been lost, but would help them to get through present day difficulties with credit to themselves.

The closing hymn was 11, “For all the saints,” and a collection was taken for St. Dunstan’s Hostel for Blind Soldiers and Sailors. As the congregation were leaving the church, Mr F. Baxter (organist) played, “O, rest in the Lord.” Before and after the service, peals were rung with the bells half-muffled.

Coalville Times article - Friday May 21st, 1920

HUGGLESCOTE BAPTIST WAR MEMORIAL

UNVEILING OF A COMMUNION TABLE

The memory of young men from the Hugglescote Baptist Church and Sunday School, who fell in the war is to be perpetuated by a handsome oak communion table, with an inlaid brass plate, containing fourteen names, and a suitable inscription, and at a special service last Sunday afternoon the table was unveiled.

The ceremony was performed by the Rev. C. Barker (pastor) in the presence of a large congregation. The inscription and names on the table are as follows:

“In memory of those who gave their lives for freedom in the great war, 1914 – 1918”

James Cox, John W. Williamson, Frederick Chamberlain, Charles Drewett, John W. Brooks, J. W. T. Collier, John W. Barrs, T. Percy Deacon, George Barrs, Charles H. Shilton, George Wood, H. B. Drewett, Leslie Cross and Fred Whitmore.

The hymns sung during the service were “O God our help,” “Now the labourer’s task is o’er,” and “For all the saints.” Prior to the unveiling, the Rev. C. Barker read appropriate passages of scripture, and gave an address dealing with what had been accomplished in the war, and the debt they owed to the men who accomplished it. Ex-Captain J. Emmerson also gave a short address, speaking of his connection with the boys.

The Rev. C. Barker also read a letter from Captain Jamie, in which he wrote, “I very much appreciate the honour you have done me in suggesting that I should assist in the unveiling of your war memorial, and were it at all possible for me to get over to Coalville on that day I should have been proud to do so. However, I am afraid that is impossible. I very much regret this, as I was closely associated with many of your Hugglescote men during the war, and would gladly have taken such an opportunity of paying homage to the memory of those whose names are on the roll of honour.”

At the close of the service, the congregation sang “God bless our native land.” On Sunday evening, the Rev. C. Barker preached a memorial sermon, based on the text, “They being dead, yet speak.” Hebrews 11 – 4.

The collections realised over £10 towards the cost of the table, over £70, the whole of which has now been raised.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 7/10/2017