Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Daniel Draper, a domestic gardener, born 1857 in Woolsthorpe, Lincs., and his wife Mary Draper, born 1863 in Croxton Kerrial, Leics. Percy who was employed as a farm boy was born in 1887 in Woolsthorpe, Lincs., his siblings were, Ernest, a house boy, born 1886 in Woolsthorpe, Lincs., George William, born 1890 in in Scarrington, Notts., Mabel Annie, born 1893 and Lilian, born 1898, the latter two siblings were both born in Culverthorpe, Lincs., in March 1901 the family home was at 3, Culverthorpe Village, Lincs. In April 1911 Percy was serving as a Private with the 1st Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment and was stationed in Aden, South Arabia. On Friday November 6th 1914 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “THE LOCAL ROLL OF HONOUR” – FURTHER CASUALTIES.- Private Percy Draper, of the 1st Lincolns was wounded at Le Basse on the 27th ult. He is the son of Mrs M. Draper, tobacconist, Sherrard Street, Melton Mowbray, and has written to his mother as follows:- No. 3 Northern General Hospital, Sheffield, Nov. 4th 1914. Dear Mother, Am going on fine here, well looked after and happy. Expect to go to convalescent home from here either just outside Sheffield or to Buxton; from there to furlough, after my wound is healed. Have two bullet holes in the back of left shoulder, but not serious. Was wounded at Le Basse, on the 27th, where all the heavy fighting is still in progress. We lost all the regiment there, I don’t think 200 men remain to tell the tale. Those who got through on the 27th fell on the 28th. All our officers are about gone. I can assure you it was a hot time. The Germans had a bit of their own back on us that day; it was murder out and out. I should not bother to visit me if I were you, for I shall be soon home.” On Friday May 14th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – HOW A MELTONIAN DIED.- On Tuesday morning Mrs. Draper, tobacconist, Sherrard Street, Melton Mowbray, received a letter from Pte. Turner, of the 1st Lincolnshire Regiment, giving particulars of the death of her son, Private Percy Draper, who was killed in action at Ypres on February 22nd. Except for a formal intimation from the War Office, these are the first details she has had. The writer stated that Pte. Draper was on out-post duty, when he was hit on the left side under the small ribs. The bullet entered the body, and remained inside. It bent all the cartridges in his pouch. Deceased only lived three hours, and passed away very peacefully. He was suitably buried, and they decorated his grave as best they could. Deceased, who leaves a widow and infant child, was an attendant at Ratcliff Asylum. He had served seven years with the 1st Lincoln’s in India, and as a Reservist he was called out on the outbreak of the war. Early in the war he received two bullet wounds in the left shoulder, and after treatment in hospital he spent a few days on a visit to his mother in Melton before returning to the front on November 30th. Percy was originally buried in La Chapelle Farm Cemetery, Zillebeke, Belgium. Percy first entered the theatre of war in France on the 27th August 1914.