George Drewry

George Drewry
Drewry (left) with fellow midshipmen Wilfred St. Aubyn Malleson and Greg Russell on Imbros. Photo by Ernest Brooks.
Born	3 November 1894 Manor Park, Essex, England
Died	2 August 1918 (aged 23) Scapa Flow, Orkney, Scotland
Buried at	City of London Cemetery, Manor Park
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Navy
Rank	Lieutenant
Unit	SS River Clyde
Battles/wars	World War I
Awards	Victoria Cross

George Leslie Drewry VC (3 November 1894 – 2 August 1918) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Drewry was born on 3 November 1894 to Thomas and Mary Drewry.^[1] As a 20 year-old, and a midshipman in the Royal Naval Reserve during the First World War, he was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on 25 April 1915 at V Beach in the Landing at Cape Helles, during the Gallipoli Campaign.

He later achieved the rank of lieutenant and was killed in an accident at Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands, on 2 August 1918.^[2][3]

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Imperial War Museum, London, England.

Citation

Assisted Commander Unwin at the work of securing the lighters under heavy rifle and maxim fire. He was wounded in the head, but continued his work and twice subsequently attempted to swim from lighter to lighter with a line.

—The London Gazette, No. 29264, 13 August 1915^[1]

References

Drewry's medal at the Imperial War Museum.

• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)
• VCs of the First World War - Gallipoli (Stephen Snelling, 1995)
• VCs of the First World War - The Naval VCs (Stephen Snelling, 2002)

External links

• Location of grave and VC medal (E. London)