DRAKE BROCKMAN, Karl Edgar
| Service Number: | W237596 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 7 May 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | Royal Fusiliers |
| Born: | Perth, Western Australia, 14 October 1891 |
| Home Town: | Guildford, Swan, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Guildford Grammer School , Western Australia and Oxford University, England |
| Occupation: | Barrister and Puisne Judge |
| Died: | Mosman Park, Western Australia , 10 November 1967, aged 76 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Karrakatta Cemetery & Crematorium, Western Australia Anglican-Lawn 5-0467. |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 4 Aug 1914: | Involvement British Forces (All Conflicts), Lieutenant, Royal Fusiliers, Commissioned as a Lieutenant but promoted to Captain in the field. Evacuated back to U.K. after being W.I.A. |
|---|
World War 2 Service
| 7 May 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lieutenant, W237596 | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 May 1944: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lieutenant, W237596 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Maurice Kissane
Karl Edgar Drake-Brockman was born in Perth in 1891.
He was the son of Frederick Slade Drake Brockman and Grace Vernon Bussell. His parents were from well known families who settled in Western Australia in 1830. That was the year after Perth was founded. His father Frederick was an explorer and surveyor who became the Surveyor-General of Western Australia.
His mother Grace received a Royal Humane Society Medal at the age of sixteen for riding her horse into the surf to rescue ship wreck survivors in 1876. Grace was assisted by an Aboriginal stockman who worked on their station. Gracetown near the ship wreck site was named after Grace Bussell. The town of Busselton is named after Grace's family who first settled there.
Hence Karl had a fair bit to live up to. His family expectations for him to succeed were quite high.
Karl was educated at Guildford Grammer School between 1899 and 1910. Karl excelled academically in the classroom and on the playing fields. He was the School Captain. When he graduated in 1910, Karl won Western Australia's Rhodes Scholarship for him to attend Oxford University.
Karl read Law at Oxford. He Graduated with Honours, just as war was declared. Karl volunteered to serve in the British Army. He was commissioned into the Royal Fusilers then later promoted Captain. Karl was W.I.A. on the Western Front. It took over a year to recover from his wounds before he was fit enough to return to Perth.
Karl practised as a Barrister and Solicitor to gain experience, before working for the Commonwealth as a Puisne Judge.
In 1940 he volunteered to serve in the Australian Army Legal Corps. He was re-commissioned as a Lieutenant and promoted Captain. His puisne judge experience meant that he conducted court martial proceedings when required in that role.
He was discharged in 1944 and placed on the retired list. That was likely because of his age for that rank.
His Honour Karl Edgar Drake-Brockman indeed lived up to his families' expectations before passing away.
He died in his 77th year.
Family History from Geni Pro cited.
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