Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From Australian Remembrance Army

Over the past six years we have submitted the service records and causes of death of several hundred veterans to the Office of Australian War Graves for assessment for Official Commemoration. To date, more than 100 of these veterans interred at Lutwyche Cemetery have been accepted as Official Commemorations, and their graves are now being formally marked and will be maintained in perpetuity by the Office of Australian War Graves.

Private Henry Edward Drew, an Australian veteran of both World Wars, is one of the previously unmarked WWI veterans’ graves in Lutwyche Cemetery that has been accepted as an Official Commemoration by the Office of Australian War Graves.
See Australian Remembrance Army Facebook page

WWI:
7232, Private, Australian Corps Headquarters
WWII:
Q153026, Private, 14 Australian Field Bakery

OAWG Official Commemoration: https://connect.dva.gov.au/.../viewCommemoration.html...
Henry Edward Drew was born on 23 June 1899 in Brisbane, Queensland, to William John Drew and Mary Drew (née Dinneen). He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in Brisbane on 6 October 1916, stating his occupation as baker and his age as 18 years and 4 months, though he was in fact only 17 years and 3 months old. He nominated his mother of Sandgate, Brisbane, as his next of kin. On 24 January 1917 he embarked for overseas service with the 9th Battalion aboard HMAT Ayrshire from Sydney.

After arriving in England he trained with the 3rd Training Battalion at Durrington on Salisbury Plain. In August 1917 he was admitted to Fargo Military Hospital suffering from an abscess and later lumbago (lumbar myalgia), before returning to duty. In December 1917 he proceeded overseas to France and was taken on strength of the 41st Battalion. In February 1918 he was transferred from the 41st Battalion to the Australian Corps School, later serving with an Australian Corps working company at headquarters. He returned to Australia aboard HT Boorara, disembarking on 26 August 1919.

Following his return to Australia, he was recorded living at Windsor, Brisbane, in 1922 and working as a baker. On 7 November 1925 he married Mary Agnes Wockner, and their daughter Maura was born the following year. By 1938, the family were living at Kedron, Brisbane. In December 1938, while visiting a relative, he noticed a fire and discovered that his own house was burning. A neighbour had already alerted the Northern Suburbs Fire Brigade, but the fire had spread too far and the house was gutted. The house was insured for £620, but the furniture was not covered as the policy had recently lapsed.

His Second World War service began with enlistment in the Australian Military Forces in Brisbane on 15 June 1942, aged 42. His occupation was recorded as baker and his next of kin as his wife, Mary Agnes Drew of Kedron, Brisbane. He served in Australia with the Army Service Corps and the 12th Australian Field Bakery, where his civilian trade was used to help supply bread for military personnel. He was discharged on 6 January 1944 after about eighteen months of service, his occupation being considered essential to the civilian wartime food supply.

Private Henry Edward Drew died in Brisbane on 7 December 1966, aged 67, and was buried in Monumental Portion 11, Lutwyche Cemetery, Brisbane. He is interred with his wife, Agnes, who died in June 1953.

In 2024, we received notification that the Office of Australian War Graves had accepted our application for an Official War Graves Commemoration. After decades in an unmarked grave, his final resting place now bears a plaque commemorating his service to Australia — ensuring his name endures among those remembered for their duty and sacrifice.

His identity and dignity have now been restored.

Lest We Forget