TEIGNMOUTH & SHALDON

British War MedalView more

Allied Victory MedalView more

Awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal

Frederick Morris Drake was born in the 2nd quarter of 1875 to father, Frederick Drake, and mother Sophia Eliza Drake nee Snelling. He was baptised on the 22nd of June 1875 at East Teignmouth, Devon.

The Drake family were living at 1, Triangle Place, Teignmouth, Devon, in 1881. Frederick Drake, born 1838 at Teignmouth, Devon, was a Glass Painter employing 5 men and 1 boy. Sophia Eliza Drake, born 1840 at Teignmouth, Devon, a Berlin Shop Keeper, Frederick Morris Drake, son, born 1875 at Teignmouth, Henry Edward Drake, son, born 1877 at Teignmouth, Devon,  Scholar, Mary Annie Marston, born 1851 at Middlesex, a Berlin Shop Assistant,  Margaret Furse, born 1857 at Mevagissey, Cornwall, a Nurse Domestic,  Mary Jane Hurrell, born 1855, Cornwood, Devon, General Work.

His mother, Sophia Eliza, died in 1890 and is buried in plot G135, Teignmouth Old Cemetery.

In 1891, The Drake family had moved to Den House, Esplanade, Teignmouth, Devon. Frederick Drake, a widower, is an Artist In Stained Glass. Miriam F Drake, daughter. born 1868 at Teignmouth, Devon, and Sophia Eliza Drake, daughter, born 1870 at Teignmouth, Devon. Frederick Morris Drake is now an Apprentice to Artist in stained glass.

Frederick Morris Drake married Alice Wilson on the 9th of June 1897 at Powderham Church, Devon.

In the 1901 census, the Drake family had moved to 7, Haldon Road, Exeter, Devon. Frederick (Frank) Drake, Frederick Morris (Maurice), and Wilfred are all Glass Painters. Alice Drake, daughter, married, born 1875 at Kenton, Devon, Lucy Snelling, Sister-In-Law, Widow, born 1840 at Wotton, Norfolk, Sophy Drake, Grand Daughter. born 1901 at Exeter, Devon, and Emily Manley, born 1878 at Cullompton, Devon, a Domestic Servant.

By 1911, Frederick Morris Drake had moved to 22, Sylvan Road, Exeter, Devon. He is now a Glass Painter and Novelist. His wife, Alice Drake, aged 35, born 1876 at Powderham Devon and daughter, Sophie Daphne Drake, aged 10, born 1901 at St David's, Exeter, Devon.

Frederick Morris had served prior to WW1 in the
1st Devon Rifles Volunteers as a private and NCO from
June 1891 until October 1896.

Frederick Morris attested on the 22nd of September 1914. His service record showed that he used his artist name of Frederick Maurice and was educated at Teignmouth Grammar School. He had a 'slight knowledge of colloquial French'. His height was 5' 10 3/4".

He was initially with the 22nd Battalion the Royal Fusiliers from the 22nd of September 1914 until the 16th of December 1914 as a Private and NCO.

He was then with the 5th Battalion of the Dorset Regiment as a Lieutenant from the 16th of December 1914 until the 28th of January 1915.

The 7th Dorsets came into being at Wyke Regis on the 21st of November 1914, but cannot be said to have properly formed as a battalion until the 30th of January 1915.  On the 10th of February, Lieutenant-Colonel W.H Biddulph of the Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps was appointed Commanding Officer. 

Cap Badge of the Dorsetshire Regiment. © IWM (INS 7213)

At this time the 7th had a large complement of officers – at one stage more than 100 – but relatively few soldiers. Officers and NCOs were sent on courses to prepare them to train reserves to make up the numbers in the Dorset Regiment’s two newly created Service battalions, the 5th & 6th.

On the 28th of May, the Battalion moved to the Hutments Camp at Bovington, and Lieutenant-Colonel F.P Smyly assumed command on the 28th June.  The Battalion had rapidly filled up with men. 

In July, 460 men joined from the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion, and the 7th sent out recruiting parties to gather more volunteers.  As a result, the Battalion was able to carry out their primary task of training reserves, who started to leave in September 1915 destined mainly for the 5th Dorsets, who were in Gallipoli, and the 6th in France.

The 7th Battalion remained in this role at Bovington Camp until August 1916, when the decision was made to disband it.  On the 25th, 460 men were returned to the 3rd Dorsets and another 215 were sent to the 35th Training Reserve Battalion. 

In this Battalion, the men of the various units were permitted to retain their regimental badges and, as Colonel Smyly continued in command, the move was not felt so great.  On the 1st of April 1917, the 35th Training Reserve Battalion was incorporated into the 53rd Training Reserve Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment cutting ties to the Dorset Regiment.

Glass Painting  

Frederick Morris' father, Frederick, died in December 1920 and is buried in plot G135, Teignmouth Old Cemetery.

Frederick Drake

Frederick Drake (1838-1920) was born in Devon and worked as a glass-maker in Exeter.  He studied at the local School of Art and was apprenticed to the firm founded in the city by his uncle Robert Beer (formerly Conibeer) (c1799-1850), but then operated by his cousin Alfred Beer (1830-66).

In 1897 Frederick Drake bought this company, known by then as Beer and Driffield. Most of the work of this firm and most of Drake’s own is to be found locally, particularly in Devon and Somerset.  He had two sons who followed his trade and were apprenticed to him, Wilfred and (Frederick) Morris (found also as Maurice (1875-1923)).  Both sons joined their father and Frederick Morris ran the firm initially after his father’s death; it continued for some years after he died.

A conservation assessment in the former St Leonard's Church, Exeter, has revealed rare stained glass from the early 19th century.

The conversion of the former St Leonard's Church as part of the Newton's Place project will involve the restoration of many of the original features within the building. A conservation assessment of the stained glass has revealed some surprising findings.

We have already undertaken extensive research on the stained glass at the rear of the building, in the chancel. This glass was designed and made by the esteemed artist Frederick Drake, who also worked on Exeter Cathedral.

Frederick Morris Drake

Novelist's Death
We regret to learn from the Daily Mail of April 30, 1923, that Mr Frederick Morris Drake, better known as Maurice Drake, the novelist, glass painter, and authority on old stained-glass, died at Exeter yesterday. Mr Drake, who had been ill for some weeks of pneumonia, was in his 49th year.

His best-known novels were Wrack, The Salving of a Derelict, WO2, and The Doom Window. The Salving of a Derelict won a Daily Mail prize of £100 in 1906, offered for the best story by a new writer.

Mr Drake, who served in the war in the Dorsetshire Regiment, carried on at Exeter a glass-painting studio established there by his grand-uncle in 1827. In conjunction with his brother, Mr Wilfred Drake, he wrote two standard volumes on old stained glass. Messrs. Methuen published some of Mr Drake's works, and we remember during the war, in May 1916, Mr Laurie published his Saints and their Emblems, written in conjunction with Wilfred Drake, who also did the photos and drawings.

Frederick Morris Drake Novelist and Glass Painter