SERGEANT ALBERT WILLIAM DRASDO 220642. Born in December 1894, Albert was the son of Paul and Julia Drasdo of 1, Nile Street, Hull (1901 census) and 81, Beverley Road, Hull. His family background may have caused friction when he enlisted for his father was from Germany. Enlisted 07/09/1914. Originally, joining the East Riding Yeomanry, Albert had already changed his middle name, which was given on his Birth Certificate as the German ‘Wilhelm’. Albert eventually made his way to the Pals and must have proved himself a capable soldier for me had made Sergeant. He died of wounds on 6th September 1918, perhaps as a result of the dreadful accident the day before when a soldier threw what he thought was a dud shell and it exploded killing Private Joseph Britton and wounding six others. Albert William Drasdo is buried at Longuenesse Souvenir Cemetery at St. Omer; he was 23 years old. How his father felt about his son going off to fight men from the land of his birth we’ll never truly know, but perhaps it is signalled in the fact that his medals were requested to be destroyed on 22nd March 1922.
There is a stained Glass Memorial Window to him, in the Hull Minster Chapel. His brother, Rudolf Henry Drasdo, served with the Royal Engineers during the war and lived at 77 Hymers Avenue, Hull.
| Albert Wilhelm Drasda. Transferred to East Yorks regiment; won ERY heavyweight boxing cup, 1916; name also spelt Drasdo in some sources; his father Paul Julius Drasdo obtained naturalisation for himself & 3 children in 1896 – he was originally from Germany, A.W.’s middle name was changed to William; buried in Longuenesse (St. Omer) cemetery; Leeds Mercury 28/4/16 (boxing tournament); 1st prize in heavyweight contest, Bridlington Spa – Driffield Times 23/6/17; HDM 14/9/18 notes death from gunshot wounds, “he was a fine young fellow and most popular”, ex Bridlington Grammar school |
