Victoria Cross Award-Midshipman George l,Drewry

In commemoration of Midshipman George l,Drewry, Sir Robin Wales invited Katy and 5 students to accompany her to the Cenotaph in Central Park,East Ham. 

George Drewry VC was born on 3rd November 1894, the son of Thomas and Mary Drewry, at 53 Haslemere (now Kitchener) Road, Forest Gate. The family later moved to 15 Hampton Road, Forest Gate, and then to 58 Claremont Road, Forest Gate. George attended Merchant Taylors' School in the City of London.

We watched respectfully as the stone was laid at Central Park Cenotaph in East Ham by Mayor of Newham Sir Robin Wales and Cadet Vidas Tinteris of Newham Cornwell VC Sea Cadets.

It is the first of five stones which will be presented, as part of the council’s centenary commemorations, to mark the courageous actions that earned five people from Newham the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry a member of the British and Commonwealth military services can receive.

Midshipman Drewry was the first person from Newham to be presented with the prestigious award following his actions on April 25 1915.

Whilst under fire, he helped his commander to secure barges, which acted as a bridge, from the SS River Clyde. 

George swam from barge to barge in order to secure the boats, despite having a head wound caused by a shell fragment.

Other guests included Newham council’s chief executive Kim Bromley-Derry, mayoral advisor for environment and leisure Cllr Ian Corbett and John Barber, The Honorary Vice Admiral The Lord Sterling of Plaistow CBE and the Queen’s Representative Deputy Lieutenant for Newham.