Richard James Draper

An Engineman with H.M.S. Glory, Richard died on 15th of October 1918 aged 37. 

Richard was born at Lowestoft on 11 June 1881, a son of Richard and Susannah Draper. In 1891 his family lived at 7 Wellington Cottages. In 1901 Richard lived with his sister, Susannah Capps, and family at 16 Factory Street and Richard was a fisherman.

In 1904 Richard married Ethel Amy Paul: this was registered in the Mutford district. By 1909 they were living at 62 Kent Road, and by 1911 at 23 Worthing Road. In 1911 Richard was the Chief Engineer with the trawler Select, LT 732, at Newlyn. By 1915 they were living at 26 Fir Lane. In 1920 Ethel married Reginald Wright and they lived at 5 Fir Lane. 

Richard joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 4 October 1915. He served on the drifter Anchor Star until 10 December 1917. On 12 March 1918 he joined the minesweeping trawler Thomas Thresher. He was assigned to the depot ship H.M.S. Implacable on 23 April 1918 and on 8 June 1918 he joined H.M.S. Glory, the flagship of the British North Russia Squadron on active service in connection with the Russian Civil War. 

Richard died from influenza. 

Richard’s brother-in-law, Alfred Paul, served in the Royal Naval Reserve and died in 1917. 

Richard is commemorated on Saint Margaret's War Memorial.