Life History

1st Jan 1884	Born in London Walworth Rd.
3rd April 1909	Married Winifred Frances Bray at St Paul's, Herne Hill.
about 1911	Birth of daughter Dorothy Drewry.
1968	Death of Winifred Frances Bray in Bromley.
1973	Died in Bromley.

Notes

Like his brother James, Vince was an engineer.

In the 1891 census, is shown as: Harold V.  aged 7yrs .

In 1901 census, aged 17,  Lambeth, Ocupation: Shorthand Clerk.

1911 Census

Vincent H Drewry, Head, 27, married 2, Railway Clerk, Head (London) Office of Foreign Railway, b. Camberwell
Winifred F Drewry, Wife, 26, married 2, b. Camberwell
Daisy Rose, servant 17, single, Domestic Servant, b. Beckenham, Kent

A reference to Vince's WW1 activities:

"Staff Capts. for Railway Trans. —9th May 1917:
....
Staff Capts. — 9th May 1917:
....
Temp. Capt. V. H. Drewry, R.E."

A Medal

The National Archives record that Vince was awarded the '1914-15 Star'. His rank was 'T/Capt.' in the 1.W.T.RE Corps. The 'Theatre of War' was East Africa.

A Russian Cigarette Case

My brother visited Vincent in the 1950's, and, amongst other things, was shown a jewel-encrusted cigarette case of great value. Supposedly, this was a gift from the Russian royal family, and if so may have been in relation to the sale of 20 armoured railcars reported in Civil and Etherington's excellent book (p.29):

"Drewry's largest turnover to date, partly due to increased war time production costs was recorded in 1917. No dividend was paid, however, due to uncertainty over settlement of the account for a Russian Government contract worth £7,500 for 20 armoured railcar chassis, which were being delivered as the revolution in that country broke out.
Someone paid up the following year, but whether it was the Russians or the British government (which had placed the order on the Russians' behalf) is not recorded. "

On 5th Oct, 1928, Vince and Winifred sail first class on the Almanzora from Southampton to Buenos Aires, Argentina. They return on the January 1929 on the Alcantra. Vincent's profession is given as 'Railway Officer'.
The visit to Argentina was almost certainly Drewry Car Co. business.
In the passenger list their address in England is 49, Lewisham Hill.

In 1935, Vince and Win moved back to Beckenham.
The phone book shows them still there in 1953:

GRO

Births Mar 1884, Drewry Vincent Harold, St.Saviour, 1d 188
Marriages Jun 1909, Drewry Vincent Harold, Camberwell, 1d 1427
Marriages Jun 1909, Bray Winifred Frances, Camberwell, 1d 1427