Flight Cadet Owen Drewitt

Thank you to Bernice Forsyth and Mary Day from Capel Local History Group for allowing Dorking Museum to publish their research, and thank you to Lenka Cathersides for additional information.

Owen Drewitt was born on 10^th April 1897 in Normandy, Surrey to farm bailiff William Wenham Drewitt and Eva Annie Drewitt nee Cole. He was baptised on 30^th May 1897 at St Nicholas church, Pyrford. The family lived in Wyke, Surrey

At the time of the 1901 Census, Eva and her son Owen were staying with her brother, farm bailiff, John Cole at Lady Place Farm, Pyrford.

On 20^th September 1909 Owen was admitted into Dorking High School for Boys, from Capel Church of England School. At the time of his admission the family lived at Hill House Farm, Beare Green. Owen’s father William was still working as a farm bailiff. Owen left Dorking High School for Boys on 3^rd April 1912 to take up farming.

At the time of the 1911 Census, the family were still living at Hill House Farm. William was working as a steward and Eva was at home. The household further comprised of their son Owen and a servant. The accommodation had seven rooms.

From June 1913 to the 15^th of June 1916 Owen Drewitt worked as an engineer’s assistant/turner at Gillett Stephen & Co, Atlas Works, Bookham, Surrey. They were manufacturers of aircraft components etc. (http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Gillett,_Stephen_and_Co)

On 6^th March 1917, Owen attested into the Royal Flying Corps. He joined for 4 years with the Colours and 4 years with the Reserve.  His service number was: 64414. At the time of his attestation he lived at Hill House Farm. He had a fresh complexion, brown hair and grey eyes.

The Royal Flying Corps was part of the British Army until 1918. The Royal Flying Corps merged with the Royal Naval Air Service on  1^st April 1918 to form the Royal Air Force.

On the 21^st of January 1918 Owen was posted for training at No 1 Officer Cadet Wing, St Leonards on Sea. Then he progressed through the flying training programme in Egypt. From 19^th or 20^th February 1918 Owen trained with No 3 Officer Cadet Wing in Aboukir, near Alexandria, Egypt.  On 25^th March 1918 he became ill with measles.

On 9^th August 1918, Owen began his flight training at the No 3 School of Military Aeronautics, in Heliopolis, Egypt. Owen graduated as a Flight Cadet on 1^st September 1918. He had also practical experience in the manufacture of aero engines and aeroplane fittings.

At the time of his death Flight Cadet Owen Drewitt was part of the 20^th Training Wing, RAF in Egypt.

He was killed in a flying accident on 21^st  November 1918 in Alexandria, Egypt.

He is buried at the Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt. His grave reference number is: B.95. His headstone bears the inscription: ‘Son of W. W. & E. A. Drewitt of Capel, Surrey, England Thy Will be Done’.

Owen Drewitt received the British War and Victory medals.

Drewitt Family History

Owen’s father William  was born in the 4^th quarter of 1868 in Bromley to farmer, brickmaker and farm bailiff William, born about 1842 in Guildford, Surrey and Harriet Catherine, born about 1845 in Arrington, Cambridgeshire. William jnr was baptised on 6^th December 1868 at Holy Trinity church, Bromley. At the time of the baptism the family lived in Bromley and William snr was a farmer.

Owen’s mother Eva Annie Cole was born on 30^th July 1868 in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey to farmer John, born about 1815 in Ashford, Middlesex and Annie. Eva was baptised on 13^th September 1868 at St Mary’s church, Walton–on-Thames.  At the time of the 1891 Census, Eva was working as an assistant dressmaker to dressmaker Laura Ovenden at 14 Dacre Park, London.

William married Eva on 21^st November 1894 at St Nicholas church, Pyrford. At the time of their marriage William was working as a farm bailiff and lived in Wyke. Eva lived in Pyrford.

At the time of the 1901 Census, Owen’s father William lived at Westwood, Normandy, Surrey. At this time William  was working as a farm bailiff.

The 1919, Surrey, England, Electoral Register reads that Owen’s father William lived at Hill House Farm, Beare Green.

William Wenham Drewitt of Binton Farm, the Sands, Seale, Farnham, Surrey died on 30^th June 1925. He left £1799, 13s and 6d in the Probate.

Born	Normandy, Surrey
Lived	Capel, Surrey
Son of	William and Eva Drewitt
Regiment	22nd Squadron, Royal Air Force
Number	64414
Date of Death	21st November 1918
Place of Death	Egypt
Cause of Death	Killed in Action
Age	21
Cemetery	Hadra Cemetery, Alexandria, Egypt