The Airmen's Stories - S/Ldr. P E Drew

Peter Edward Drew was born on 16th July 1910 in Ryde, Isle of Wight, the son of Air Commodore Bertie Clephane Hawley Drew (1880-1969) and Edith Thomson (1880-1964).

His father served in China during the Boxer Rebellion and later on the North West Frontier (1900-1902 and 1908) and Tibet during 1903-1904.

PE Drew was at Marlborough College from 1924 to 1929. He entered RAF College, Cranwell as a flight cadet in September 1929 and on graduation joined No. 1 Squadron at Tangmere on 25th July 1931.

Above: Drew in the Hockey XI at Marlborough 1929.

Above image courtesy of Marlborough College.

Drew was posted to the staff at SHQ Heliopolis, Egypt on 28th February 1933, returned to the UK in June 1935 and went to 6 FTS Netheravon on 30th March 1936 as an instructor. He was posted to the staff of CFS Upavon on 24th March 1937 and in July 1940 was commanding 236 Squadron based at Thorney Island.

In that month he married Denzil Elizabeth Powell at St. Marys Church, Branagore, New Forest.

On 1st August 1940 Drew was shot down and killed in Blenheim IVF N3601 FA-K while escorting Blenheims of 59 Squadron who were attacking Querqueville aerodrome.

His body was washed up at Biville and he is buried in Biville churchyard, Cherbourg peninsula, France. The body of his crew member, P/O B Nokes-Cooper, was washed ashore further down the coast and is buried in Bayeux cemetery.

A daughter was born to his widow on 7th April 1941 at Fulmer, Buckinghamshire.

(Above images courtesy of www.atlantikwall.co.uk)