March 23, 2016 May 10, 2016 stcmuseum
Know Your Neighbours – Charles and Edith Annie Draysey
Photo attribution: Jane Burch, St. Catharines Museum T2014.30.5
Charles Henry Draysey was born in Bethnal Green, London England to Charles Frederick Draysey (1862-1929) and Susannah Lineman (1964-1953) in 1889. In 1913, he immigrated to Canada on the Allan Line Steamship CORSICAN. He arrived in Quebec on June 9, 1913. Draysey marrie Edith Annie Nichols (1886-1935)
Photo attribution: Jane Burch, St. Catharines Museum, T2014.30.5
when he was 24, Edith was 27. Edith was born in Croydon, Surrey, England and has a twin brother named Francis. She worked a Governess before she immigrated to Canada in 1913 on the Allan Line Steamship VIRGINIAN. The wedding took place at St. Paul's Presbyterian Church in Hamilton.
In 1915, the Draysey's had daughter named Ancka. [According to a note on Mundia entry, she died March 26, 1915; possibly at 1 month 6 days old of acute indigestion]. In 1916, they adopted a daughter named Audrey.
On February 18, 1916, Charles enlisted in Merritton with the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force, 176th Battalion (Service No. 850033). He served in France at the front from 1917-1918. He was wounded and gassed and eventually discharged on April 6, 1919.
According to another story from Mundia, "Charles remained in ill health and was only able to get poorly paid work so life was hard for him and his family."
Draysey served as the President of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 138 in 1928.
His wife Edith died of a brain tumor in 1935 and is buried in Victoria Lawn Cemetery. His daughter Audrey married James Burch in 1940 and Charles lived with them after his wife's death.
Charles was admitted to the Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto. He died there in 1944 and is buried in the soldiers section of the Victoria Lawn Cemetery.
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