Jack Drake (footballer)
John Montague "Jack" Drake (15 March 1904 – 23 April 1941) was an Australian rules footballer who played for Hawthorn in the Victorian Football League.[1]
Jack Drake | |||
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Personal information | |||
Full name | John Montague Drake | ||
Date of birth | 15 March 1904 | ||
Place of birth | Perth, Western Australia | ||
Date of death | 23 April 1941 37) | (aged||
Place of death | Bralos Pass, Thermopylae, Greece | ||
Original team(s) | Old Xaverians | ||
Position(s) | Centre half back | ||
Playing career1 | |||
Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
1926 | Hawthorn | 3 (1) | |
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1926. | |||
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com |
Drake was born in Perth to Frederick David Drake and Mary Elizabeth Falvey on 15 March 1904 and moved to Melbourne before he reached school age. Educated at Xavier College, he joined Hawthorn during the 1926 VFL season. Drake scored a goal on debut against Fitzroy but was also injured[2] and missed the next six weeks. He played two more games at the end of the season but failed to make the senior squad for the 1927 season.[3]
Jack Drake was killed during World War II on 23 April 1941 aged 37 while defending a bridge at the Bralos Pass, Thermopylae, Greece against German artillery. He was a Lance Bombardier. Whilst serving on a field gun position, both of his legs were amputated below the knee by a shell blast, fatally wounding Drake. The same blast killed and wounded several other gunners.[4][5]
References
- Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2009). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (8th ed.). Seaford, Victoria: BAS Publishing. ISBN 978-1-921496-00-4.
- "SURPRISE FOR FITZROY". The Argus. Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia. 8 June 1926. p. 16.
- "FOOTBALL". The Argus. Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia. 25 April 1927. p. 7.
- "Roll of Honour:John Montague Drake". Australian War Memorial.
- "Lest we forget". hawthornfc.com.au. Retrieved 18 February 2020.