Edward Drake was born in Uppingham, Rutland, in 1871. His parents were Charles Drake and Martha Matthews who were both originally from Suffolk. In 1881 Edward was living with his family in High Street Uppingham, where his father had a photography studio.
After the death of his father in 1882, his mother and brother Harry continued the studio in the High Street.
On the 23rd of October 1890, Edward joined the 7th Queen’s Own Hussars. He served in India from September 1892 until October 1895 and this is where the photo of him, as shown above, would have been taken.
He also served in South Africa and Rhodesia during the Matabele War from 1895 until 1898 apart from a brief spell in England between October 1896 and April 1897.
In 1898 he was transferred to the 1st class reserves and in January 1899 he was struck off for absence.
In 1900 Edward emigrated to join his brother Frank in Ocala, Florida. In 1904 he married Alda Bauknight in Archer, Alachua, Florida. In 1910 the family are living in Ocala, where he is working as an engineer. They have a son Edward and a daughter Frances.