Roll of Honor
Incident
Constable Joseph Drake was killed and another Constable escaped with severe shock, when a stolen lorry being pursued by colleagues crashed into the road block they had established on the roadway between Bonnybridge and Dennyloanhead.
Constable Drake, who was stationed at Falkirk, had only returned there the previous year after six years at Drymen. He joined the police in 1953, serving first at Falkirk and then spells in Stirling, Causewayhead and Drymen.
Chief Constable Gray said,
“It is part of a policeman’s job that he may be called upon to risk his life and members of the police force accept this. But it makes it no easier to bear when a tragedy like this happens.”
The funeral of Constable Drake took place to Camelon Cemetery after a service at Bainsford Parish Churel. Almost 500 officers and other mourners attended.
He was survived by his wife, three daughters and son.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, three daughters and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-GB-SCC-C2A40331- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Constable Drake served with the Stirling & Clackmannan Constabulary.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Constable Drake.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Constable Joseph Stewart Drake is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In SCT, 46 of 308 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 14.9% of this state's fallen. That is 14.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Stirling & Clackmannan Constabulary, 1 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Stewart Drake's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph Stewart Drake Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Stewart Drake is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Stirling & Clackmannan Constabulary are honored on badge.nw.
