Buckingham Palace Entertainment Invitation - Bertram Thomas Drowley

Bertram Thomas Drowley (sometimes shown as Thomas Bertram) was a single farmer aged 26 when he enlisted as a Private with C Company, 22nd Battalion, A.I.F. on 4 February 1915. His service number was 735.
He embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A38 Ulysses on 10 May 1915. He served with his battalion on the Gallipoli Peninsula and was promoted to Corporal. He became unwell and was evacuated from the peninsula to Gibraltar and then to England where he was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital (Wandsworth).
Presumably, it was while he was convalescing in London that he was invited to attend the entertainment at Buckingham Palace. After his health had improved, he joined the ANZAC Provost Corps and then the Military Police, staying in England, marrying and finally embarking for Australia with his wife on HMAT Borda on 9 December 1919. He was discharged on 27 April 1920. He also served during World War Two.

A comprehensive biography including two wartime photographs of Bert from the Virtual War Memorial Australia (VWMA) is attached.

The Honourable Dorothy Maud Vivian was the daughter of 3rd Baron Vivian and his wife Louisa Alice Duff, and a maid of honour to Queen Alexandra. She met Douglas Haig while he was a guest of King Edward VII at Windsor Castle. They married in the private chapel at Buckingham Palace in July 1905. During World War One, Countess Haig worked with the Red Cross, and was appointed a Lady of Grace of St John of Jerusalem.

Lady Constance Sibell Grosvenor was born on 22 August 1875. She was the daughter of Victor Alexander Grosvenor, Earl Grosvenor and Lady Sibell Mary Lumley. She married Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 9th Earl of Shaftesbury, son of Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 8th Earl of Shaftesbury and Lady Harriet Augusta Anna Seymourina Chichester, on 15 July 1899. Her married name became Ashley-Cooper. She held the office of Extra Lady of the Bedchamber to HM Queen Mary. On 20 August 1900 she was granted the rank of a duke's daughter. She was invested as a Dame of Justice, Order of St. John of Jerusalem (D.J.St.J.)