I received an intriguing e-mail - and photograph - from Canada recently.

Is the Horace Martin in this photograph, the same Horace Raymond Martin from Newick who served his King and Country with Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry? The man on the left bears a resemblance to the photo of Horace that I have, but I can't be sure. The photo was recently purchased in Washington State, about 300 miles south of the Canadian border.

The same photo has also been re-worked as a painting - SEE HERE - the artist maintaining that the photo was taken in east Texas. If this is the same Horace Martin from Sussex, he'd certainly travelled.

My thanks to Robert Stimmel for the intrigue.

I was in Surrey recently on a very wet and somewhat chilly day, and I took the opportunity to drive over to Ockham and photograph the war memorial there. Rifleman Stan Collins is commemorated on it, the first name on the panel to the right, as you face the front of the memorial.



Afterwards, I drove over to Ockham mill where Stan's father had once worked. The mill has been turned into exclusive properties these days and must be much changed from when Stan and his family lived there. I poresume that the family lived in the cottages to the left of the mill in the picture below.

Private John Thomson Allan was a patient at Hickwells in 1915 and 1916 having arrived there after being wounded at The Battle of Loos in September 1915. His entry in Nurse Oliver’s album reads:

Chailey 23rd Oct 1915

[Line drawing of Gordon Highlanders' cap badge]


J T Allan
4th Gordon Hrs

Wounded at Houdge
25th Sept 1915

The National Archives reveals that he was 3246 Private John Thomson Allan, a Territorial Force soldier who arrived in France on 26th March 1915. The 1/4th Gordons was an Aberdeen-based battalion which had disembarked at Havre in February 1915. Looking at my army service numbers database I see that John's number would have been issued either in late November 1914 (3243 was issued on the 28th), or early December 1914 (3250 was issued on the 3rd). The majority of enlistments into the 4th Gordon Highlanders at this time were in the reserve battalion, the 2/4th, so it seems a strong possibility that John Allan was posted to the 2/4th and then subsequently to the 1/4th where he was later wounded at Loos.

On 27th February, the 1/4th Gordons transferred to the 8th Brigade in the 3rd Division (a regular division).

The following extract is taken from Part 11 of The Hospital Way and deals with the action at Hooge in which Private Allan was wounded:

"On 16th June 1915, the 3rd Division had taken part in a disastrous diversionary attack on Bellewaarde Ridge, which aimed to deprive the enemy of observation and at the same time straighten out the British line between Hooge and Railway Wood. Although some ground had been won, and quickly held by battalions of the 8th Brigade following up behind, the cost had been high. Heavy and concentrated German artillery fire, well directed onto lines until recently held by their own troops, cut swathes through the attacking British forces and by the end of the operation the 3rd Division had lost 140 officers and 3,391 men. The 9th Brigade suffered particularly heavily, losing 73 officers out of 96 and 2,012 men out of 3,663. On that occasion the 1/4th Gordons had been spared the brunt of the attack but here they were, just three months later, staring at the same ridge and this time preparing to take part in the main assault of another diversionary attack.

"The British bombardment began at 3.30am on the morning of 25th September and fifty minutes later two mines were exploded under the German trenches facing the 2nd Royal Scots. Two further explosions followed almost immediately and as the debris settled, the attacking troops moved forward. At first, the going was good. The War Diary for the 1/4th Gordons reports that the men reached the German front line trench and met with little loss, finding “many Germans in it, many of whom bolted.” Their success though was to be short-lived. Between 4.50 and 11am the German artillery responded with whizz bangs before collecting north of the Menin Road and launching a counter attack. Their bombs expended, the Gordons were forced to retire to the trenches held by The Royal Scots line, the diary reporting that, “The men of C and D companies who were in the German 3rd line are cut off and missing."

1/4th Gordon Highlander casualties for the 25th September are noted as:

NCOs and ORs

Killed: 23
Died of Wounds: 1
Wounded: 148
Wounded & Missing: 6
Missing: 141

Total: 319

Officers

Killed: 1
Wounded: 7
Wounded & Missing: 1
Missing: 6

Total: 15

John Allan’s path back to Britain would have been first to the 2nd Eastern General Hospital at Brighton and then, almost immediately to Hickwells. His wound was severe enough to keep him at Chailey certainly until the beginning of 1916, but not severe enough to prevent him from taking part in various “entertainments” which were reported by the local press.


He gets his first mention in the press however, in The Scotsman. On 15th October 1915 he is one of 169 1/4th Gordon Highlander men mentioned, who have been wounded in action.

On 5th November 1915 he is recorded in The Sussex Express (SE) as having dueted with Corporal Wood in a concert. On the 26th of that month he gets another mention in both the SE and The Sussex Daily News (SDN) as a performer in a concert at the Parish Room. His name appears as Private Allen but I think that this is a mis-spelling of his surname.

On 3rd December he is again noted as a performer by the same publications at a concert at Hickwells and on 7th January SDN mentions him as having proposed three cheers to Mrs Bessemer for arranging concert at The Parish Room.

John Allan recovered sufficiently from his wounds to be posted back to the Gordon Highlanders’ Depot and from there to another battalion. When the territorials were re-numbered in March 1917, he was given the number 292611. This falls within the block allocated to the 1/7th (Deeside Highland) Gordon Highlanders; another territorial battalion which would finish the war as part of the 51st (Highland) Division.

John Allan was disembodied on 8th April 1919 and was entitled to the 1914/15 Star and The British War and Victory Medals which were sent to him in December 1923 and January 1924 respectively.

Sources and Acknowledgements

The National Archives
The Sussex Express
The East Sussex News
The Scotsman
The Long, Long Trail

The photo is of Hickwells on Cinder Hill, Chailey circa 1899.

J Andrew's entry in Nurse Oliver’s album obviously dates him as a patient at Beechlands (although it is conceivable that he could have transferred from Hickwells). His entry, written underneath a cartoon illustration reads:

Pte J Andrew
(4 Res) Northants Regt
Rose Ward
Beechlands
Newick
Sussex

The 4th (Reserve) Northamptonshire Regiment is the 2/4th Battalion which was formed at Northampton on 27th November 1914. He is possibly 2791 Corporal James W Andrew and if this is the same man he transferred (presumably after recovering from whatever sickness had put him into Beechland House) to the Gloucestershire Regiment. The number 2791 dates to October 1914. The National Archives gives two numbers for him with the Gloucestershire Regiment: 5905 and 242112. 5905 dates to post August 1916.

The 1901 census of England and Wales reveals a James W Andrew living at Church Street, Broughton, Northamptonshire with his family. The household comprised: George Andrew (head, married, aged 35, working as a foreman in the boot trade), his wife Sarah A Andrew (aged 35) and their children: Lucy E Andrew (aged nine), Lily G W Andrew (aged eight), George Andrew (aged six) and James (aged five). There is also a 20 year old boarder – Wallace Smith, a "shoie finisher" by trade – living at the house. James’s place of birth is recorded as Broughton.

Private Baddock is the most prolific entrant in Nurse Oliver’s album with five entries. Unfortunately he never elaborates on his own designation, simply recording himself as “W Baddock” or “Private Baddock”. He writes:


Pte Baddock
3 Grenadier Guards

[drawing of Grenadier Guards cap badge]

Wounded at Neuve Chapelle 1915

This page is shared with entries from G/4780 Lance-Corporal Edward Burnage of the 2nd Royal Sussex Regiment and Private S F Brown of the 2/9th Middlesex Regiment. He elaborates more on the Neuve Chapelle wound in another cartoon entry accompanied by text as follows:

Pte Baddock
3rd Grenadier Guards

Wounded at Neuve Chapelle 1915

I wish the wench who nursed me
The best of luck today
I’ll try to repay her kindness
In a soldier’s humble way

HOW I GOT TO CHAILEY

Hit on Dec 24th with Rifle Grenade
Went back to trenches where was bandaged up
Taken to dressing station. Wounds bound and stitched etc.
Finally put on hospital ship for England, Arrived England Dec 29th
Arrived at Dyke Road Hospital, Brighton. Operation performed.

Finis! CHAILEY

Private W Baddock is 23331 Private William H Baddock who, according to one of his two medal index cards (MIC) held at the National Archives, arrived in France on 20th October 1915. His number indicates that he would have joined the Grenadier Guards between March 4th and March 10th 1915. (This MIC - recording details of his 1914-15 Star - notes his name as W H Baddock, the second - recording the award of the BWN amd VM - notes him, incorrectly, as William H BRADDOCK).

On Thursday 30th December 1915, The Sussex Daily News described the arrival of the hospital train carrying Private Baddock (and Private Burnage)

ANOTHER RED CROSS TRAIN COMES TO BRIGHTON - MANY COT CASES

… There was a greater percentage of ‘cot’ cases than has hitherto been known in a trainload to Brighton. In all, the cases numbered 170, and no fewer than 89 of these required to be transferred by stretcher. They had all come from France and were all Britishers. They landed at Dover and were conveyed by a Great Western Red Cross train via Norwood Junction to Brighton… a large number were sent to the 2nd Eastern General Hospital in Dyke Road where the Christmas decorations will provide a bright and gaily coloured environment.

Baddock and Burnage both receive mentions in The Sussex Daily News of 8th January 1916. Under the headline: WOUNDED AND SICK SOLDIERS - THE LATEST ARRIVALS AT BRIGHTON, Burnage and Baddock are both listed under the “Other Units” section. Baddock’s number is given as A23331 and his regiment, mistakenly, as the 3rd Coldstream Guards.

On Friday 14th January, The Sussex Daily News reported a motor smash at Chailey:

MOTOR SMASH AT CHAILEY - ESCAPE OF WOUNDED SOLDIERS

What might have proved an extremely serious accident occurred close to the Chailey Parish Room on Wednesday evening, about 6:30pm, when two motor cars crashed into each other. Owing, probably, to the new lighting regulations, the drivers could not see each other till too late. One car, containing wounded soldiers, was coming from the Lewes direction, and the other was a baker’s car. The bonnets of both met and both cars were smashed, broken glass flying around. One man was thrown into the road, but had a marvellous escape, as did all the occupants. No bones were broken, but, naturally, there were cuts and bruises, and all had a bad shaking. It was altogether an extraordinary escape for everyone concerned.

In the East Sussex News on the same day, a concerned reader had had his letter published by the editor:

Sir. The new order with regard to lights on motor cars and motor cycles has greatly increased the danger on the country roads. The average pedestrian on the country walks in the road, especially at night time and we – for I am one of the average as a rule walk on the wrong side of the road. The danger is therefore great and I am writing to you, as your valuable paper is very widely read in the country districts, so that perhaps we country folk may be warned to keep to the path at night time… W J Wilmshurst, Ringmer.

On the following page, the paper also covered the motor smash at Chailey:

MOTOR ACCIDENT

When returning from a concert at Barcombe on Wednesday evening, a motor car, containing several soldiers and driven by Mr Best of Chailey, came into collision with the delivery car of Mr S B Richards of Barcombe, driven by J Elphick. The accident happened on the Chailey Road, near the Parish Room. Both cars were damaged and several of the occupants were injured.

Private Baddock also covered the accident in one of his entries in Nurse Oliver’s album. Quoting from “The Sussex News” he wrote:

Motors Collide At Chailey.

A party of wounded soldiers proceeding from a concert in a motor car, collided with a Bakers car belonging to Richards Barcombe. The men were cut and bruised and one man broke his artificial leg. - Sussex News

Then, underneath the headline, HOW IT APPEARED, ACCORDING TO ACCOUNTS,TO Pte BADDOCK. GRENADIER GUARDS, he drew a cartoon of the event. Named soldiers in the illustration are Private Burnage, Private Lister and Private Savourin [sic] who is saying, “I’ve broke my leg. There’s 19 quid gone. Oh dear!”

On Friday 21st January 1916 Baddock gets a mention in the Sussex Daily News in connection with a concert in aid of blinded soldiers:

IN AID OF BLINDED SOLDIERS - SUCCESSFUL CHAILEY CONCERT

In aid of St Dunstans Home, London, for soldiers blinded through the war, an enjoyable concert was held in the Chailey Parish Room on Wednesday evening. The programme was nicely varied… wounded soldiers contributing three items.

… Gunner Davis and Private McCann each had to give a well deserved encore, and Private Baddock, in spite of a badly wounded head, gave some extremely clever ‘lightning sketches’ on the blackboard, illustrating some topics of the day, as for instance, ‘Lord Derby’s Christmas box for the Kaiser’, ‘Bottled up in the Kiel Canal’, ‘A captured British General’ (Omnibus) &c.

This is the last appearance that Private Baddock makes in the Sussex Press and there are too many census possibilities to positively identify him from the initials W H. I assume, as there is no indication of a Silver War Badge on his medal index card, that Private Baddock rejoined his regiment after recuperating from his wounds.

The entry in Nurse Oliver’s album reads:

1st June 1915
C. Banks
1st Royal Fusiliers

C Banks is probably L/10314 Private Charles Banks of the 1st Royal Fusiliers; a regular soldier who enlisted in the army on 14th February 1900 and who arrived in France on 7th September 1914. His medal index card shows that he was entitled to the 1914 Star (with clasp and roses), The British War and Victory Medals and the Silver War Badge. He was discharged from the army on 25th April 1915 due to sickness and so was probably an early casualty in the opening months of the war. C Banks’s entry date in Nurse Oliver’s album certainly marks him as a convalescent and this ties in well with Charles Banks’ discharge date.

When war broke out, the 1st Royal Fusiliers was in Kinsale Ireland and later formed part of the 17th Brigade in the 6th Division.

2767 Private William Barbin of the Australian Imperial Force was a patient at Beechlands between October 1917 and January 1918. His entry in Nurse Oliver’s album reads:

When days are dark and friends are few
Dear friend I will think of you.
Roses may wither flowers may fade.
Some may forget you, but never will I

No 2767 Pte W Barbin
Australian Imperial Force

Barbin shares this page in the album with an entry by 268791 Private Arthur George Whipp of the 2/7th Sherwood Foresters.

William Barbin’s full service record can be viewed at The Australian National Archives. Here's a summary:

He was born in May 1895 and attested at Charleville, Queensland on 12th October 1916 aged 21 years and six months. His given profession was labourer and his next of kin as his father, William Barbin of Finch Hatton, via Mackay, Queensland.

He was posted to the 42nd Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force and left Sydney on the troopship A64 Demosthenes with the 5th Reinforcements to that battalion on 22nd December 1916. During the voyage he fell sick and spent four days in the hospital aboard ship. He arrived in Plymouth, England on 3rd March 1917 and after three months’ training was sent to France, arriving at Rouelles on 26th June 1917. He was taken on strength with the 42nd Battalion (3rd Australian Division) on 13th July.

The Third Division had trained in England for six months and been nurtured in the quiet Armentieres section since February 1917. By the time Barbin arrived in France, the Australians have suffered heavy casualties (3,000 at the First battle of Bullecourt in April 1917 and a further 7,500 at the second battle of Bullecourt in May. The heavy toll of casualties had led to all four Australian divisions involved drawing heavily on their reserves which led directly to the disbandment of the 6th Australian Division forming in England.

In June 1917 the 3rd Division was involved in the battle of Messines. It was the division’s first action and it sustained 4,122 casualties.

William Barbin was wounded on 12th October 1917, the opening day of the Second Battle of Passchendaele. On the night before the attack, the division suffered between 500 and 1000 casualties due to a German gas attack which meant that some battalions went into the assault ten per cent under strength. The official history describes the build-up to the battle and the conditions which it describes as “lamentable”.

“The sodden battleground was littered with wounded who had lain out in the mud among the dead for two days and nights; and the pillbox shelters were overflowing with unattended wounded whilst the dead lay piled outside. A stretcher case required up to sixteen men for the carry back across the mile of mud to the duckboard tracks and the advanced dressing stations. The survivors, in a state of utter exhaustion, with neither food nor ammunition, had been sniped at by Germans on the higher ground throughout the 10th, with increasing casualties.”

“Passchendaele in Perspective” continues in similar vein, describing the assault as even more futile than that at Poelcappelle. Artillery support was inadequate and the weather and muddy terrain had made it almost impossible to move the guns up and get them into their allotted positions. One Australian artilleryman described how the battery’s guns were bogged in the mud for three days and only finally removed with the assistance of 26 horses on each gun which pulled them to the position with the mud up to the horses’ stomachs. On the day of the attack, many guns lay temporarily abandoned or out of action. Those guns that were in position found the supply of shells difficult. When guns did fire, the recoil drove them further into the mud making it impossible to accurately register on the targets. Casualties amongst the artillerymen were also high because they were exposed to counter battery fire and were unable to dig protective pits because of the waterlogged landscape. Guns sank in the mud until they disappeared. Battery positions were dotted with red flags where the guns had sunk from view.

The limited shellfire that the Australian guns did deliver failed to make a mark on either the German artillery, strong points or barbed wire. The creeping barrage was so feeble that it could not be distinguished from the German artillery fire and provided no cover to the advancing infantrymen. This meant that they advanced with no cover. The Australian battalions came under persistent enemy shelling on their way to their jumping-off positions and when the 3rd Australian Division troops advanced through the mud of the Ravebeek valley to take their first objective they were forced back under enfilade fire on their exposed flanks. One patrol managed to reach the village of Passchendaele which it found deserted.

Overall the 3rd Australian Division suffered over 3000 casualties. On their right, the 4th Australian Division suffered 1000 casualties and the New Zealanders on their left advanced straight into a thick belt of uncut wire. Their casualties amounted to 3000 dead and wounded. Men bunching on the firmer ground when they were advancing, made them easier targets for the Germans. The advance was also held up when men stopped to give assistance to those who were sinking in the mud.

Overall the attack on Passchendaele Ridge produced 13000 British casualties, the equivalent of a division of troops, for no significant gain. It totally failed in human terms, the cost to the 3rd Australian Division was 35 men for every yard of ground taken.

On the 13th October Barbin was admitted to the 11th General Hospital at Camiers with gunshot wounds to his fingers but by now, his feet were also in a poor condition. Fifteen days later he embarked for England on the Hospital Ship Newhaven and was admitted to the 2nd Eastern General Hospital at Brighton with Trench Feet. He probably spent a short while at the Dyke Road hospital before transferring to Beechland House in Newick where he remained until the 15th January 1918.

On the 16th he transferred to the 2nd Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford and was also given two weeks’ leave. On 12th March 1918 he rejoined his battalion in France and a little over a month later on 16th April, he was wounded in action for the second time; admitted to the 11th Australian Field Ambulance with gun shot wounds to his right thigh and left hand. The following day he was transferred to the 50th General Hospital at Abbeville and then embarked for England on the Hospital Ship St Andrew on 2nd May.

On 3rd May 1918 he was admitted to Norfolk War Hospital with “gun shot wound right thigh” given as the cause for his admission. On 17th June 1918 he reported to No 1 Command Depot and after spending more time in hospital at Sutton Veny, Wiltshire, was returned to Australia on 23rd September 1918. On 13th December 1918 he was discharged from the army as medically unfit.

The rhyme he includes in Nurse Oliver’s album is a mis-remembered combination of two couplets popular at the time. “When days are dark and friends are few / Remember me as I do you” is the first one. “Roses may wither, leaves fade and die / If others forget you, never will I” is the second.

3962 Private Christopher Barclay was a patient at Beechland House, Newick in July 1916. His entry in Nurse Oliver’s album is a drawing of a rural idyll framed by a maple leaf. The wording reads:

Wishing you Prosperity and Happiness

Signaller Chris Barclay
3962
2/10th Liverpool Scottish
Convalescent Hospital
Beechlands

Newick 14th July 1916

Chris Barclay enlisted with the King’s (Liverpool Regiment) in Liverpool on 6th November 1914. He gave his age as 20 years and nine months and his address as 24 Bowood Street, Dingle, Liverpool. He appears on the 1901 census of England and Wales living with his family at 51 Wallington (or Wellington) Street, Toxteth, Liverpool. The household comprised: William Barclay (head, married, aged 31, a general labourer), his wife Sarah Barclay (aged 28) and two children: Christopher (aged eight) and Marian Barclay (aged five). Also living with them were William Barclay’s 26 year old sister in law Mary Barclay and her two children: Mary (aged six) and Edith Barclay (aged three). All the family members are recorded as having been born in Liverpool.

I know little of Chris Barclay’s military service. The National Archives holds a medal index card for him as 355813 Private Christopher Barclay of the Liverpool Regiment. This number would have been given to him when the Territorials were re-numbered in early 1917. His earlier TF number is not given which suggests that he did not go overseas until after the Territorial Force had been renumbered.

I am unsure why Christopher Barclay was at Beechlands but his album entry dates his time there precisely. The British Red Cross Society (BRCS) archives in London also holds a letter written by him to Nurse Oliver the following month. (The letter was sent to the BRCS by Nurse Oliver’s nephew, Joe Oliver many years later).

Writing on YMCA stationery from 95 Camp, Mytchett. Aldershot and signing himself as Signaller C Barclay, ‘D” Company, 2/10th Liverpool Scottish, he writes:

Dear Nurse

I must thank you very much for your kindness to me whilst at Chailey and Newick. One does not realize at the time what it means to devote one’s time to the sick, it is only when you are blessed with health and strength once more that you begin to realize the sacrifice made by you nurses. I will always remember my days at Chailey and Newick; the fun we had and the patient way in which you stood all our noise. I think you must have had a splitting headache, especially when my melodious voice was singing? Fellows generally have their favourite nurse, and so I especially thank you Nurse Oliver, but you would greatly oblige me if you conveyed my sincerest thanks to all the other nurses who were so kind to me whilst at Convalescent Hospital. I hear you have a number of new faces up at Beechlands (lucky fellows). It will be a ‘grand old war’ for them.

Reference to Chailey and Newick suggests that Pte Barclay may have been a patient at Hickwells when Sussex 54 VAD upped sticks and moved to Beechland House a few hundred yards away. In any event, he continued serving with the 1/10th King’s when the 2/10th was subsumed by it in April 1918 and appears to have survived the war.

43009 Private Herbert Richard Barnes was severely wounded in the latter stages of the 1916 Somme battles and left his entry in Nurse Oliver’s album in March 1918. It reads:

43009 Pte H.R. Barnes
13th Essex Regt.

Wounded on the Somme. Nov 13th 1916 & still going strong at Beechlands.

March 18th 1918

Herbert shares this page in the album with 326251 CSM John A C Wilson of the Royal Garrison Artillery, 43262 Private Robert Vinton of the 10th West Yorkshire Regiment and Sergeant J Stewart of the 84th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery.

Herbert was born in Clapton, East London around May 1894, his birth recorded in Hackney district in the September quarter of that year. He appears on the 1901 census living at 68 Goldsmith Road, Leyton with his parents and two sisters. The household comprised: Richard Dean Barnes (head, married, aged 41, running his own French polishing business), his wife Annie P Barnes (aged 38) and their three children: Herbert (aged six), Laura Barnes (aged five) and Florence Barnes (aged three). Richard had been born in Bethnal Green, his wife in Mile End. Herbert and Laura were born in Clapton while Florence was born in Leyton. This suggests the family probably moved from Clapton to Leyton around 1896/1897.

Another household is noted at the same address and presumably the two families lived in a typical Victorian terrace – one family upstairs and the other downstairs. Henry and Lydia Simson are the only members of the other household noted at that address and interestingly Henry’s trade is recorded as a cabinet maker. It seems likely that Henry Simson and Richard Barnes may have also had a business arrangement.

Herbert’s documents survive in a badly burned condition at the National Archives in London (WO 363 series) and from these it is possible to piece together more of his First World War service.

He attested at Lea Lodge, Leyton with the 3/8th (Cyclist) Battalion of the Essex Regiment on 11th August 1915 giving his age as 21 years and three months. He was passed fit and given the regimental number 2207. His enlistment was approved at Colchester three days later and he would remain in England until 30th July 1916.

On 27th April 1916 he was posted, probably to the 1/8th Battalion, and sailed for France on the 31st July 1916. While in France on 1st September 1916 he was transferred, presumably to the 13th Essex Regiment as his album entry (and his medal index card) gives a different number: 43009.

Herbert was wounded in the thigh and right arm on the 13th November 1916 by either shell or gunshot – his surviving records note both at different points – when the 13th Essex launched an attack on a German position known as The Quadrilateral and four lines of trenches south of it. The battalion war diary reports 323 casualties for the 13th November 1916 and in his day-by-day account of action on the Somme in 1916, the author Chris McCarthy has this to say:

“The Division [2nd Division] attacked Redan Ridge with 5 Brigade on the right… On the left, 6 Brigade led with 13th Essex and 2nd South Staffords, with 1st Kings and 17th Middlesex in the rear… The Quadrilateral was the main problem, the wire being mostly intact and because of fog and mud, progress was slow. Some of the Essex and King’s on the right pressed on to the first objective with 5 Brigade. They then formed a block at the junction of Beaumont Trench with Lager Alley… At 7:30am only 5 Brigade was ready to attack their second objective. There were only 120 men from 17th Royal Fusiliers and 2nd Ox and Bucks LI and, on the left, a few Essex and King’s of 6 Brigade. There were not enough to hold any of the footholds but they managed to reach Frankfurt Trench, gradually falling back first to Munich Trench and then Wagon Road and Crater Lane…”

As Herbert himself says, he was a long time in hospital and although his entry is dated 18th March 1918 it would be over a year later (28th March 1919) that his discharge would be approved by the Essex Regiment in Warley, Essex. Even then, right up until the 15th of that month, it appears from what is left of Herbert’s papers that he was still under the care of the Number 2 Eastern General Hospital at Brighton.

Herbert’s discharge papers give his home address as 17 Beaconsfield Road, Leyton, Essex (the same address he had written on his attestation papers nearly four years previously). His next of kin is given as his father – Richard Dean Barnes. Herbert’s character is noted as very good and his length of service in the army is recorded as three years and 230 days.

On 17th April 1919 a Pensions’ Board agreed that Herbert’s degree of disability amounted to 40 per cent, that it was permanent and that it was attributable to war service. The Board members awarded him a pension of 11 shillings per week, effective from 29th March 1919 but to be reviewed in 26 weeks. Herbert’s papers do not give details of subsequent Board meetings but the likelihood is that his award was probably scaled down over the coming years.

I was searching for something else on-line earlier when I stumbled across Australia Trove. There's some great information on here and I've only just started to scratch the surface. I did however, find the Heasman brothers mentioned in the newspaper archive section and there's a good account of the 11th Battalion at Pozieres which also makes reference to Gilbert Heasman's recommendation for the MM. There seems to be laiods of good stuff on the site and I'll be digging a little deeper later on.

Again, I am grateful to Ian Seccombe for drawing my attention to the photo above which appears on flickr and was taken by Jem Stone. I hope the link will be sufficient acknowledgement.

A number of the names here are familiar to me. Ernest Still served with the Royal Sussex Regiment and later the Labour Corps and would win the Military Medal during the 14-18 War. Henry Avery may be Harry Avery who later served with the 7th Norfolk Regiment. Arthur Carr served as a cadet with the Royal Air Force and Thomas Chatfield may be the same Thomas Chatfield who lost his life whilst serving with the 2/5th Lancashire Fusiliers. Thomas Homewood may also be the same Thomas Homewood who was killed in action with the Royal Field Artillery on the 30th June. A Roll of Honour in more ways than one.

My entry for Rainald Parker on the Chailey site reads:

Chailey Parish Magazine notes in October 1914 that Rainald Parker is serving his King and Country. In October 1915 he is noted as Parker, Pte R, County of London Cyclists and the following month this information is upgraded to Parker, Pte R, 25th County of London Cyclists. In December 1915 there is another change and he is recorded as Parker, L-Corpl R, ASC, MT, England.

In March 1917, his promotion to corporal is noted, followed in December 1917 by notification of his further promotion to sergeant. This is the final entry for this man in Chailey’s parish magazine.

There are no men by the name of Rainald Parker noted on the 1901 census of England and Wales. In the England and Wales, Civil Registration Index: 1837-1983 however, the birth of Rainald Fortescue Parker is noted as having been registered in the March 1896 quarter at Royston, Hertfordshire.

Rainald Parker's medal index card held at the National Archives indicates his rank as sergeant, his regiment as Royal Army Service Corps and his number as M/205166. He was entitled to the British War and Victory medals.

I am grateful to Rob Moffit who contacted me this week with the following information:

"I can add that [Rainald Parker" IS on the 1901 census, mistranscribed as Reginald FORTESCUE in Ealing (Ref RG13 1191 104 19). His death is registered Q1 1960 in Bournemouth. I have just found the record of his marriage to a Minnie STEER in Exeter (Q3 1927)."

Many thanks, Rob. I have also since found him on the 1911 census, the 15-year-old stepson of William and Mary Horton, living in Seaford, Sussex. William Horton is recorded as a barrister-at-law and was presumably quite well-off.

I've just discovered that Arthur Snelling has a badly water-damaged service record which survives in WO 363. This puzzles me because I'd checked all the Chailey men by going through records in WO 363 and WO 364. Nevertheless, Arthur obviously slipped through the net. How many more are there I wonder? In any event, I now see that he joined the ASC in 1911 and sailed for France almost immediately war was declared, remaining overseas until he was died of wounds in August 1918.

This is what I wrote about him:

Arthur Harry Snelling was born around 1893 in Reigate, Surrey. He appears on the 1901 census as an eight year old boy living with his parents, brothers and sister at South Street, Chailey. In 1901 the family comprised: Arthur E Snelling (head of the family, a butcher, born in Battersea, aged 32), Minnie Snelling, (Arthur’s wife aged 34), William Snelling (son, aged 11), Richard Ernest Snelling (son, aged nine), Arthur (son, aged eight) and May Snelling (daughter, aged 11 months). With the exception of May who was born in Chailey, the three boys had been born in Reigate so it seems reasonable to assume that at some time after Arthur’s birth around 1892 and before May’s birth (probably in May 1900), the family had moved from Reigate to Chailey.

Arthur Snelling is noted in the October 1914 issue of Chailey Parish Magazine as serving his King and Country. In October 1915 he is reported as lance-corporal serving with the ASC in France; subsequently promoted to corporal in November 1915 and sergeant in May 1916. On December 22nd 1916, The East Sussex News reported, “Sgt A Snelling (ASC) and Pte R Snelling of the Royal Fusiliers, both sons of Mr and Mrs A Snelling of Roeheath Common, are home on leave. Sgt Snelling has been in France since the outbreak of war and his brother for two years.”

It then appears that Arthur Snelling transferred out of the ASC to an infantry battalion because in January 1918, under the NCO section of Chailey Parish Magazine’s roll of serving soldiers, the following appears: Snelling, Rif A, 21st KRR. It was not to be a lucky move. In November 1918, Chailey Parish Magazine added another name to its roll: Corpl A Snelling, 21st KRR, died of wounds, Aug 25th 1918 in France. The Commonwealth War Graves’ Commission’s Debt of Honour Register makes no mention of Arthur Snelling’s service with the Army Service Corps and records the battalion with which he died as the 13th KRRC and not the 21st. Arthur’s number is given as 13326. It is possible that Arthur transferred from the 21st KRRC to the 13th although this fact still has to be substantiated.

Arthur's service record shows that he remained with the ASC until 1917, transfering to the 21st Battalion in October that year and subsequently being posted to the 13th Battalion in April 1918. He was posted back to the 21st Battalion at some point and died as a result of wounds received in action.

As a result of correspondence from Chris Green, I am happy to include another Chailey man on the roll of honour for the village. Chris writes:

"While carrying out family research I have visited Chailey on a couple of occasions.

My interest is in the Foord family to whom I am related through my maternal Grandmother, L Foord.

Looking at your WW1 Chailey 1914-1918 website I was surprised to see no mention
of my first Cousin one removed, William Foord. He is apparently not listed on the Chailey War memorial, however he is shown on the WW1 commemorative board at Eastbourne Town Hall.

His family, my Grandmother’s brother lived at Cinder Hill, Chailey. One of William’s sister also attended Chailey Heritage School.

William died 25 June 1916. I have visited the family grave at St Peter Chailey & he is commemorated there.

Here are his details for your information.

Private William Albert Foord No.178, 11th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment
Died 25 June 1916 age 18yr 345 days.
Died of wounds near Richelbourg L’Avoue
Buried Boulogne Eastern Cemetery."

William Albert Foord, RIP.

It's always a real treat when I hear from a relative of one of the men or women I've spent so many years researching; even more so when there's a photo to put to that name.

I recently received an email from Jonathan Butters who is the great-grandson of William Butters of the 20th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment. William was a patient at Hickwells in 1915 and would die of tuberculosis in January 1920 leaving a widow and nine children. In my write-up on the Chailey 1914-1918 site I omitted one child, George Butters, who was born in late 1909 and who died in infancy in September 1912.

William married Clara Ann Corley at St Margaret’s Church, Lee, south east London in 1907, their marriage recorded in the March quarter of that year for the Lewisham district. William would have been around 22 years old, his bride, born in 1888, would have been around 19.

On 8th December 1907 their first child, Edward Charles Butters was born. On 29th January 1909 a daughter, Emily Doris Butters, followed. George Butters was born in December 1909, followed by John Nicholas Butters on the 10th December 1911. Then, on 27th September 1912, at around the same time that their third child died, twin sons James Leslie Butters and Henry James Butters were born.

On 6th June 1913, William joined the 20th London Regiment (TF) for a period of four years and served with B Company. On 17th November that year, his seventh child, Florence May Butters, was born.

There were also one more son and two more daughters that I had not noted in my original Chailey write-up: William John Butters (born 24th December 1916, died 1985), Jessie K Butters (whose birth was registered at Lewisham in the March quarter of 1917) and Clara A Butters (whose birth was registered at Lewisham in the March quarter of 1919).

The photo at the top of this post shows an undated, but presumably pre-war photo of William Butters. The one below shows William, believed to be seated far left, when the 20th London Regiment was at Hatfield. This was probably in November 1914 and would be about the same time that William's poor health first became evident. In June 1915, a Medical Board, identifying tuberculosis, would report:

“Originated Nov 1914 at Hatfield. He states that he was quite well Nov 1914, when he developed a cough. The cough became worse and he brought up much purulent sputum. Sleep sweats from March 1915 to April 1915. Lost some weight. Present condition a weak and wasted man. Signs of active tuberculosis in both lungs, particularly the right lung which is affected in its entirety. Sputum contains enormous numbers of tubercle Bacilli.”


William sent the card to his son, Edward ('Ted') at the family home at 1 Brigade Street, Blackheath. On the reverse he wrote:

"Dear Ted, thank mummy for sending butter which I got alright. I haven't seen Mrs Hurd today so could not send any message. No more news. They are taking away our Reds, Ted and giving us another service dress. XXX. Daddy."

Jonathan also sent me a photo of William when he was recuperating at Hickwells in Chailey. Here he is, sitting cross legged, far left.

I am grateful to Richard Senior who writes:

For information, George Martin, who you refer to, was the brother of my great grandfather, William Martin. There was a connection between George Martin and Albert Setford. For more information, see The London Gazette HERE .

The shop at South Street, Chailey was taken on by Albert (Bert) Setford & then his son, who married Dolly & had a son. George Martin also farmed Shelley's & Tutts Farms, South Common, Chailey, I believe at the same time as running the shop. In about 1930 he went on to farm Courthouse Farm, Hamsey, Lewes, and Allington Farm, Hamsey, Lewes. Circa 1933 he built (or had built) Colinbourne, South Common, Chailey (named after Colin Godmans, Danehill & Wapsbourne Manor, Chailey, which he had helped farm as son of farmer William Martin, snr., prior to running the shop. After William Martin, snr, Wapsbourne was farmed by George's uncle, Frank Martin and then his son, George Stenning Martin. George Martin's descendents still farm in the Lewes area.

The following list of Sussex 54 VAD personnel has largely been compiled from a single 1914 source and is certainly incomplete. It is ironic that although VAD Probationer Edith Oliver inspired the research that led to this website, it is Edith Oliver and her colleagues in Sussex 54 VAD that I have least information about. I would welcome further input from visitors to this blog who can either add names to the list or augment any of the biographical details contained here.

I have used the term "Nurse" for those women who provided nursing services although strictly speaking, "Probationer" is the correct term for those VAD members who were not qualified nurses.

Miss or Mrs BEST, Cook
Miss Frances Isabel BLENCOWE, Nurse and Commandant
Mrs Mabel Frances BLENCOWE, Quartermaster
Miss Margaret Penelope BLENCOWE, Nurse
Mrs Emily BRYANT, Nurse
Miss Susan Margaret COTESWORTH, Commandant
Miss or Mrs CURTIS, Cook
Miss Jessie Mary FENN, Nurse
Miss Alice Kathleen FENN, Nurse
Mss A GANDER, Assistant Quartermaster
Miss or Mrs GASTON, Nurse
Miss Helen Marian GREEN, Nurse
Miss Marina Edith Bourne GROUNDS, Nurse
Miss Unis Reta Bourne GROUNDS, Nurse
Miss Rose A HANCOCK, Nurse
Miss Dorothy Austen HOLCROFT, Clerk
Miss Emily Morris MARSHALL, Matron
Miss Edith OLIVER, Nurse
Dr William Stewart ORTON, Medical Officer
Sister OSMUND, Lady Superintendent
Alice POINTING, Cook
Miss Kathleen Etheldred POWNALL Nurse
Miss or Mrs ROOTES, Nurse
Miss Marguerite Harriet SANDFORD, Nurse
Miss Rose Beatrice SMYTHE, Nurse
Mrs Ada Elizabeth WEST, Nurse
Dr H R WHITEHEAD, Surgeon General
Miss or Mrs O WILSON, Nurse

Pictured above, Sussex 54 VAD at their Field Day in Stnmer Park, Falmer, Sussex in June 1914. Dr William Orton leads the contingent and tall Nurse Oliver is fifth from left.

Surviving British Red Cross records tell us that between August 1914 and November 1918, the ladies of Sussex 54 VAD nursed a total of 958 soldier patients at Hickwells and Beechlands. That means that Nurse Oliver’s album represents less than 14 per cent of admissions although of course, she would have had a hand in nursing the majority of the men who passed through the two hospitals.

One hundred and twenty nine sick and wounded soldiers left their marks in Edith Oliver's album. They, and a handful of soldiers from another album kept by Nurse Rose Beatrice Smythe (indicated by an asterisk) are recorded below.

I would be delighted to hear from anybody who has further information on any of the patients listed here, or indeed anyone who can add another soldier name to the Hickwells and Beechland House roll call. Please do contact me.


3246 Private John Thomson ALLAN, 1/4th Gordon Highlanders
Private J ANDREW, 4th Northamptonshire Regt
Staff Sergeant ATKINSON
23331 Private William H BADDOCK, 3rd Grenadier Guards
L/10314 Private Charles BANKS, 1st Royal Fusiliers
2767 Private William BARBIN, 42nd Australian Imperial Force
3962 Signaller Chris BARCLAY, 2/10th (Scottish) King's Liverpool Regt
43009 Private Herbert Richard BARNES,13th (West Ham) Essex Regt
486742 Sapper Arthur BEE, 470th Field Coy Royal Engineers
Lance-Corporal BEECHING
602919 Private James BENTLEY, 7th (British Columbia) Canadians
86771 Private Thomas S BENTON, 41st Signal Coy Royal Engineers
Driver BRADLEY
Corporal Albert BRANDON, 1/7th Middlesex Regt
Private BRASSINGTON
2/338493 Gunner H S BRIGHT, Royal Artillery
Private T W BROWN, Durham Light Infantry
Private S F BROWN, 2/9th Middlesex Regt
1218 Private W BROWN, 1/9th Middlesex Regt
22824 Private Henry Robert BURN, 2nd Worcs Regt
G/4780 Private Edward John BURNAGE, 2nd Royal Sussex Regt
Private D BUTCHER, 2nd Royal Sussex Regt*
1359 Private William J BUTTERS 1/20th London Regt
1583 Sergeant William CALVERT, 1/5th East Lancs Regt
290444 Private Archibald John CAPHAM, 1/4th Suffolk Regt
Private A CARTHIDGE, Royal Sussex Regt*
16534 Private William CHADWICK, 7th KOSB
12419 Private Charles Robert H CHAMBERS, 7th Norfolk Regt
Corporal CHATTERTON
Thomas George CLARKE, National Reserve
Driver CLEARY
Driver J CLEGG, Army Service Corps*
Lance-Corporal COATES
R/1480 Rifleman Stan COLLINS, 12th Kings Royal Rifle Corps
16621 Private James COWLEY, 1st Kings Own Royal Lancaster Regt
Lance Sergeant CROFT
7567 Private John CURRIE, 10th Gordon Highlanders
Private DAVEY
Drummer DAVIS
Gunner DAVIS
Private DAWSON
88802 Driver George William DEER, Royal Field Artillery
Rifleman DEERS
12517 Cpl Frederick John DENTON, 9th Essex
2605 Corporal John DICKS, 9th Essex Regt
6155 Private Frank Chivers DIXON, 1st Wiltshire Regt
3655 Private Martin DONNELLY, East Surrey Regt
Private DORCHESTER
Private DUFFY
Corporal A A C ELDRIDGE, Royal Fusiliers
22782 L/Cpl Ernest FAIRBROTHER, 10th Loyal North Lancs
5363 Private W FERGUSON 3rd Border Regiment
Private Joseph R FISH, 86th Aero Squadron, USA
Private FLYNN
Private FOSTER
16880 Private Joseph FRENCH, 9th Essex Regt
Private FROST
11908 Private Carles Hellas FUERE
8355 CSM John William Beeby GALE, 2nd Bedfordshire Regt
Bombardier GARLAND, Royal Artillery
S/7793 Private Andrew GEDDES, 10th Gordon Highlanders PHOTO
50082 Driver James GILBERT, Royal Field Artillery
Private GOLDBOROUGH
2726 Thomas Leo GOLDEN, CEF*
Private GORDON
Private GRAY
11796 Private John E GRIFFITHS, The Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regt)
Private HALE
Rifleman HARDCASTLE
L/6723 Private Frederick HARDING, 4th Middlesex Regt
Private HARDY
21/1522 Private Charles Edward HARRALD, 24th Northumberland Fusiliers
Private HARRISON
Private HART
SR/7386 Private William HAYDON, 1st Royal FusiliersRifleman
F HEAD
2367 Trooper George Seaney HICKS, 3/1st Bedfordshire Yeomanry
Bombardier William HILL, Royal Artillery
Private HILTON
14598 CQMS Oswald Daniel HITTER, 10th Essex Regt
6850 Rifleman Robert Mearns HOBBS, 1/5th Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
SE/9585 Private Albert HOIDGE, RAVC
Private HOLLERAN
20491 Private William HOLT, 20th County of London Regt
Private HOLYROD
Private HUBBARD
Private HUME
Sergeant H HUNTER, Coldstream Guards
Private JENNINGS
64720 Gunner Henry JOBSON, Royal Field Artillery*
Private JOHNSTONE
22002 Private D JONES, Army Service Corps
Private KEARTON
21675 Private O KEENAN, Border Regt
10298 Private Ernest J KELSEY, 22nd (Kensington) Royal Fusiliers
19797 Private Alfred Ephraim KENNARD, 6th Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
1366 Lance Corporal Ernest LADD, 5th Buffs PHOTO
17797 Private Albert LEGGETT, 1st Northamptonshire Regt
19740 Private Joseph LEIGH, 3rd Border Regt
Private LINCOLN
Private LISTERCorporal LITTLER
5365 Pte George Robert Alfred LUCAS, 8th RWK
230 Private Herbert MAGINNIS, 10th Scottish Rifles
G/5793 Lance Corporal Ernest Arthur MALINS, 6th Royal West Kent Regt
L/8576 Private Albert MANKTELOW, 2nd Royal Sussex
Private McBRIDE or MACBRIDE
4082 Lance Corporal Andrew McCRORIE, 2nd Royal Scots
Private McCANNPrivate Angus McKENZIE 1/5th (Sutherland & Caithness Highland) Seaforth Highlanders
Private McWILLIAMSSergeant MILNE
2844 Harry Gordon MILSOM, CEF
Corporal NASH
Private NEWTON
Rifleman R NICHOLSON
Private OLIVER
2537 Rifleman Harold William PARKINSON, 1/8th London Regt
11066 Band Boy John William PATE, 3rd Dragoon Guards
8108 Private Bernard PICTON, 2nd Connaught Rangers*
7480 Private Reginald PIMBLE, 1st Gloucestershire Regt
Private H PROCTOR, Duke of Wellington's (West Riding)
Private RAYNOR-SMITH
15429 Sergeant Arthur Samuel REEVE, 8th KOSB
Corporal W R D F REYNOLDS, 3rd Royal Fusiliers
205445 Private Joseph Henry RICHARDS, 11th East Yorkshire Regt
Private A G RICHARDSON, 1st Royal East Kent Mounted Rifles
8030 Private Henry Walter RICHARDSON, 1st Dorset Regt
Sergeant RICHEY
G/3325 Private Arthur Charles RIDGER, 7th East Kent Regt
Walter ROBERTSON, 2nd Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
Private J E ROBINSON
2229 Tpr Alfred ROCK, Royal Horse Guards WO364 RECORD
914 Bombardier Francis E RYAN, Royal Field Artillery
L/6738 Private Charles SABOURIN, 1st East Surrey Regt
SR/1921 Private James William SALMON, 4th Royal Fusiliers
Lance-Corporal SARGEANT
Lance-Corporal SAVAGE
Private SHAKESPEARE
Sergeant SHEPPARD
10690 Cpl John William SHERIDAN, 12th Northumberland Fusiliers
10181 L/Cpl Thomas Clement SKURRAY, 6th Royal Berkshire Regt*
57941 Lance Corporal Albert Edward SMITH, 20th Canadians Private E SMITH, 2nd Welsh Regt*
1584 Corporal Henry G SMITH DCM, 1/6th Northumberland Fusiliers
Lance-Corporal SMITH
Lance Corporal SMITH, The Buffs (East Kent Regt)
8451 Private Joseph SPRUCE, 8th North Staffordshire Regt
Lance Corporal STERN
Sergeant J STEWART, 84th Bde, Royal Horse Artillery
Corporal R SUTTON, CEF*
18406 Private James SWEENEY, 13th Royal Scots
Private SWIFT
6334 Private John THOMAS, 2nd South Staffordshire Regt
801298 Gunner John William THURGOOD, RFA
Private TODD
Private TOMKINSON
255507 Gunner Edward Harvey TRUMAN, Royal Field Artillery
Private J TURNER, 2nd Highland Light Infantry*
43262 Private Robert VINTON, 10th West Yorkshire Regt
841 L/Cpl George Cecil Davison WALBURN, 1/4th Yorks
9437 Private William Thomas WALLACE, 1st Border Regt
Private WARNER
2725 Private William Fryer WASHBOURNE, 1/5th Gloucestershire Regt
235397 Private Arthur Sydney WEAVING, 3rd Worcestershire Regt
65522 Sapper WEEDEN, 135th Field Coy Royal Engineers
268791 Private Arthur George WHIPP, 2/7th Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derbys)
6271 Private Ernest WHITCOMB, 1st Middlesex
25442 Private N WIGSTON, 4th Worcestershire Regt
21370 Lance-Corporal John William WILLIAMS, 24/27th Northumberland Fusiliers
33612 Sapper F WILLMOTT, Royal Engineers
326251 Company Sergeant Major John A C WILSON, Royal Garrison Artillery
Private WISE
9457 Corporal Horace Frank WOOD, 8th Royal West Kent Regt
Private WOOLDRIDGE
Private W WORSTER, 5th and14th Middlesex Regt

Pictured above, regular soldier Horace Frank Wood photographed after his recuperation at Chailey. He would survive the war.

An alphabetical listing of men from Chailey parish in Sussex who are known to have served in some capacity during the First World War:

8531 Driver Alfred Albert AGATE CXII Bde, RFA
4956 Private Albert AGATE, 62nd Machine Gun Corps
G/25996 Private Victor George ASHFORD, 10th Buffs
38838 Driver Arthur AVERY, Royal Engineers
32967 Private Harry AVERY, 7th Norfolk Regt
Gunner J AVERY, Royal Marine Artillery
SE/21101 Private Thomas AVERY, Army Veterinary Corps
John BAKER
Edwin BALDOCK
Harry BANKS
Driver C BARKER, Royal Engineers
223381 Driver G BEAL RFA
AM L H BEAL, RNAS
SS103893 Stoker Albert BEARD, HMS Greenwich
L7572 Officer's Steward Alfred BEARD, HMS Zaria
Private Charles BEARD, 3rd Royal Sussex Regt
G/21063 Private Charles Day BEARD, 10th Royal West Kent Regt
G/21011 Private Henry William BEARD, 2nd Royal Sussex Regt
John A BEARD
Lt Henry Douglas BESSEMER, 4th Queen's
MT/322426 Private Sidney BEST, Army Service Corps
L8067 Trooper Alfred Bird, 3rd Dragoon Guards
GS10396 & L10156 Trooper Harry BIRD,16th Lancers
55429 Private Edward BISHOP, Machine Gun Corps
M2/074635 Private Peter BISHOP, Army Service Corps
75422 Gunner Horace W BLACKMAN, Royal Defence Corps
Thomas BLACKMAN
G/24460 Private William Hugh BLANCHARD, 9th Royal Sussex Regt
Captain John Ingham BLENCOWE, Eastern Command
Lt Robert Campion BLENCOWE, Royal Defence Corps
Reverend Arthur Hamilton BOYD OBE MC TD
36366 Private Frederick William BRAY, Leicestershire Regt
230970 Private Alfred R BRAYSHER, 21st Dorset Yeomanry
37224 Corporal William James BRAZIER, 81st Sg Bty, RGA
G/1654 Private Charles BRISTOW, 9th Royal Sussex Regt
831 Private Charles BRISTOW, 57th Australian Imperial Force
240818 Private Erle BRISTOW, 5th Royal Sussex Regt
K28335 Stoker Gilbert BRISTOW, HMS Mermaid
212821 Leading Seaman Harry BRISTOW, HMS Ready
Henry BRISTOW
3529 Driver Richard BRISTOW, Royal Field Artillery
M/13255 Blacksmith's Mate Sidney George Augustus BRISTOW, HMS Invincible
Thomas BRISTOW
500748 Sapper William BRISTOW, 8th Canadian Engineers
Private Ernest Edward BROOKS, 3rd Royal Sussex Regt
33870 Corporal Henry Alfred BROOKS, 9th York & Lancaster
SD/1633 Lance Corporal William Jared BROOKS,12th Royal Sussex Regt
Private A BROWN, 2/5th Norfolk Regt
Gunner A BROWN, RFA
S/667 Private Alven Henry Jesse BROWN, 3rd East Kent Regt
G/18963 Private Charles BUCKWELL, 6th East Kent Regt
L/9079 Private George W BUCKWELL, 1st Royal Sussex Regt
Private William BURCHETT, 26th Training Reserve Battalion
730340 Private Albert James BURNETT, 130th Bn Canadian Expeditionary Force
15152 RSM William BURTON, RFA
3rd AM Fred CAMPBELL, Royal Air Force
3749 Private Harold Leslie CAMPBELL, Welsh Guards
Private H CAMPKIN, Training Reserve
Cadet Arthur CARR, Royal Air Force
AB Charles CATTAWAY, HMS Juno
3rd AM Richard Percy CHALLEN, Royal Air Force
73165 Private Frank CHATFIELD, Middlesex Regt
98183 Gunner Harry CHATFIELD, Machine Gun Corps
97775 Private John CHATFIELD, Royal Defence Corps
L7566 Officer's Steward John CHATFIELD, HMS Amphitrite
52513 Private Thomas CHATFIELD, 2/5th Lancashire Fusiliers
G/2658 Private George CHEESEMAN, 2nd Royal Fusiliers
Charles CLARKE
George CLARKE
352512 Bombardier John William CLARKSON, RGA
7609 Private Richard CLARKSON, 3rd Devonshire Regt
SD/3078 Lance-Sergeant Thomas CLARKSON, 13th Royal Sussex Regt
Private T CLAYDEN, 25th Middlesex Regt
17156 Private Horace COLEY, North Staffordshire Regiment
G CONSTABLE
Corporal Benjamin COOK, 2/5th Royal Sussex Regt
Harold COOKE
2nd Lt Reginald Trench COPLESTON, Royal Lancaster Regt
Lieutenant Horace CORNWELL, Royal Field Artillery
23220 Private George Thomas CORNFORD MM, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
63120 Cpl John Henry CORNFORD, "V" Bty RHA
23219 Pte William Trayton CORNFORD, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
Captain Charles Hext COTESWORTH, 21st Lancers
862 Sergeant Alfred E COTTINGHAM, Cyclists Co,1st Div Mounted Troops
G/2521 Private Frederick Samuel COTTINGHAM, 8th Royal Sussex Regt
7979 Private George COTTINGHAM, Royal Sussex Regiment
15030 Sergeant Harry COTTINGHAM, Royal Field Artillery
63717 Co Sgt Maj James Louis COTTINGHAM, Royal Fusiliers
J24158 AB Thomas Charles COTTINGHAM, HM Submarines
P-5378 Lance Corporal William COTTINGHAM, Military Foot Police
Alfred COTTINGTON
Private Harry COTTINGTON, A P M
WR/178250 L/Cpl William Albert COTTINGTON, 2/2nd London Field Coy, RE
Montague Jesse COX
5510 Private Charles CRADDOCK, 2nd Royal Sussex Regt
8002 Private Sydney CROWHURST, 17th Lancers
Alfred DANCY
G/2829 Sergeant Arthur DAY, 8th Royal Sussex Regt
39170 Private William Gaius DAY, 3rd Norfolk Regt
206610 Rifleman Thomas William DEADMAN, 24th Rifle Brigade
Lieutenant Michael Wallace Blencowe DEANE, 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers
2nd Lt Richard John DEANE, 117th Bty, 26th Bde, RFA
WR/327459 Sapper Thomas David DIVALL,Royal Engineers
25752 Private Henry Stephen Daniel DOWNING, 1st East Surrey Regt
Corporal Edward DREDGE, Wiltshire Regt
126 Trooper Frederick John DRUMMOND, East African Mounted Rifles
241664 Private Charles DUDMAN, 8th Middlesex Regt
G/12140 Sergeant Edwin Ivan Thomas DUFFIELD, Middlesex Regt
Cadet Percy Hounsom DURRANT, Royal Air Force
L/8389 Sergeant George SAUNDERS, 2nd Royal Sussex Regt
Lieutenant-Colonel A C EDWARDS, Royal Field Artillery
Lieut Qr-Mr William ELLIS, Att Royal Flying Corps
L6372 Officer's Steward Arthur Ernest EMERY, HMS Verulam
101822 Gunner George Masters EMERY, Royal Horse Artillery
Private G EVANS
28249 Private Frank FARNDEN, 15th Hampshire Regt
William FAULKNER
Ernest James FENN
Private P FERMOR, 53rd Bedfordshire Regt
Private F FORD, 3rd Royal Sussex Regt
240819 Corporal Frank FORD, 1/5th Royal Sussex Regt
28239 Private John FORD, 8th East Surrey Regt
Lance Corporal C FRAMPTON, Army Service Corps
Edgar H FUNNELL, Army Service Corps
124445 Gunner Thomas John FUNNELL, Royal Field Artillery
Private J GADD, 9th Royal Sussex Regt
90415 Sergeant Percival Albert GALLOWAY, DAC, Royal Field Artillery
24187 Private Albert Henry GASTON, Labour Corps
J55075 Seaman James William GASTON, HMS Canada
PO/1261(S) Private Harry GATES, 2nd RM Bn RN, Royal Marine Light Infantry
356819 Chief Petty Officer Montague John GATES, HMS Victory II
Lance Corporal Arthur GIBBS, Royal Army Medical Corps
Private Richard GIBSON, 3rd Royal Sussex Regt
259027 Private Roland GILBERT, Labour Corps
108423 RSM Oliver GODLEY, Royal Engineers
204321 Private Charles GODWARD, South Staffordshire Regt
S/41050 Private Len P GORDON, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
Ambrose GORRINGE
George GRAHAM
Lieutenant William Ivor GRANTHAM, 1/5th Royal Sussex Regt
Major William Wilson, GRANTHAM, 1/6th (Cyclist) Royal Sussex Regt
Captain Bernard Bachan GREEN, 3rd Essex Regt
2nd Lieutenant Edward Wilson GREEN, Hampshire Regt
Stoker Harry GREENFIELD, R N Barracks
32454 Private John GREENFIELD,12th Hampshire Regt
Private W GROU, 27th Middlesex Regiment
827 Sergeant George Thomas B GROUNDS, East Kent Regt
P12510 Corporal Charles HALL, Military Foot Police
L/9533 Private George HALL, 2nd Royal West Kent Regt
Private H HALL, 12th Norfolk Regt
374056 Bombardier John W HARMER MM, RGA
Fireman Thomas HARMER, HMT SS Ryckett
Lieutenant Albert HEASMAN MM,16th Australian Imperial Force
291 Private Frederick HEASMAN, 13th MGC, Australian Imperial Force
2145 L/Corporal Gilbert Arthur HEASMAN MM, 11th Australian Imperial Force
D/14263 Private Percy Ernest S HELLIER, Dragoons
Sergeant George HILTON, ASC
Frederick J HOBDEN
286308 Sapper Owen HOBDEN, 106th Field Coy Royal Engineers
38692 Private Charles HODGES, 3rd Essex Regt
98514 Gunner Thomas HOMEWOOD, 41st Trench Mortar Bty RFA
Gunner Arthur HORSCRAFT, RGA
Lieutenant Gerald Sclater INGRAM, 2nd Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regt)
Cecil Ernest IRELAND
T2/12286 Sgt Claude Foord IRELAND, 151st Coy ASC, att 56th FA, RAMC
Private Percy Raymond Ireland, 10th Royal Sussex Regt
Gunner J IZZARD, Royal Horse Artillery
Harry E JACKSON
Corporal Harry JEFFREYS, British Red Cross Society
Cadet Christopher Theodore JELLICOE, Royal Navy
Asst Paymaster John Basil Lee JELLICOE, RNVR
Reverend Thomas Harry Lee JELLICOE, Royal Navy
J57705 Boy 2nd Class Alec Clemence Herbert JENNER, HMS Ganges
L/10781 Private Alfred Reuben William JENNER, 9th Royal Sussex Regt
Private Charles JENNER 390th Labour Company
J49195 Able Seaman David William Christopher JENNER, HMS Constance
111031 Private William Ernest JENNER, Royal Army Medical Corps
136676 Driver William Norman JENNER, Royal Engineers
46285 Rifleman Robert Charles JESSOP, 1st Rifle Brigade
Gunner George Arthur KEMP, Royal Garrison Artillery
Private G KENWARD, Royal Air Force
241360 Private John Walter KENWARD, 1/5th Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regt)
Midshipman Anthony Martin KIMMINS, HMS Marlborough
2nd Lieutenant Brian Charles Hannan KIMMINS, Royal Field Artillery (att RHA)
Gunner Frank William KING, Royal Field Artillery
Jesse KING
207058 Corporal Mechanic Stephen KING, RAF
Private D KNIGHT, 2/1st Sussex Yeomanry
Lance Corporal John Luther KNIGHT, 4th East Surrey Regt
SS6327 Able Seaman Albert LANGRIDGE, HMS Winchester
49845 Corporal Shoeing-Smith Arthur LANGRIDGE MSM, Royal Field Artillery
J/42643 Seaman Cecil LANGRIDGE, HMS Invincible
Lance Bombardier Henry J LANGRIDGE, Royal Garrison Artillery
Herbert LANGRIDGE
R/4188 Rifleman William Alfred LANSDOWNE, King's Royal Rifle Corps
G/6565 Private Charles LEE, 11th Royal Sussex Regiment
E LEVITT
Driver Wilfred LOCKYER, Royal Field Artillery
Leading Stoker J LONG, Royal Navy
Walter LONG
6841533 Private Frederick LUDLAM, King’s Royal Rifle Corps
Lieutenant Sigurd Harold MACCULLOCH, 2nd Seaforth Highlanders
154169 Gunner Frank George MAINWOOD, Royal Garrison Artillery
33201 Private William MAINWOOD, 9th Royal Berkshire Regt
312568 Private Albert MALTHOUSE, Labour Corps
G/16794 Private Edward MANVILLE, 2nd Queen's Royal West Surrey Regt
87396 Private Charles William MARCHANT, 12th King's Liverpool Regt
Private Charles George MARCHANT, 16th Sussex Yeomanry
L/10421 Lance-Corporal Albert Victor MARTIN, 2nd Royal Sussex Regt
Private H MARTIN, 13th Grenadier Guards
John MARTIN
G/18321 Private William Thomas MARTIN, 1/5th East Kent Regt
William J MARTIN
G/1974 Lance Corporal Cecil E MATTHEWS, 8th Royal Sussex Regt
Private Charles Robert MILES, Royal Engineers
285146 Gunner Albert J MILLER, Royal Garrison Artillery
32133 Private Edgar Stanley MILLER, Kings Own Scottish Borderers
90669 Gunner Joseph Charles MILLER, Royal Garrison Artillery
Private William Richard MILLER, Army Service Corps
Private Albert Basil MITCHELL, 4th Hussars
301785 Leading Boatman Alfred Thomas MITCHELL, HMS Devonshire
Henry J MITCHELL
G/16155 Lance Corporal John W MITCHELL, 12th Royal Sussex Regt
Rifleman Maurice MITCHELL, Kings Royal Rifle Corps
40071 Corporal Sidney MITCHELL, Royal Garrison Artillery
Sergeant F NEAL, Royal Warwickshire Regt
Private J NEVETT, Royal Army Medical Corps
Wallace NORMAN
G/1672 Private John Henry OLIVER, 10th Royal Sussex Regt
L/10419 Private Albert Edward PADGHAM, 2nd Royal Sussex Regt
Gunner William PADGHAM, Royal Field Artillery
Private George PAGE, Royal Engineers
Private John Frederick PAGE, 36th Royal Fusiliers
Private Thomas PAGE, Royal Sussex Regt
Herbert PAINTING
Sergeant Rainald PARKER, Army Service Corps
5506 Sergeant Alfred PATEMAN, 47th Machine Gun Corps
WR259151 Sapper Charles John PATEMAN, Royal Engineers
Ernest PATEMAN
82015 Gunner Percy Charles PATEMAN, Royal Field Artillery
415211 RSM Thomas PATEMAN, 4th Queen's Hussars
Rifleman Walter Robert PATEMAN, 24th Rifle Brigade
23610 Private Frank PEACOCK, 3rd Grenadier Guards
Corporal John PECKHAM, Royal Field Artillery
Lewis J PENN
289696 Gunner Francis George PETTET, Royal Field Artillery
Albert PHILPOTT
Private William Knight PHILPOTT, Remounts
G/17485 Private William Henry G PIPER, 7th East Kent Regt
SD/3427 Lance Corporal Albert PLUMMER, 13th Royal Sussex Regt
376305 Private Alexander PLUMMER, 19th Durham Light Infantry
SD/1643 Lance Corporal Ernest W PLUMMER, 12th Royal Sussex Regt
M2/188419 Private Owen PLUMMER, 283rd MT Coy, Army Service Corps
Flight Sergeant Frank POINTING, RAF
260073 Signaller George POINTING, 11th Royal Sussex Regt
M2 105174 Private James POINTING, MT Army Service Corps
G/211 Private William Richard POINTING, 6th East Kent Regt
85523 Driver William POMFREY, 5th DAC, Royal Field Artillery
Captain John Cecil Glossop POWNALL, Royal Field Artillery
Lieutenant Lionel Henry Yorke POWNALL, 1st Royal West Kent Regt
George PREVETT
L/6002 Private Harry R REED, 1/4th Royal West Kent Regt
J Alwyn ROBERTS
Captain Magnus Rainier ROBERTSON MC, 9th Essex Regt
G/18866 Private Richard ROFFE, 7th East Kent Regt
Driver Henry ROGERS, Royal Field Artillery
7834 Rifleman Henry Alfred SAUNDERS, 12th London Regt WO 363 RECORD
Christopher SCRASE
20682 Lance Corporal Albert Henry SELBY, RE WO 363 RECORD
Albert SETFORD
Gunner F W SHEPHERD, Royal Garrison Artillery
Ernest SHEPPARD
Driver Christopher Nathan SHORT, Div Train Royal Navy
K36936 Stoker George Thomas SIMMONS, HMS Maidstone
P/381 Private William Horace SIMMONS, Military Mounted Police WO 364 RECORD
Alfred W SINNOCK
Private Archibald SMITH, 2nd Leicestershire Regt
Driver C SMITH, Royal Field Artillery
38946 Private Charles SMITH, 13th Bedfordshire Regt
Private F SMITH, Royal Engineers (Att HQ)
200583 Corporal Frederick James SMITH, 4th Suffolk Regt PHOTO
G/9591 Private George Spencer SMITH, 13th Royal Sussex Regt PHOTO
Private G SMITH, 10th Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Gunner William C SMITH, 2/2nd Durham, Royal Field Artillery
13326 Corporal Arthur Harry SNELLING, 13th Kings Royal Rifle Corps
6443557 Sergeant Richard Ernest SNELLING, 4th Royal Fusiliers
241023 Private William SNELLING, 5th Royal Sussex Regt
T2SR/03145 Driver George Ernest SPARSHOTT, Army Service Corps
33549 Private William Henry SPICE, 1st East Surrey Regt
Private Thomas SPRING, Royal Air Force
138183 Signaller Walter Stanley STARLEY, Royal Field Artillery
G/6256 Private Octavius STARLING, 13th Royal Sussex WO 364 RECORD
Driver Albert STEVENS, Army Service Corps
Corporal Ernest Frank STEVENS, Salvage Corps PHOTO
Private Frank STEVENS, 6th East Kent Regt
48227 Private Frank STEVENS, 8th East Surrey Regt
Gunner G STEVENS, Trench Mortar Battery
Corporal G STEVENS, Royal Garrison Artillery
Driver James STEVENS, MT Army Service Corps
Private William H STEVENS, 9th Royal Sussex Regt
64128 Private William STEVENS, 8th Machine Gun Corps
62615 Private Frederick STEVENSON, Labour Corps
429542 Private Albert STILL, Labour Corps
49461 Sergeant Arthur STILL, Machine Gun Corps WO363 RECORD
57356 Corporal Edward STILL, Queen's Royal West Surrey Regt
G/1657 Sergeant Major Ernest STILL MM, Labour Corps
SS119013 Stoker George Henry STILL, HMS Assistance
1689 Trooper Alfred STRINGER, 2nd Life Guards WO 364 RECORD
GSSR/887 Private Frederick Ernest SWEETMAN, 3rd Royal Sussex Regt WO 364 RECORD
Private F SWIFT, 52nd Bedfordshire Regt
102755 Gunner Peter SYMONS, Royal Garrison Artillery
K10617 Stoker Archie TAPP, HMS Dolphin ADM 188 RECORD
K54708 Stoker 2nd Class Ashley Robert TAPP, HMS Pembroke ADM 188 RECORD
SS11770 Leading Stoker Aubrey Lorenzo Russell TAPP, HMS Marmeluke ADM 188 RECORD
R/986 Sergeant Harry TAPP, AVC RFA (att HQR)
Corporal Charles W TAYLOR, AVC
Private George TAYLOR, 2nd Manchester Regt
Driver E TESTER, Indian Cavalry
G/17915 L-Corporal Albert Henry THOMPSETT, 11th Royal Sussex Regt
B/201564 Driver Alfred TICEHURST, London Regt
82017 Gunner Benjamin TINGLEY, Royal Field Artillery
41987 Private William George TINGLEY DCM, C De G, 11th Suffolk Regt
Driver William Henry Tingley Army Service Corps
Private William Henry TINGLEY Royal Engineers WO 363 RECORD
Major William Tidswell TOWERS-CLARK MC, Coldstream Guards
1608 Gunner Edgar Lancelot TOWNER, Canadian Field Artillery
Captain Henry William (Harry) TOWNER, Royal Garrison Artillery
Timothy TOWNER
SE/3722 Private George TRIGWELL, Army Veterinary Corps
LSR/2295 Private Arthur TULLY, 7th Royal Sussex Regt
G/21022 Private Arthur TURNER, 8th Royal Sussex Regt
10749 Private George TURNER, 9th Royal Sussex Regt
Gunner Thomas TURNER, Anti Aircraft Artillery
J33944 Boy 1st Class William James TURNER, HMS Victory I
M/224988 Douglas James Gibbins URIDGE, RASC WO 364 RECORD
205127 Corporal Mechanic Henry James (Harry) URRY, RAF
Charles VENTHAM
Edwin WAGHORN
219181 Driver Oswald Richard WALDEN, Royal Field Artillery
106651 Corporal Shoeing-smith Ebenezer WALDER, RFA WO 363 RECORD
Pioneer J WALDER, Royal Engineers
Private Lewis WALDER, 11th Loyal North Lancashire Regt
17855 Battery QM Sgt William WALDER, Royal Garrison Artillery
George WALKER
K29857 Stoker Albert Frederick WASHER, HMS Active ADM 188 RECORD
G/1967 Private Arthur Thomas WASHER, 8th Royal Sussex Regt
10233 Private George Trayton WASHER, 7th East Surrey Regt WO 363 RECORD
Alfred WELLER
Arthur WELLER
J43156 Able Seaman George Frederick WELLER, HMS Queen Elizabeth ADM 188 RECORD
Driver George WELLER, Royal Field Artillery
Lance Corporal James Charles WELLER, 7th Royal Sussex Regt
John WELLER
69438 Private Edward WELLS, 9th Royal Fusiliers
Lieutenant Alan Herbert Mainwaring WEST, 36th Sikhs
Captain Ralph M WEST, 3rd Mounted Brigade WO 374 RECORD
Pioneer George WHEELER, Royal Engineers
Corporal W WHITE, RFC
27334 Private Charles Jarrett WILLEY, 12th Suffolk Regt
G/4849 Corporal Ernest WILLIAMS, 9th Royal Sussex Regt
Private H WILSON, Army Service Corps
9392 Private Charles Joseph WOOD, 2nd KOYLI
SE/4483 Corporal Frederick Albert Jon WOOD, Army Veterinary Corps
229851 Leading Seaman George WOOD, HMS Sandhurst ADM 188 RECORD
Lance Corporal Harry WOOD, 1st KOYLI
GSSR/649 Private Obed WOOD, 9th Royal Sussex Regt WO 364 RECORD
Bombardier Richard WOOD, Royal Garrison Artillery
2nd Lt Thomas Victor WOOD, 7th Royal Sussex Regt WO 339 RECORD
S/2124 Private Frederick J WOODHAMS, 13th Royal Sussex Regt
18474 Private Jesse WOODHAMS, Coldstream Guards
94309 Thomas Jesse WOODHAMS, Royal Field Artillery
Captain Archibald WRIGHT, Machine Gun Corps
G/1671 Sergeant Frederick William YEOMANS DCM, 4th Royal Sussex Regt

Pictured above, Ernest Stevens and his wife, Alice Pointing.

I am grateful to Lesley Fisher for contacting me and correcting the biography I had written for Thomas Avery. It appears that I have mixed up two men of the same name and I will now attempt to unravel them.

1. Thomas Avery was born in Chailey around 1879. When the 1901 census was taken, the family was living at 13 South Street, Chailey. The family comprised Thomas Avery (head of the household, aged 48), his wife Caroline (42) and their seven children: Thomas (21), Edith (18), Rose (16), Frederick (13), Harriett (9), Arthur (6) and Harry (2). Thomas senior worked as a carter on a farm. His son Thomas was a brick-maker (presumably working at Norman’s, locally) and Edith worked as a general domestic servant. The family also had a boarder, 22 year old Frank Funnell who worked as a labourer in at the local brickyard.

Tom Avery appears in Chailey Parish Magazine for the first time in November 1916, noted as a Private, serving with the Army Veterinary Corps in France. He survived the war and appears to have served until the end, finally appearing in the parish magazine in July 1919. He was given the army number SE/21101.

2. Another Thomas Avery, born in 1889, was the youngest of seven children of John Avery and Mary-Ann Bridon. The family can be found on the 1891 census living at Wapsbourne Cottage in the Chailey Parish. Mary-Ann then went on to marry Charles Knight. They appear on the 1901 census living at Oaklands Cottage Chailey with another brother for Thomas and also Mary-Ann's father. They moved to Rock Cottage, Scaynes Hill by the time the 1911 census was completed and Thomas, now 22 years of age is noted as a farm labourer.

Thomas died in 1949 from oral cancer and at the time of his death he was employed as a carter. He was living at Oakwood Cottages in Streat and was never in the army although it was this Thomas Avery who married the widow of the late Harry Gates and subsequently lived at Flint Cottage (pictured above, courtesy of the Geocaching website) on Chailey Common.