Sunday, October 23, 2011

Farewell Chailey1914-1918.net


I've closed down the Chailey 1914-1918 site. To be honest, it had become unwieldy and the package provided by Fasthosts that I had used to create the site was certainly not user-friendly. In the end it just seemed simpler to close the site down and instead add information to this blog. I have a copy of the site and who knows, in time it might re-surface somewhere else. However, for the time being, search engine capability being what it is these days, somebody looking for a man or woman with Chailey connections during WW1 should manage to stumble across this blog without too much difficulty.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

NFDDSS - Newick & Chailey



This splendid photo shows members of the Newick and Chailey Branch of the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilised Sailors and Soldiers at their wind-up supper outside The King's Head, Chailey on July 12th 1921.

Numbering left to right, identified members so far are:

Back row: 2: Frank Mainwood; 6: Len Gordon; 7: "Buffer Ford"; 8: William Padgham; 11: Hugh Page; 13: Charles Pateman

Second row: 6: Thomas Divall

Third row: 3:?? Ireland

Front row: 1: Jack Padgham (father of Albert and William); 7: Thomas Deadman


Frank Mainwood, RGA. My thanks to Helen Davy and Peggy Fuller in Hampshire for helping me identify him in the main photo above. Frank lost his right eye whilst serving with the Royal Garrison Artillery during the First World War.


Len Gordon, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders


William Padgham, RFA


Tom Deadman, Rifle Brigade

A tale of two namesakes - Thomas Avery


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.

Thursday, September 08, 2011

Chailey Roll-call: Chailey's Men



An alphabetical listing of men from Chailey known to have served King and Country in some capacity during the First World War. In time this will become a full index with links to pages giving more information about these men.

Since I first started to research the men and women of Chailey, far more records have been digitised and have become available online. Together, Findmypast and Ancestry have most of the bases covered. I list principal resources used to research these men, with links, below:

1. Service records and pension records in WO 363 and WO 364. Pension records on Ancestry. Service records on Ancestry. Pension and Service records on Findmypast. Note that the indexing is more comprehensive on Findmypast although delivery of images is slower.
2. WW1 Medal index cards on Ancestry
3. WW1 Medal rolls (WO 329) on Ancestry
4. Soldiers' effects on Ancestry
5. Seamen's service records (ADM 188) on Findmypast
6. Royal Navy officers' records (ADM 196) on Findmypast
7. Airmen's records (AIR 79) on Findmypast
8. Royal Air Force officers' records (AIR 76) on Findmypast
9. Royal Naval Division service records (ADM 339) on Findmypast
10. Merchant Navy Seamen's service records on Findmypast
11. Merchant Navy Seamen's medal index cards on Findmypast

Both Findmypast and Ancestry offer free trials and both frequently promote special deals. Click these links for the Findmypast Free Trial and the Ancestry Free Trial.

British Army officers' service records remain the missing link and it is unlikely that due to recent correspondence in files and also medical information contained within these same files, that they will be made available online any time soon.

Chailey's Men

8531 Driver Alfred Albert AGATE CXII Bde, RFA
4956 Private Albert AGATE, 62nd Machine Gun Corps
Jesse ASHDOWN
G/25996 Private Victor George ASHFORD, 10th Buffs
38838 Driver Arthur AVERY, Royal Engineers
32967 Private Harry AVERY, 7th Norfolk Regiment
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
8582 Clerk Lawford Harold BEAL, Royal Air Force 
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 (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
MT/322426 Private Sidney BEST, Army Service Corps
L8067 Trooper Alfred BIRD, 3rd Dragoon Guards
GS/10396 and 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/1632 Private Sydney Arthur BROOKS, 12th Royal Sussex Regt
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
Pte William BURCHETT, 26th Training Reserve Battalion
730340 Private Albert James BURNETT, 130th Bn Canadian Expeditionary Force
15152 RSM William BURTON, RFA
98067 Pte Fred CAMPBELL, Royal Air Force
3749 Private Harold Leslie CAMPBELL, Welsh Guards
Private H CAMPKIN, Training Reserve
180740 Private George Arthur CARR, Royal Air Force
AB Charles CATTAWAY, HMS Juno
169068 Richard Percy CHALLEN, Royal Air Force
73165 Private Frank CHATFIELD, Middlesex Regt
98183 Gunner Harry CHATFIELD, Machine Gun Corps
John CHATFIELD, Middlesex Regiment
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, King's Own (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 CSM James Louis COTTINGHAM, Labour Corps
J24158 AB Thomas Charles COTTINGHAM, HM Submarines
P-5378 Lance Corporal William COTTINGHAM, Military Foot Police
Alfred COTTINGTON
Private Harry COTTINGTON , 7th Royal West Kent Regt
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 B DAY, 8th Royal Sussex Regt
39170 Private William Gaius DAY, 3rd Norfolk Regt
L/10315 Pte William George DAY, 9th Royal Sussex Regiment
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
6941 A/Sergeant 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
176956 Pte Percy Hounsom DURRANT, Royal Air Force 
Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Clement EDWARDS, Royal Field Artillery
Spts/5368 Pte John ELLIS, 11th Royal Fusiliers
Lieutenant Quartermaster 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
SD/178 Private William Albert FOORD, 11th Royal Sussex Regiment
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 Charles FRAMPTON, Army Service Corps and HERE
Henry Edgar FUNNELL, Army Service Corps
124445 Gunner Thomas John FUNNELL, Royal Field Artillery
G/7968 Private John 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 RND, 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 and HERE
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 Bourne GROUNDS, East Kent Regt
P12510 Corporal Charles HALL, Military Foot Police
L/9533 Private George HALL, 2nd Royal West Kent Regt
320605 Private Harry 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
TSR/751 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
Assistant Paymaster John Basil Lee JELLICOE, RNVR and HERE
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)
238372 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
Henry John LANGRIDGE
115996 Gunner Herbert LANGRIDGE, Royal Garrison Artillery
R/4188 Rifleman William Alfred LANSDOWNE, King's Royal Rifle Corps and HERE
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
769654 Pte Horace Raymond MARTIN, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
9866 Pte John Sidney MARTIN, 3rd Bn, CEF
G/18321 Private William Thomas MARTIN, 1/5th East Kent Regt
G/1974 Lance Corporal Cecil Edward 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 and HERE
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 Gilbert MITCHELL, Kings Royal Rifle Corps
40071 Corporal Sidney MITCHELL, Royal Garrison Artillery
WR/40707 Pioneer Charles MOON, Royal Engineers
2259 Sergeant Frederick NEALE, Royal Warwickshire Regt
Private J NEVETT, Royal Army Medical Corps
Wallace NORMAN
120183 Pioneer Frank OLIVER, Royal Engineers
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
315261 Pioneer George PAGE, Royal Engineers
Private John Frederick PAGE, 36th Royal Fusiliers
Private Thomas PAGE, Royal Sussex Regt
Herbert PAINTING
M/205166 Sergeant Rainald PARKER, Army Service Corps / 2
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, ASC 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
201994 Private Harry Rufus 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 
L/8389 Sergeant George SAUNDERS, 2nd Royal Sussex Regt
Christopher SCRASE
20682 Lance Corporal Albert Henry SELBY, Royal Engineers
Albert SETFORD and HERE
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 
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 
G/9591 Private George Spencer SMITH, 13th Royal Sussex Regt 
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 and HERE
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
288216 Clerk Thomas SPRING, Royal Air Force
138183 Signaller Walter Stanley STARLEY, Royal Field Artillery
G/6256 Private Octavius STARLING, 13th Royal Sussex 
Driver Albert STEVENS, Army Service Corps
Corporal Ernest Frank STEVENS, Labour Corps
Private Frank STEVENS, 6th East Kent Regt
48227 Private Frank STEVENS, 8th East Surrey Regt
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
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 
GSSR/887 Private Frederick Ernest SWEETMAN, 3rd Royal Sussex Regt 
Private F SWIFT, 52nd Bedfordshire Regt
102755 Gunner Peter SYMONS, Royal Garrison Artillery
K10617 Stoker Archie TAPP, HMS Dolphin 
K54708 Stoker 2nd Class Ashley Robert TAPP, HMS Pembroke 
SS11770 Leading Stoker Aubrey Lorenzo Russell TAPP, HMS Marmeluke 
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 / 2
B/201564 Driver Alfred TICEHURST, Rifle Brigade
82017 Gunner Benjamin TINGLEY, Royal Field Artillery
41987 Private William TINGLEY DCM, Croix De Guerre, 11th Suffolk Regt
Driver William Henry TINGLEY Army Service Corps
Private William Henry TINGLEY Royal Engineers 
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 T TURNER, Royal Garrison Artillery
J33944 Boy 1st Class William James TURNER, HMS Victory I 
M/224988 Douglas James Gibbins URIDGE, RASC 
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 
Pioneer J WALDER, Royal Engineers
Private Lewis WALDER, 11th Loyal North Lancashire Regt
17855 Battery Quartermaster Sergeant William WALDER, Royal Garrison Artillery
George WALKER
K29857 Stoker Albert Frederick WASHER, HMS Active 
G/1967 Private Arthur Thomas WASHER, 8th Royal Sussex Regt
10233 Private George Trayton WASHER, 7th East Surrey Regt 
Alfred WELLER
Arthur WELLER
J43156 Able Seaman George Frederick WELLER, HMS Queen Elizabeth 
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 
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 
Lance Corporal Harry WOOD, 1st KOYLI
GSSR/649 Private Obed WOOD, 9th Royal Sussex Regt 
Bombardier Richard WOOD, Royal Garrison Artillery
2nd Lt Thomas Victor WOOD, 7th Royal Sussex Regt 
G/24393 Private Frederick G WOODHAMS, 13th Royal Sussex Regt
18474 Private Jesse WOODHAMS, Coldstream Guards
94309 Thomas Jesse WOODHAMS, Royal Field Artillery
Captain Archibald WRIGHT, 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards, later Machine Gun Corps
G/1671 Sergeant Frederick William YEOMANS DCM, 4th Royal Sussex Regt 
 
Pictured above, Ernest Stevens and his wife, Alice Pointing.

Monday, September 05, 2011

Chailey Roll-Call: The Patients


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.

Chailey Roll-Call: The Nurses


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.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

George Martin & Albert Setford

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.

Monday, July 11, 2011

William John Butters


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 1882, would have been around 25.

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.




This is remarkably similar to a photo I have in my collection which was taken by Frances Blencowe:


In Jonathan's photo, Nurse Blencowe is on the back row, far right, looking away to her left. On my photo, the two dogs have wandered off and one of them is being held by the unidentified woman who replaced Frances Blencowe when she took the photo that I have a copy of. The only other soldier I have positively identified in these photos is Charles Sabourin who lost his leg at Mons and who is sitting behind William Butters.

Clara Butters died just four years after her husband and when she died Ted, aged just seventeen, became the head of the family and had to take charge of his eight brothers and sisters who went into care. Ted Butters died some years ago, but his sister Jessie, the second youngest of William and Clara's children, is still alive and well in Australia. My thanks to Jonathan Butters for sending me this fascinating additional information about his family.



Monday, June 27, 2011

William Albert Foord

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.