Lieutenant Quartermaster William Ellis, attached Royal Flying Corps

William Ellis first makes an appearance in Chailey’s Parish Magazine in March 1915 when it is noted that he is serving his King and Country.  In October 1915 he is noted as Ellis, Quarter Master Sergeant W, 2nd Royal West Kent, England and in March 1916 as Ellis, Warrant Officer W, 2nd Royal West Kent, England. 

In December 1917 the magazine notes that he is attached to the RFC and this information is then repeated up to and including the final published roll call in July 1919. 

There is only really one possibility listed at The National Archives and that is 4239 Warrant Officer Class 2, William Ellis of the Royal West Kent Regiment.  He is also noted as Warrant Officer Class 2 with the Middlesex Regiment. A Training Reserve Battalion number is also given (TR/10/40004).   

William certainly had Newick connections and attended the village school there from 1882.  Later, during the First World War, the headmaster, John Oldaker, compiled notes on his serving ex pupils and asked each of them to send him a photo.  The photo of William reproduced on this page was the one which he sent his old headmaster, and John Oldaker also added the following notes:

William G Ellis

Enlisted 10th Sept 1894, Royal West Kent Regt; still in the army at the outbreak of the War having served in many parts of the world. King’s and Queen’s South Africa medals and clasps.  Came to England from India, October 1914 as colour sergeant. Promoted company sergeant major, October 1914.  Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant, May 1915.  Gazetted lieutenant 25th August 1917. Quartermaster RFC at Yatesbury, Wilts. Transferred to 53rd Royal Sussex Regiment.  To Germany 28th Feb 1919.  Demobbed 28th June 1919.

 

My thanks to Simon Stevens for the information and photograph from John Oldaker's collection.

240819 Cpl Frank Ford, 5th Royal Sussex Regiment

Chailey Parish Magazine notes in March 1915 that Frank Ford is serving his King and Country.  In October 1915 it reports, Ford, Private F, 5th Royal Sussex, England following this up in November with the information that he is now in France.  In November 1916 his rank is noted as lance-corporal and In July 1918, corporal. 

Frank served continuously from March 1915 until the final published roll call in Chailey’s parish magazine in July 1919.  The National Archives lists two numbers for him: 5/3110 and 240819 (the new number he was assigned when the Territorial Force was re-numbered in 1917).  He almost certainly enlisted with Erle Bristow of Chailey as the two men’s numbers are virtually identical.  Erle’s numbers with the 5th Royal Sussex were 5/3109 and later, 240818. 

The 1901 census of England and Wales notes a 13 year old Frank Ford living in Chailey village with his widowed mother Elizabeth Ford (aged 55 and earning a living through cleaning – or “charing”)  and two brothers: John Ford (aged 15) and George C Ford (aged 26).  All three sons are noted as agricultural labourers and all three are noted as having been born in Chailey.  

Frank and John Ford were cousins of Archie, Ashley, Aubrey and Harry Tapp (Elizabeth Ford’s maiden name was Tapp and she was the sister of the Tapp Brothers’ father, Joseph).  A John Ford also appears in Chailey’s parish magazine as does an F Ford and either or both of these men may be related to Frank Ford and/or the Tapp brothers.

 

Frank Ford's partial; service record survives as a burnt document in WO 363. Possibly the most interesting paper amongst those that survive is a letter from Frank's employer, Albert Turner & Son, timber merchants of Nutley, Uckfield. This badly damaged single page, sent to the Ministry of Labour and requesting Frank's discharge from the army confirms that he worked as a sawyer with the company before 4th August 1914 and cites him as a corporal serving with No 13 platoon, D Company, 5th Royal Sussex Regiment.

Private P Fermor, Bedfordshire Regiment

Chailey Parish Magazine notes Fermor, Private P, 53rd Bedfordshire Regiment in its July 1918 issue and his information is then repeated up to and including the final published roll call in July 1919. 

The 53rd Bedfordshire Regiment was a young soldiers’ battalion formed in late October 1917.  At the time Private Fermor was with the battalion it was based at Cannock Chase, Staffordshire. Nothing else is known about this man.

Ernest James Fenn

Chailey Parish Magazine lists Ernest James Fenn only once and this is in a special list of attested men published in January 1916.

Ernest was born at Fletching, Sussex around 1868, his birth registered in the district of Uckfield in the March quarter of that year. He appears on the 1881 census living with his family at 4, Camden Crescent, Dover. The household comprised Edwin Fenn (head, married, aged 42, a Colchester born General Medical Practitioner), his wife Alice Anne (or Annie) Fenn (aged 42, born in Ardleigh, Essex) and five children: Ernest (aged 13), Edwin Anthony Fenn (aged 11), Alice Kathleen Fenn (aged four), William C Fenn (aged four) and Leonard H Fenn (aged one). The two older boys had been born in Fletching (as had a sixth child, Grace Fenn, born about 1870); the other children had all been born in Dover. Lending a hand at the house were 18 year old Alice Watson, a general servant and 14 year old Ellen McPay, a nursemaid.

In 1891 Ernest is noted as a 25 year old servant working at a hotel at 24/25 Arlington Street, Piccadilly, London. His trade is given as “Institute Electrical Engineers” which presumably means that he – and another man who has the same occupation listed – was the resident electrician there.

By 1901 Ernest was working as a baker and confectioner and Living at Maltravers Street, Arundel with his wife and three children. By the time the 1911 census was taken, the now 44-year-old Ernest was working as a baker and confectioner working from home at 12 Boundary Road, Hove, Sussex.

It seems reasonable to assume that Ernest was not called to the colours on account of his age. He would have been about 48 in January 1916, well past the upper age limit of 41 for men who were compelled to enlist under the Military Service Act of 27th January 1916. I am unsure where Ernest was living in 1916; quite possibly in Hove still, but his sisters Jessie and Kathleen Fenn were certainly living within or close to Chailey Parish boundaries and were active members of Sussex 54 VAD.

William Faulkner

Chailey resident Reg Philpott remembers that William Faulkner used to be “a tailor down on the Green.  He used to sit there with his legs crossed and do all his sewing.  Mary Izzard worked for him.” 

Chailey Parish Magazine mentions him in a special list of attested men published between January and April 1916.  In January 1916 he appears as W Faulkner and in April 1916 as William Faulkner.  Nothing else is known about this man.

28249 Private Frank Farnden, 15th Hampshire Regt

Chailey Parish Magazine first notes that Frank Farnden is serving his King and Country in its October 1914 issue. A year later, that information is updated to note that he is a private serving with the 8th Field Bakery in France. His name is also mis-spelt as Farndon.

In January 1917, Chailey Parish Magazine notes that Frank Farnden is now with the 13th Field Bakery and this is updated in December 1917 to note that he is serving with the 15th Hampshire Regiment. It is this latter information which appears on Frank Farnden’s medal index card at the National Archives where he is recorded as 28249 Private Frank Farnden, Hampshire Regt.

A search of the 1901 census reveals two individuals called Frank Farnden, one of these with Sussex connections. He is 14 year old Frank Farnden, born in Woodford Green, Essex but living at Valetta, De Chem Road, Hastings with his family. The household comprised Eva Farnden, head (aged 40), a widow living on her means and her three sons: Frank, Herbert A (aged 13) and Kenneth (aged 11). There was also a parlour maid, Kate S Parfield (aged 27).

Pte G Evans

Chailey Parish Magazine mentions Private Evans briefly.  Between February and December 1917 he is noted simply as Evans, Private G, 148 BEF.  I know nothing else about this man.

101822 Gunner George Masters Emery, Royal Horse Artillery

George Masters Emery was born in Crawley in 1894, his birth recorded at Horsham in the June quarter of that year.  He appears on the 1901 census of England and Wales living at Fay Gate Road, Rusper, West Sussex with his family.  The family comprised: Michael Emery (head, aged 47, working as a flower pot maker), his wife Maria Louisa Emery (aged 47) and their children: Harry Emery (aged 16, working as a carter boy on a farm), Emily Emery (aged 11), Annie Emery (aged nine), George (aged six) and Arthur Ernest Emery (aged four). 

There were other children too.  The 1891 census shows the family living at High Brook, West Hoathly, Sussex. Children (and their ages in 1891) not noted above are: Francis W Emery (aged 10), Maud M Emery (aged eight), Ada H Emery (aged six), and Blanche Emery (aged two).  Henry Emery (George Masters’ grandfather), a 75 year old widower, was also living at the house. 

Chailey Parish Magazine first mentions George Emery in July 1916, noting: Emery, Gnr G M, RHA, France.  In fact he had already been in France for a year by the time this information appeared.  His medal information card at the National Archives states that 101822 Gunner George M Emery of the Royal Horse Artillery arrived in France and Flanders on 21st July 1915. 

The Commonwealth War Graves’ Commission (CWGC) notes that George died of wounds on Friday 15th December 1916 aged 22.  He is buried in the north eastern corner of Chessington St Mary Churchyard, Surrey.  CWGC also notes on its Debt of Honour Register, that he was the son of Michael and Maria Louisa Emery of Lancers Cottages, Colgate, Horsham. 

The Reverend Jellicoe was certainly kept informed of events.  In the January 1917 edition of the  parish magazine, his details were added to the growing Roll of Honour: Gnr G M Emery, RHA, died of wounds, Dec 15th 1916.  There is no mention of him in Soldiers Died in The Great War. 

George's brother Arthur Ernest Emery also served his King and Country during the First World War.

L6372 Officer's Steward Arthur Ernest Emery, HMS Verulam

According to Arthur Emery’s surviving service papers, he was born on 24th March 1896 at Crawley in Sussex (although his birth wasn’t registered until the March quarter the following year at Cuckfield).  The 1901 census gives his place of birth as Slaugham, Sussex. 

He appears on that census living at Fay Gate Road, Rusper, West Sussex with his family.  The family comprised: Michael Emery (head, aged 47, working as a flower pot maker), his wife Maria Louisa Emery (aged 47) and their children: Harry Emery (aged 16, working as a carter boy on a farm), Emily Emery (aged 11), Annie Emery (aged nine), George Masters Emery (aged six) and Arthur (aged four).  

There were other children too.  The 1891 census shows the family living at High Brook, West Hoathly, Sussex. Children (and their ages in 1891) not noted above are: Francis W Emerey (aged 10), Maud M Emery (aged eight), Ada H Emery (aged six), and Blanche Emery (aged two).  Henry Emery (George Masters’ grandfather), a 75 year old widower, was also living at the house. 

He joined the Royal Navy at Chatham, Kent on 24th February 1915 giving his occupation as footman.  He was five feet seven inches tall, had brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion.  He was given the Navy number L6372, the rating of officer’s steward 3rd Class and sent to HMS Pembroke (the shore base at Chatham). 

He remained at Chatham until 15th April when he was posted to HMS Biarritz where he remained until 27th November 1916.  During this period he was promoted to officer’s steward 2nd class (12th October 1915) and also spent seven days in the cells. 

Chailey Parish Magazine first mentions him in July 1916, noting: Emery, A E, Officer’s Steward, HMS Biaritz (and correcting the spelling in November 1916 to Biarritz).   

Between 28th November and 22nd December 1916 he was stationed at Chatham (HMS Pembroke I) prior to being posted to HMS Pigeon on the 23^rd December.  He remained with this ship until 8th November 1917 when a further spell at Chatham (9th November to10th December 1917) preceded what would be his final posting; this time to HMS Verulam aboard which he would serve until demobbed on 22nd August 1919. 

Arthur was awarded a good conduct badge on 5th December 1918.  His brother George Masters Emery, also mentioned in Chailey Parish Magazine, died of wounds in England on 15th December 1916.

241664 Pte Charles Dudman, 8th Middx Regt

C Dudman first appears in Chailey Parish Magazine in June 1916 where he is noted as: Dudman, Pte C, 3/8th Royal Sussex, England.  In August 1918 he appears as Private C Dudman, 8th Middlesex and it is also noted that he has been wounded.  His final entry is in the July 1919 issue of the parish magazine which repeats the previous information, namely: Dudman, Pte C, 8th Middlesex.  Wounded. 

Chailey resident Reg Philpott remembers a Charlie Dudman and there are two possibilities for Charles Dudman amongst the medal index cards at the National Archives in Kew.  The first is 241664 Private Charles Dudman of the Middlesex Regiment, formerly 6143.  The second is G/19527 Private Charles R Dudman of the Royal Sussex Regiment.  

The number 241664 falls within the batch of numbers allotted to the 8th Middlesex Regiment when this Territorial Force Battalion was renumbered in early 1917.  This suggests that Charles did not actually serve abroad until then; information that is consistent with his entry in the parish magazine as serving with the third line formation of the 8th Middlesex in 1916.  

 

The medal index card above is of the type that was primarily intended for silver war badge recipients, the actual medal entitlement recorded by way of a stamp rather than pre-printed forethought. Nevertheless, from this alone we can see that Charles was discharged as a result of wounds, whilst his entry in the silver war badge roll gives us a date of enlistment: 6th March 1916. We also see date of discharge on the same roll, 21st September 1918.

The 1911 census only really records one possibility for Charles Dudman and that is the 16-year-old born in Hamsey, Sussex and living with his parents and siblings at 42 Beechwood Lane, Offham, Lewes. Charles's trade is listed as "cowman".