24187 Private Albert Henry Gaston, 7th Royal Sussex Regiment, later Labour Corps

Albert Henry Gaston was born at Chailey about 31st January 1886.  He appears on the 1891 census as a four year old living at Fletching Common, Newick with his parents: John Gaston (head, aged 27, a farm labourer), Ann Gaston (wife, aged 25) and baby brother John (aged four months). 

By the time the 1901 census was taken the family had moved to Stair Bridge Lane, Bolney, Sussex and now comprised John Gaston (head, aged 39, born in Newick, a stockman on a farm), Ann Gaston (aged 36, born in Chailey) and five children: Albert (aged 15, working as a farm labourer), John George Gaston (aged ten), Annie Naomi Gaston (aged eight), Lizzie Gaston (aged five) and James Gaston (aged two). 

Albert attested with The Royal Sussex regiment at Chichester on 3rd August 1914.  He gave his age as 28 years and 215 days and his trade or calling as gardener.  He stated that he had not resided out of his father’s house for three years continuously.  He is described as five feet, four and a half inches tall with a fresh complexion and brown hair and eyes.  He was considered fit for the army, given the number 827 and posted to the 7th Battalion.  He is named as Albert Edward Gaston on this document although this is clearly an error.  On other army papers – his Casualty Form Active Service for instance – he is correctly named as Albert Henry Gaston. 

 

 

Chailey Parish Magazine mentioned him in it’s first published roll call of local serving men in October 1914 (albeit mis-spelling his name as Gasston).   

On 24th May 1915 a daughter, Noreen Eve, was born to him and exactly one week later he sailed for France.  He remained overseas until September when he was wounded in action at The Battle of Loos.  His surviving service papers state that he was wounded on the 27th; Chailey Parish Magazine gives the 26th. 

He returned to England on 1st October aboard the hospital ship Jan Breydel with a bullet wound in his right thigh and was posted to the Royal Sussex Depot.  He does not appear in Chailey Parish Magazine in February and March 1916 but In April he is back and noted as Gasston, Pt A, 7th Ry Sx, England.

On 18th April he was posted to the Command Depot and from there, on 10th October 1916 posted to the 23rd Training Reserve Battalion.  On 2nd December he was transferred to the 29th Middlesex Regiment and then, on 13th March 1917, to the depot of The Royal Fusiliers.  Finally, on 23rd June 1917 he was transferred to the 427th Agricultural Company, Labour Corps and given a new number – 241847..

Albert was demobilised on 12th August 1918 and transferred to Class Z.  His character was noted as very good.  His medical certificate of identity notes his medical class as B2 and his address as Warren Cottages, North Common, Chailey. 

On 2nd April 1920 the Pensions’ Board, noting his gun shot wound to the thigh and adjudging the severity of the injury to amount to a 20 per cent disability, awarded him 5s 6d (plus 1s 4d for wife / children) per week, commencing 23rd March 1919 and expiring 2nd September 1919 and 8s (plus 3s 6d for his wife / children) commencing 3rd September 1919 and expiring on 25th February 1921.   

On 11th May 1921, presumably closing its files, the Labour Corps Record Office wrote to the Infantry Record Office:

Re 241847 Gaston, A H, Labour Corps, formerly GS/RS/7/827 Royal Sussex Regiment. 

Please inform this office at your earliest the date the above mentioned man returned from France as according to attestation man was wounded in France on the same date that he returned to England, ie: 1st October 1915, which is obviously an error.  Please treat as very urgent.  

The reply, dated the following day, confirmed that Albert had been wounded on the 27th

The photograph on this page was taken when Albert was serving with The Royal Sussex Regiment and was sent to his old headmaster, John Oldaker, in Newick.  John Oldaker's notes state that he was a pupil at the school between 1897 and 1899 and that he sailed for France in June 1915 before being wounded there in September that year. My thanks to Simon Stevens for sending this on to me.

Frederick J Hobden

Between January and April 1916, Chailey Parish Magazine notes Fred J Hobden in a special list of attested men.  This is Frederick John Hobden who was born at Chailey in 1880.  He appears on the 1881 census living with his parents at 2 Whites Row, South Street, Chailey.  The household comprised Richard Hobden (head, married, aged 26, working as a gardener), his wife Eliza Hobden (nee Fuller), aged 27, and Frederick (aged one year).  Richard and Eliza, both born in Newick, had married on 3rd May 1879 at Chailey. 

By the time the 1891 census was taken, the family had moved to Fount Hill, Newick and there were siblings for Frederick.  The household, as noted on the census, comprised Richard (aged 36, working as a gardener in domestic service), Eliza (aged 37) and their five children: Frederick (an 11 year old scholar), Owen Hobden (aged nine), Minnie Hobden (aged seven), George Hobden (aged four) and Richard Hobden (aged one). 

I have been unable to locate Frederick or Minnie on the 1901 census but the rest of the family was still living at Fount Hill, Newick.  Richard (aged 47) is noted as an agricultural labourer.  Living with him were Eliza and four children: Owen (aged 19, working as a painter), George (aged 14, working as an agricultural labourer), Richard (aged 11) and Alfred Hobden aged eight. 

I am unsure whether Frederick served during the First World War.  There is no mention of him in Chailey’s parish magazine apart from the information that he attested.  The National Archives gives a couple of possibilities with 19875 Private Frederick J Hobden of the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment (Sherwood Foresters) and 3231 Sapper Frederick J Hobden of The Royal Engineers Transport and further research is necessary to determine whether either of these men is the Frederick mentioned above. 

TSR/751 Sergeant George Hilton, Army Service Corps

George Hilton is noted in Chailey Parish Magazine in October 1914 as serving his King and Country.  In October 1915 he appears as S[taff] S[ergeant] Major G Hilton with the Army Service Corps in France and by December 1915 he is still in France but by now promoted to RSM with the ASC. 

By January 1917 there appears to have been a change of fortunes and he is again a Staff Sergeant Major, moving further down the ranks in December 1917 when the parish magazine notes him as a sergeant. 

George Hilton appears to have served throughout the war, his final entry in July 1919 noting him as a sergeant with the ASC. 

Chailey resident Reg Philpott remembered that the Hilton family use to live “down the common” and that George Hilton minded the pumps at The Five Bells pub.

D/14263 Private Percy Ernest S Hellier, Corps of Dragoons

Chailey Parish Magazine first mentions Percy Hellier In October 1914, listing him among a number of men serving their King and Country.  In October 1915 he is listed simply as Hellier, Pte P and the following month further information is added; namely that he is with the 17th Lancers in England.  In April 1916 it is reported that he is in France and this information is then repeated up to and including the final published entry for this man in November 1916. 

The National Archives notes Percy E S Hellier as L/8004 Private Percy E S Hellier serving with the Corps of Lancers and D/14263 Corporal Percy E S Hellier serving with the Corps of Dragoons. 

The England and Wales, Civil Registration Index: 1837-1983 notes that Percy Ernest S Hellier was born in 1896, his birth registered at Westhampnett in the September quarter of that year. 

He appears on the 1901 census of England and Wales living at Little Buckingham, Old Shoreham, Sussex.  The household comprised: George Hellier (aged 46, a cowman on a farm), his wife Catherine Hellier (also aged 46) and four children: Lucy Minnie Hellier (aged 12), Susan Lillian Hellier (aged eight), Percy Ernest (aged four) and Emily Kathleen Hellier (aged two).  There were also two lodgers: Albert Hinton (aged 22) and Albert Miller (aged 19).  George Hellier had been born at Lyme Regis, Dorset; his wife at Uplyme, Devon but the children had all been born in various towns and villages in Sussex.  Percy’s place of birth is given as Chichester.  

There were also other children.  The 1891 census shows the family living at Truleigh Cottages, Lewes.  Lucy is a two year old and has three older brothers: George William Hellier (aged 14), James Henry Hellier (aged 12) and John G Hellier (aged nine).  All three boys had been born at Uplyme, Devon. 

Percy’s connection with Chailey is not known.  His two older brothers are shown on the 1891 census as cowman’s helpers on farms and it is possible that Percy was also working on a farm in Chailey when he joined the army.

Fireman Thomas Harmer, HMT SS Ryckett

Little is known about Thomas Harmer.  Chailey Parish Magazine mentions him in a special list of attested men in January 1916 and he then next appears in October 1916; listed as a merchant seaman: Harmer, Fireman T, H M Tr Howden.  In January 1917 he appears as a fireman aboard SS River Ribble and then in July 1918 as a fireman aboard SS River Rykett.  This information is then repeated up to and including the final published roll call in July 1919. 

Thomas Harmer is possibly the same Thomas Harmer whose birth was recorded in the December 1877 quarter at Lewes and who, in 1901, was recorded on the census for that year living in Brighton and working as a machine hand at a brass factory.  His place of birth is stated on the census as Lewes. 

He could also be related to John Harmer, (possibly as an uncle) whom Chailey Parish Magazine also notes as serving his King and Country.

374056 Bombardier John W Harmer MM, RGA

Chailey Parish Magazine notes in October 1914 that John Harmer is serving his King and Country.  Twelve months later it notes: Harmer, Gunner J, RGA, England and then, in July 1915, updates that information to note that he is in France. 

In September 1917 there are two additional pieces of information:  Harmer is now a bombardier and has also won the Military Medal.  These details, Bombardier J Harmer MM, RGA, then appear monthly up to and including the final published roll call in July 1919. 

This man is almost certainly John William Harmer who was born at Plumpton, Sussex about 1894 and whose birth was registered at Lewes in the March quarter of that year.  By the time the 1901 census was taken, he was a seven year old living at Plumpton Green with his widowed mother Annie Harmer (aged 32) and his sisters: Annie Gertrude Harmer (aged five), and Edith Olive Harmer (aged two).  Annie Harmer (born in Ireland) does not have any occupation noted against her name but her brother-in-law (Thomas Harmer, aged 21) is there at the house along with an 18 year old boarder – Charles Welfare – and a 61 year old lodger: James Gander. 

John joined the Territorial Force Garrison Artillery (date unknown) and was given the number 350.  When the Territorial Force was renumbered in February 1917 he was given the new number 374056.  This number falls within the range of numbers allocated to the Sussex Fortress RGA.  His Military Medal index card indicates his corps as "Sussex Royal Garrison Artillery attached Royal Garrison Artillery".  His rank on this card is given as Acting Bombardier and his name as J W Harmer.   

The rank of acting bombardier is also noted on his other medal index card ("Gunner" recorded against his earlier TF number) and his name is noted as John W Harmer.

 

Chailey Parish Magazine also notes a Thomas Harmer serving his King and Country but whether this is the same Thomas mentioned above, or indeed, whether he is related to John Harmer at all, remains unclear.

Private W Grou, 27th Middlesex Regiment

W Grou appears in a special list of attested men in the January 1916 issue of Chailey’s parish magazine. 

In May 1916, the magazine notes that he is serving with the 27th Middlesex Regiment in England and appears to have then served with them up until March 1917 which is when his name ceases to appear in the parish magazine.

Nothing more is known of this man and genealogical searches have revealed little.  England and Wales, Civil Registration Index: 1837-1983 lists two possibilities: William George Grou born in Camberwell in 1895 and George William Grou born in Holborn in 1876.  A search for census returns under the surname “Grou” yielded no results at all.

32454 Private John Greenfield,12th Hampshire Regt

John Greenfield was born in late 1883 or early 1884, his birth being registered in the March 1884 quarter at Lewes, Sussex.  He appears on the 1901 census for England and Wales as a 17 year old farm labourer living in the rural parish of St John’s Entire, Chailey, with his family.  The family comprised John Greenfield senior (aged 51 and working as a general cowman contractor), his 42 year old wife Mary Ann and their three children: John, Minnie Greenfield (aged 11) and Harry Greenfield (aged six). 

Ten years earlier, the 1891 census reveals that the Greenfield family was living at 52 Bevenbridge, Lewes and comprised the parents, John and Mary Ann and four children: John (aged seven), Annie Greenfield (aged five), Emma [Mary] Greenfield (aged three) and Minnie (aged one).  By the time the 1901 census was taken, Annie Greenfield would be working as a fifteen year old domestic servant in Brighton.  Emma Greenfield had died in infancy in 1892, her death recorded at Lewes in the March quarter of that year. 

John Greenfield first appears in Chailey Parish Magazine in a special list of attested men in March 1916.  By July 1916 he is: Greenfield, Pte J, 14th Royal Sussex, England but by December 1917 has transferred from the 14th Royal Sussex to the 12th Hampshire Regiment.  This information is then repeated up to and including the final published roll call in July 1919. 

The National Archives’ on-line medal information card index reveals one John Greenfield with Hampshire connections and gives his army number with the Hampshire Regiment as 32454. 

John’s brother, Harry Greenfield, also served his King and Country during the First World War.

Stoker Harry Greenfield, Royal Navy Barracks

Harry Greenfield was born in Hamsey, Sussex in 1894, his birth registered at Lewes in the September quarter of that year.   

He appears on the 1901 census for England and Wales living at Bevernbridge Cottages in the parish of St John’s Entire, Lewes, with his family.  The family comprised John Greenfield senior (aged 51 and working as a general cowman contractor), his 42 year old wife Mary Ann and their three children: John Greenfield (a 17 year old farm labourer), Minnie Greenfield (aged 11) and Harry (aged six). 

Ten years earlier, the 1891 census reveals that the Greenfield family was living at 52 Bevernbridge Cottages and comprised the parents, John and Mary Ann and four children: John (aged seven), Annie Greenfield (aged five), Emma [Mary] Greenfield (aged three) and Minnie (aged one).  By the time the 1901 census was taken, Annie Greenfield would be working as a fifteen year old domestic servant in Brighton and Emma Greenfield had died in infancy in 1892, her death recorded at Lewes in the March quarter of that year. 

I have been unable to find a convincing naval service record for Harry Greenfield at The National Archives in London and so must rely on the information contained in Chailey’s parish magazine. 

In October 1914 it notes that he is serving his King and Country and the following October reports him as a stoker aboard HMS Hindustan.  HMS Hindustan was a King Edward VII Class battleship that was laid down in October 1902 and launched in December 1903.  During the First World War she formed part of the 3rd Battleship Squadron in The Grand Fleet.

In July 1916 the parish magazine notes that he is serving aboard HMS Lily and in December 1917 that he is at the Royal Navy Barracks.  This information is then repeated monthly up to and including June 1918 after which there are no further entries for this man.

Harry’s brother John Greenfield also served his King and Country during the First World War.

2nd Lieutenant Edward Wilson Green, Hampshire Regt

Edward Wilson Green was born in 1881 at Sarratt, Hertfordshire, his birth being registered in the December quarter for that year at Watford..  By the time the 1881 census was taken however, the family had moved to Barkway, near Royston in Hertfordshire and were living at a large manor house – Cochmach. 

The family members living at Barkway comprised William Green, a 38 year old Australian landowner (born in Melbourne) who is noted on the census as a “life owner of Freehold and other property” and his 37 year old wife Marion.  Ten years earlier, the 1881 census had described him as “a farmer of about 300 acres and employing eight men and two boys.”  The couple had four children living with them: Helen M (aged 13), Lilian J (aged 11), Edward Wilson (aged nine) and Roger D (aged six).  Also at the family home, besides a visitor, were a bailiff and numerous domestic servants. 

Missing from the household was Edward’s older brother, Bernard Bachan Green, who was a ten year old boarder at Upland House school in Epsom, Surrey. By the time the 1901 census was taken, Edward (aged 19), was boarding at the home of Mary A Edwards at 29 Denbigh Street, London and working as a stockbroker’s clerk. 

Chailey Parish Magazine first mentions Edward Green in June 1916, noting that he is a private serving with the 10th Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment) in England.  The following month it notes that he is with the 9th Battalion and in September 1916 adds that he is now in France.  The following month there is another change to the information; this time to say that he is still with the 9th Queens but attached to the 23rd Royal Fusiliers in France. 

In January 1917, Chailey Parish Magazine reports that Edward Green has been wounded and in September 1917 notes that he is now Cadet E W Green at an Officers’ Training College. In March 1918, Chailey Parish Magazine reports that EW Green is now a second lieutenant with the Hampshire Regiment and this information is then repeated up to and including the final published roll in July 1919. 

Bernard Bachan Green also served his King and country during the First World War and the boys’ sister, Helen Green, was an active member of Sussex 54 VAD. 

Chailey resident Reg Philpott remembered that, “all the Greens were officers.  Bernard was a major.  He used to come round here shooting pheasants.  He followed the hounds.  Captain Eddie followed the golf and Roger supported the cricket.  Miss Green supported the Red Cross with Mrs Bessemer.”

Captain Bernard Bachan Green, 3rd Essex Regtiment

Bernard Bachan Green was born around May 1880 in Rickmansworth Hertfordshire, his birth registered at Watford in the June quarter of 1880.

He appears on the 1881 census as a ten month old baby living at Great Sarratt Hall, Hertfordshire with his family.  The head of the family was William Green, a 28 year old Australian landowner (born in Melbourne) who is noted on the census as  a farmer of about 300 acres and employing eight men and two boys.  His 27 year old wife Marian had been born in Rickmansworth and they had three children: Helen Green (aged three, born in Sarratt), Lilian Green (aged one, born in Rickmansworth) and Bernard. 

Bernard attended Upland House boarding school in Epsom, Surrey and appears on the 1891 census as a ten year old boarder there.   Ten years later, by the time the 1901 census was taken he was studying at Cambridge University but staying at the home of Robert E Johnston, a church of England clergyman living at The Vicarage, St Peter's, Kent.  Two other Cambridge University students are also noted at the same address and it is possible that the three students were studying theology (or similar) and as part of their course were spending time with Reverend Johnston.

Chailey Parish Magazine first mentions Bernard Green in October 1914 when it notes that he is serving his King and Country.  One year later it states that he is a captain with the 3rd Essex Regiment and in December 1915 that he has been attached to the 7th North Hants' [sic] Garrison.  In January 1916 this is further updated to state that he is attached to the 1st Garrison Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment.

In May 1916, the parish magazine notes that Captain Green has been invalided and this information is then repeated up to and including the final published roll call in July 1919.

Bernard’s brother, Edward Wilson Green, also served during the First World War and their sister Helen Green was an active member of Sussex 54 VAD.