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.

8002 Private Sydney Crowhurst, 17th Lancers

Douglas Sydney Crowhurst appears on the 1901 census living at 2, Cromwell Cottages, Clayton, with his family.  The household comprised John Crowhurst, head, aged 41, born at Pulborough, working as a Breadmaker/Baker. His wife Ann Crowhurst (nee Errington), aged 29, born at Walworth in London and their six children: John Crowhurst (aged ten, born in Pulborough, Sussex), Arthur Crowhurst (aged nine, born in Leigh, Kent), Douglas (aged eight, also born in Leigh), Hilda Crowhurst, (aged five, born in Hassocks), Ivy Crowhurst (aged four, also born in Hassocks) and Mary Marguerite Crowhurst (aged one, born at Burgess Hill). The children's maternal grandmother, Mary Errington (aged 72) was also at the house when the census was taken. 

Chailey Parish Magazine first notes Sydney Crowhurst in October 1914, stating simply that he is serving his King and Country. By October 1915 he is recorded as Crowhurst, Pte S, 17th Lancers and in January 1916 the additional information that he is in France is noted.  Three months later, in April 1916, the parish magazine records that he has been invalided, and in May 1916 that he is back in England. 

Sydney appears for the last time in the parish magazine in November 1916 where it is noted that he has been invalided and discharged.

 

Surviving papers in WO 364 confirm that Sydney attested at Roeheath, Chailey on the 3rd September 1914. Charles Hext Cotesworth of the 21st Lancers witnessed the attestation and William Greaves Cotesworth, Charles's father, authorised the attestation. Sydney was 22 years and five months old and working as a footman.

 

In actual fact, Sydney never served overseas. His papers indicate that he was discharged on 31st July 1915 as a result of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and served all his 331 days in England. A note by the Medical Board earlier that month states, "Result of ordinary military services. Was not strong enough to stand military training." Two years later, at the age of 25, it would be heart failure which would kill him.

 

My thanks to Geoff Hards for sending me the photo of Sydney and his family which dates to around 1910.