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.

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.”

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).