6020 Flight Sergeant Frank Pointing, RAF

The Frank Pointing noted by Chailey Parish Magazine in July 1915 as serving his King and Country was one of four brothers who served during the First World War. 

He was born at Lewes on 27th February 1887 and by the time the 1901 census was taken, was boarding at Teague Green, Chailey.  The rest of his family was living at Tomsetts, Chailey and comprised James Pointing aged 44 and working as a postman, his 40 year old wife Alice (working as a laundress from home) and their four children: William Pointing (aged 13), Alice Pointing (aged nine), James Pointing (aged six) and George Pointing (aged four).   

In July 1915, the parish magazine notes that Frank Pointing is serving his King and Country in October 1915 that he is a private and 2nd Air Mechanic with the Royal Flying Corps in England.  In April 1916, the parish magazine reports that he is in France and in November that year that he has been promoted to corporal.  Six months later, in May 1917, the parish magazine notes that his rank is now sergeant and this is further updated in March 1918 to note that he is Flight Sergeant F Pointing.  This information is then repeated up to and including the final published roll call in July 1919.

 

Frank's surviving record in AIR 79 shows that he served overseas between the 16th January 1916 and the 16th May 1916. It also records that he was married in Egham on the 21st December 1912. His wife was Elizabeth Annie Priscilla White (1886-1983). 

 

Frank's three brothers James Pointing, George Pointing and William Pointing all served during the First World War.  Their sister, Alice Pointing, is the same Alice Pointing who served with Sussex 54 VAD.

 

Frank Pointing died on 11th May 1971 in Hounslow, West London. 

207058 Corporal Mechanic Stephen King, RAF

Stephen King was born at Plumpton on 4th February 1889 (although his surviving naval papers state Lewes as the place of birth).  He appears on the 1901 census as a twelve year old living at The Swan Inn, Chailey..  Alfred King (aged 48) was the inn keeper (and a farmer) and he and his wife (Ellen King, aged 49), had three children living with them at the time the census was taken: Jesse King (aged 18, working as a carpenter’s apprentice), Kate King (aged 15 and noted as a “mother’s help”) and 12 year old Stephen.

He joined the Royal Naval Air Service at Portsmouth on 29th July 1915 for the duration of hostilities.  He was five feet, eight and a half inches tall, had brown hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion.  It was noted that he has a scar on right buttock.  He gave his occupation as carpenter (although later, when transferring to the RAF, he would give his occupation as carpenter and joiner. 

He was given the rating of air mechanic 1st class and the service number F7058 and joined HMS President II at Polegate, Sussex where he remained until 22nd September 1916.  Chailey Parish Magazine first notes him serving his King and Country in September 1915 and the following month, on the 30th October, he married Daisy Annie (maiden name unknown) at Oxted, Surrey.  The couple would settle at Oakglen Street, Lewes and a daughter, Cecily, would be born to them on 9th December 1916. 

Between 23rd September and 20th October 1916, Stephen was at HMS Daedalus, the Fleet Air Arm Headquarters at Lee on Solent, before moving back to HMS President II at Polegate where he remained until New Year’s Eve 1917. 

On 1st April 1918, on the formation of the Royal Air Force, Stephen King transferred to the RAF.  He was based back at HMS Daedalus and by the end of the year had the rating of corporal mechanic and the new number 207058.  His trade classification was airship rigger. 

He was sent to the discharged centre at Crystal Palace on 21st January 1919, the medical board there classifying him as category A.  On 20th February 1919 he was transferred to Class G, RAF Reserve, his character noted as very good and his ability as satisfactory.  The address he gave on discharge was 21 Devonport Road, St Annes, Lewes.

169068 Richard Percy Challen, RAF

Richard Percy Challen was born at Hurstpierpoint, Sussex on the 7th October 1898. He appears on the 1901 census of England and Wales as a two year old living with his parents at Stonecot, Hurstpierpoint.  Percy Challen, head of the household, was a 39 year old Findon-born farmer.  His wife Clara, aged 36, had been born in Brighton.  There were also a boarder (Richard M Hill, a 39 year old wine and spirits merchant from Nantwich, Cheshire) and a general domestic servant: Alice Westgate aged 17 from Hurstpierpoint. 

He appears in the magazine for the first time in January 1919 where he is noted as Challen, R P, 3rd A[ir] M[echanic], RAF.  This information is repeated monthly up to and including the final published roll call in July 1919.

 

Percy's surviving papers in AIR 79 note his next of kin as his mother, Mrs Clara Margaretta Challen of the Five Bells, Chailey, Sussex. This address was subsequently scored through and replaced with 34 Hartington Terrace, Brighton. He joined the RAF in May 1918 and served in France from 11th October 1918 until 16th February 1919.

180740 George Arthur Carr, RAF

Chailey Parish Magazine notes in August 1918, that Cadet A Carr is serving with the RAF and this information is repeated until the final roll of honour is published in July 1919. 

George Arthur Carr was born on the 14th August 1900 in Oxshott, Surrey and enlisted in the RAF on the 17th July 1918. His surviving papers in AIR 79 note his next of kin as his aunt, Mrs E M Avery of The Mill, South Common, Chailey. He did not serve overseas and was transferred to the RAF reserve on the 21st December 1918.

In August 1919, the parish magazine’s report of peace celebrations in the village noted that Arthur Carr had come first in the obstacle race for soldiers and sailors. 

Chailey resident Reg Philpott remembers that, after the war, “Arthur Carr had the bakery down South Common near the Brickyard.  He was something to do with Avery the baker.”

205127 Corporal Mechanic Henry (Harry) James Urry, RAF

Henry James (Harry) Urry was born in the parish of St John’s, Lewes on 18th May 1891. He appears on the 1901 census of England and Wales living at 21 Sun Street, St John’s with his family. The household comprised: Richard Urry (head, aged 47, a self-employed coal merchant), his wife Naomi Urry (aged 42) and five children: Richard W Urry (aged 19, working as a coal porter), Gertrude Urry (aged 14), John Urry (aged 12), Nelson Urry (aged 11) and Harry (aged nine).

Harry enlisted in The Royal Naval Air Service at Portsmouth on 28th May 1915 for the duration of hostilities. He was five feet nine and a half inches tall, had black hair, brown eyes and a dark complexion.  He gave his occupation as chauffeur and was given the rating of air mechanic 1st class and the number F5127. He was posted to HMS President.

Chailey Parish Magazine notes in August 1915 that he is serving his King and Country and in October 1915 that he is in the Dardanelles with “Aero Wing”. The following month the magazine notes that he is with the RNAS and in August 1916 that he has been wounded. The wound does not appear to have been too serious. There is no mention of it in his surviving service records and by 30th April 1917 he was in Dunkirk, France and latterly Boulogne at an aircraft depot. On 1st April 1918 he was transferred to the newly formed Royal Air Force and given the service number 205127. He gave his next of kin as his mother, Naomi (although this is written as “father” on his Air Force service record) who was still living at 21 Sun Street, Lewes. On 1st July 1918 he was promoted to corporal mechanic and remained in this role until his demob and transfer to the RAF Reserve on 21st May 1919.

Harry Urry was entitled to the British War and Victory Medals and these were despatched to him on 4th May 1922.

Ivan Duffield

Thanks to information received from a distant relative, I've updated the page for Ivan Duffield who was not a Chailey man by birth but was possibly teaching in the parish when he was called up in 1916.

Ivan initially served with the 6th Middlesex Regiment but later transferred to the RAF and was apparently still serving as a flying officer in Baghdad in 1922.