G/24393 Pte Frederick G Woodhams, Royal Sussex Regt

Frederick G Woodhams appears on the 1901 census of England & Wales as a three year old living with his family at Twyford Lodge Cottage, Maresfield, Sussex. The family comprised Thomas Woodhams (head), a widower aged 38 and working from home as a gamekeeper. With him were his four children: Kate Woodhams (aged 15), Thomas Woodhams (aged 13 and attending school), Jesse Woodhams (aged ten) and Frederick. Thomas senior and the two oldest children had been born in Tunbridge Wells. Jesse was born at Chelwood Common, Sussex and Frederick at Twyford, Sussex.

Chailey Parish Magazine first mentions Frederick Woodhams in August 1917 noting: Woodhams, Pte F G, 13th Royal Sussex. Wounded. This information is repeated up to and including the final published roll call in July 1919.

There is a medal index card which notes two numbers for Frederick Woodhams. The first is his Royal Sussex Regiment number: G/24393 and the second a number for the Royal West Kent Regiment: G/32994. It seems likely that after being wounded, Frederick was transferred from the Royal Sussex Regiment to The Royal West Kent Regiment although, in the absence of further documentary evidence at this point, this is just conjecture. Frederick’s two brothers: Thomas Woodhams and Jesse Woodhams also served their King and Country during the First World War.

18474 Private Jesse Woodhams, Coldstream Guards

Jesse Woodhams appears on the 1901 census of England and Wales as a ten year old living with his family at Twyford Lodge Cottage, Maresfield, Sussex. The family comprised Thomas Woodhams (head), a widower aged 38 and working from home as a gamekeeper. With him were his four children: Kate Woodhams (aged 15), Thomas Woodhams (aged 13 and attending school), Jesse and Frederick Woodhams (aged three). Thomas senior and the two oldest children had been born in Tunbridge Wells. Jesse was born at Chelwood Common, Sussex and Frederick at Twyford, Sussex.

Chailey Parish Magazine first mentions Jesse Woodhams in August 1917 noting: Woodhams, Pte J, Coldstream Guards. In January 1918, the additional information that he has been wounded is added and this information is repeated up to and including the final published roll call in July 1919.

Jesse Woodhams’ regimental number was 18474 which indicates that he joined the Coldstream Guards in August 1916. His two brothers, Thomas Jesse Woodhams and Frederick Woodhams, also served their King and Country during the First World War.

Medal index card courtesy of Ancestry.

94309 Dvr Thomas Jesse Woodhams, Royal Field Artillery

Thomas J Woodhams appears on the 1901 census of England and Wales as a thirteen year old living with his family at Twyford Lodge Cottage, Maresfield, Sussex. The family comprised Thomas Woodhams (head), a widower aged 38 and working from home as a gamekeeper. With him were his four children: Kate Woodhams (aged 15), Thomas (attending school), Jesse Woodhams (aged ten) and Frederick Woodhams (aged three). Thomas senior and the two oldest children had been born in Tunbridge Wells. Jesse was born at Chelwood Common, Sussex and Frederick at Twyford, Sussex.

Chailey Parish Magazine first mentions Thomas J Woodhams in August 1917 noting: Woodhams, Pte T J, RFA. This information is repeated up to and including the final published roll call in July 1919.

A search of the National Archives’ medal index cards suggest that he may be 94309 Driver Thomas Woodhams who subsequently served as a driver with the Labour Corps (number 425546), although this line of research needs to be investigated more thoroughly. Thomas’s two brothers: Jesse Woodhams and Frederick Woodhams also served their King and Country during the First World War.

Captain Archibald Wright, 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards

Chailey Parish Magazine notes in October 1914 that Archibald Wright is an officer serving his King and Country. He was the son of Joseph Robert Wright of Ades, Cinder Hill and is noted in Kelly’s Directory for Sussex 1915 as a private resident living at the Ades mansion. 

Archibald  was a career soldier who arrived overseas on 16th August 1914 and was thus "an Old Contemptible" entitled to the 1914 Star and clasp. In October 1915 (when it started publishing more than just name details), Chailey Parish Magazine noted that he was serving with the 4th (Royal Irish)Dragoon Guards and had already been wounded twice –at Messines on 1st November 1914 and again near Ypres on 24th May 1915.  It was this regiment, of course, which fired the first shots by the British Army in the First World War.

In November 1915, the parish magazine notes that Captain Wright has since returned to active service. In November 1917 he was mentioned in despatches and his details appear monthly up to and including the final published roll call in July 1919.

In This and That in Chailey and Barcombe by the late Edwin Matthias, reference is made to Captain Wright after the war, driving around Chailey in “a lovely white American Steam Car”.

Archibald's heavily annotated medal index card is reproduced on this post courtesy of Ancestry. It records that he latterly served as an acting major with the 24th machine Gun Squadron and subsequently served in Afghanistan in 1919 thus earning entitlement to the India General Service Medal with the Afghan clasp.

G/1671 Sergeant Frederick William Yeomans DCM, 8th Royal Sussex Regt

Frederick William Yeomans was born in Chailey in 1894, his birth registered at the Lewes district in the June quarter of that year.  He appears on the 1901 census living at South Common with his parents and younger sister.  The household comprised: Alfred Yeomans (head, married, aged 34, working as a brick maker), his wife Elizabeth (aged 29) and their two children: Frederick (aged seven) and Florence (aged three).  Both Frederick’s parents and his sister were Chailey born.

The parish magazine first notes Frederick in its October 1914 edition, noting that he is serving his King and Country.  In October 1915 it reports that Lance-Corporal F Yeomans is serving with the 8th Royal Sussex Regiment in France.  In October 1916 it notes that he has been awarded the DCM.

His citation, published on page 10209 of The London Gazette (1916, volume IV) reads:

G1671 L/Cpl F W Yeoman, R Sussex R

For conspicuous gallantry in an attack, when, acting under orders of an officer, he organised a bombing party, and, with great courage and skill, bombed his way up a communication trench, facilitating the advance, and causing the surrender of about 160 of the enemy.

The London Gazette mis-spelt his name as Yeoman but in November 1916, in his parish notes, Reverend Jellicoe made no such mistakes:

Our list of officers and men will have an additional interest this month.  With “noble pride and not national swagger” as the Bishop of London recently put it, we publish under a special paragraph a list of distinctions.  The most recent of these is Lance-Corpl F Yeomans DCM.  I had the pleasure of seeing him quite recently, and after considerable difficulty, for he was very reluctant to say anything about the brave deed at all, I was able to write down at his dictation the following account: “I was among the second wave that advanced to consolidate a position.  We were held up by Germans in the dug-outs.  As soon as the first wave had advanced the Germans left their dug-outs to attack us.  I volunteered with three others to clear a number of the enemy from their trenches.  In the execution of this duty I was awarded the DCM.  We took thirty one prisoners, and when the rest of the platoon reached us a further 150 prisoners were captured.”

In February 1917 the parish magazine noted that Frederick has been promoted to corporal.  Two months later he was writing to his sister Florence from France:

Thanks so much for your most welcome letter just received, also [unclear] [unclear]. I was so pleased to hear that you are feeling better [unclear]; take great care of yourself. I am feeling quite fit. What rotten weather we are having; us have had rain, hail and snow; quite a selection[unclear]. I will write to [unclear] tomorrow. Good night dearest sis, fondest l;ove and heaps of x. I remain, for ever, your loving Bro, Fred xxx

April 16th 1917

The card was passed by the censor (stamped 1426) and there is a post office franking stamp dated 19th April 1917, presumably from England although no place name can be seen.

Nine pages of Frederick's pension records survive in WO 364 (and can be viewed on Ancestry). The key dates are these:

7th September 1914 - enlists at Lewes

12th August 1915 - embarks for France at Folkestone and posted to 8th Bn, Royal Sussex Regt

21st August 1915 - to No 12 Entrenching Bn at Etaples

2nd September 1915 - joins 8th Bn, Royal Sussex Regt in the Field

18th September 1916 - promoted corporal

20th October 1916 - awarded DCM

17th March 1917 - awarded Italian Bronze Medal for Military Valour

31st July 1917 - wounded in action and admitted to CCS with shrapnel wound, right leg

1st August 1917 - admitted 58th General Hospital, St Omer

2nd February 1918 - appointed Lance-Sergeant

27th February 1918 - appointed paid acting sergeant

22nd November 1918 - posted to 3rd Bn, Royal Sussex Regt

11th June 1919 - Discharged to Class Z Army Reserve

73165 Private Frank Chatfield, Middlesex Regt

Frank Chatfield was the third oldest son of Alfred and Mary Chatfield of Newick. He appears on the 1901 census living with them and his brothers and sisters at The Rough in Newick. The household comprised Alfred Chatfield (aged 42, head of the family, born at Fletching and working as a domestic gardener), his wife Mary (aged 42, born in Newick) and their six children: Mabel Chatfield (aged 14, born Fletching), Emily Chatfield (aged 13, born Fletching), Harry Chatfield (aged ten, born Uckfield), Frank (aged eight, born Fletching), John Chatfield (aged four) and Thomas Chatfield (aged two, born Newick).

There were other children as well. The 1891 census shows the family living at Church Street, Uckfield. Alfred Chatfield (aged eight, born at Fletching) and Alice Mary Chatfield (aged six, born at Fletching) had obviously left the family home by the time the 1901 census was taken. Harry Chatfield is recorded as “infant Chatfield aged under one month”.

Chailey Parish Magazine first mentions him in April 1916 recording, Chatfield, Private F, 27th Middlesex, England. In January 1917 it notes that he has been invalided and then the following month records that he has still been invalided but is serving with the 3rd East Surrey Regiment. The following month there is another change of regiment recorded – the 2/9th Royal Scots – and again the information that he has been invalided. In January 1918, the parish magazine notes that he is serving with the Labour Corps (invalided) and this information is then repeated monthly up to and including the final published roll call in July 1919.

The 27th Middlesex Regiment was formed as a local reserve battalion in late 1915 and from September 1st 1916 became the 101st Training Reserve Battalion. It and the 3rd East Surrey Regiment (also a reserve battalion), remained in England throughout the war. The medal card I have reproduced below is almost certainly Frank's. It indicates that he also received a silver war badge and from this roll we can see that Frank enlisted on the 11th December 1915, almost certainly under the Derby Scheme, and was discharged due to sickness on the 17th July 1919. This information ties in very neatly with that recorded in Chailey's parish magazine.

Notes made by his old headmaster, John Oldaker of Newick school, where Frank had been a pupil between 1901 and 1903, state that he enlisted in January 1916, went overseas in June that year and was invalided to England two months later.

 
The photograph on this page, which Frank sent to John Oldaker, was taken in a studio in Northampton and shows him sporting the Middlesex Regiment cap badge. Three of Frank Chatfield’s brothers – Harry, John and Thomas – also served their King and Country during the First World War.

My thanks to Simon Stevens for sharing John Oldaker's First World War album.

G/17485 Private William Henry G Piper, 7th East Kent Regt

In December 1917, Chailey Parish Magazine notes that Private G Piper is serving with the 16th Training Reserve Battalion. In April 1918 it notes that he is serving with the 20th London Regiment and in October 1918 it notes that he is serving with the 7th Buffs (East Kent Regiment) and has been gassed. This last entry is repeated up to and including the final published roll call in July 1919.

G Piper is William Henry G Piper who appears on the 1901 census of England & Wales as one year old infant living with his family at South Street, Chailey. The family comprised 41 year old William Piper (a stockman on a farm), his 35 year old wife Barbara and their four children: Nellie Piper (aged 13), Olive Martha Piper (aged eight), Bertha Louise Piper (aged four) and William. William (whose birth had been registered at Lewes in the September quarter of 1899) and his two younger sisters had all been born in Chailey.

A medal index card  notes two numbers for William Piper – 77167 for the London Regiment and G/17485 for the East Kent Regiment. The medal roll in turn notes 77167 2/4 Londons Pte, G/17485 7 Bn. E. Kent

Albert Philpott

Albert Philpott’s appearance in Chailey’s parish magazine is brief to say the least. In October and November 1914 he is noted as serving his King and Country but these are the only references to him.

He is possibly 4259 Quartermaster Sergeant Major Albert Gersham Philpott of the 9th Lancers but without further documentary evidence or information on this man it is difficult to be certain about this.

Private William Knight Philpott, Army Service Corps

In December 1916, Chailey Parish Magazine notes, Philpott, Pte W, Remounts and this is information is then repeated monthly up to and including the final published roll call in July 1919.

W Philpott is probably William Knight Philpott who was born around 1894 and who, at the time the 1901 census was taken, was living at Bush Farm, Chailey. The household comprised 31 year old Arthur Philpott (a farmer and assistant overseer), his 31 year old wife Mary and their four children: Edward Arthur Philpott (aged seven), William Knight Philpott (aged six), Edith Mary Philpott (aged four) and Nellie Knight Philpott (aged one). In addition, 58 year old Jane Lee, the monthly nurse was visiting the household at the time and two servants are also recorded: 14 year old Agnes Lily Miles (a general domestic servant) and 18 year old Walter Still (a carter on the farm).

No information on William Knight Philpott has been found at The National Archives and it is possible that he remained in England and therefore was not entitled to receive the British War and Victory medals.

G/1672 Private John Henry Oliver, 10th Royal Sussex Regt

John Oliver of Chailey died on the opening day of the Battle of Loos, 25th September 1915. This is his story.

According to the Commonwealth War Graves’ Commission’s (CWGC) Debt of Honour register, John Oliver was a native of Chailey. This is not born out by the 1891 census however, which notes his place of birth as Lewes. John Oliver was a one year old infant when the census was taken and was living at 55 Bevenbridge, St Johns, Lewes, with his family. The family comprised John Henry Oliver (senior) aged 33, working as an agricultural labourer; his wife Mercy Oliver (aged 43) and their three children: Rebecca Oliver (aged five), Mary Oliver (aged three) and John Henry Oliver (junior). Ten years later, the 1901 census notes the family still living at Bevenbridge Cottages. John Henry Oliver (senior) is aged 44 and working as brickmaker. His wife’s age is noted as 52. John and Mary are noted as 11 and 13 years old respectively. Rebecca Oliver (aged 15) was working as a general domestic servant in East Chiltington.

Soldiers Died in The Great War further adds to the confusion over John’s place of birth by noting it as Hamsey, Sussex but it does also tell us that he enlisted at Lewes. His connection with Chailey could be through work. His father, as mentioned already, was working as a brickmaker and it is possible that he was working at the Chailey brickyards and that his son followed him there. There is also some confusion over his name. The Debt of Honour register and the tablet inside St Peter’s church Chailey refer to him as Henry J Oliver. All other reference point to the Christian names the other way round.

Chailey Parish Magazine notes in November 1914 that John Oliver is serving his King and Country, adding in October 1915 that he is serving with the 10th Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment in France. In July 1915 Chailey Parish Magazine reported news of his father’s burial (on June 7th 1915) and before the year was out, Mercy Oliver would lose her only son as well when G/1672 Private John Henry Oliver died of wounds on the opening day of the battle of Loos.

News of his death (“the only son of the late Harry Oliver”) was reported on page 12 of The Sussex Express (October 22nd 1915) and again on 3rd March 1916; a photo accompanying the 1916 article. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission gives his battalion as the 2nd Royal Sussex Regiment whilst Chailey Parish Magazine, The Sussex Express and Soldiers Died, all quote the 10th Battalion. John Oliver is buried at Verquin Communal Cemetery, France. His somewhat chipped headstone carries the inscription, WE MISS THE HAND CLASP / MISS THE LOVING SMILE. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission notes that he was the son of Mrs Mercy Oliver of 17 St John’s Terrace, Lewes. In the space of four months she had lost both her husband and only son.

My thanks to Jon Miller for the photograph of John Oliver's grave.

Private A Brown, Norfolk Regiment

I know very little about this man and Chailey Parish magazine only gives the briefest details, noting first in April 1917 that Private Brown, A is serving with the 25th Norfolk Regiment, and repeating this every month thereafter up to and including July 1919.

Of course, there was no such formation as the 25th Norfolk Regiment and so the 2/5th Norfolk Regiment seems more likely. There are though, too many candidates for this Territorial Force unit to make a positive connection to Chailey's Private A Brown and so for the moment, Private A Brown remains a mystery.

Gunner A Brown, Royal Field Artillery

I know very little information about this man.

Chailey Parish Magazine notes, Brown, Gunner A, RFA in its April 1917 edition and this information is repeated up to and including the final roll call published in July 1919.

The 1901 census of England and Wales notes a seven year old Arthur Brown living at South Ham, North Common, Chailey. However, without further documentary evidence it is impossible to say whether this is Gunner A Brown or indeed, Private A Brown who is also mentioned in the parish magazine.

SD/1632 Sydney Arthur Brooks, 12th Royal Sussex Regiment

For some reason I'd only briefly referenced Sydney Arthur Brooks on the now defunct Chailey 1914-1918 website; an oversight I am now rectifying.

Sydney was born in Fletching, Sussex in late 1897 or early 1898. He appears on the 1901 census as a three-year old and we know from GRO records that his birth was registered at Uckfield in the first quarter of 1898.

For some reason, Sydney was not noted in the Chailey Parish magazine but we certainly know that he joined the 12th Royal Sussex Regiment at the same time as his brother, William Jared Brooks, and that he was one of the many Southdown battalion men killed in action on the 30th June 1916. William and Sydney joined the regiment on the 11th November 1914 and both arrived in France on 4th March 1916.

Sydney, recorded as Sidney Brookes on his medal index card, has no known grave and is commemorated by name on the Loos Memorial.

The image at the top of this page is courtesy Simon Stevens of Fletching and is reproduced from the notebook kept by John Oldaker of Newick School which Sydney and William attended between 1905 and 1911. The other image is taken from the Loos Memorial register entry, courtesy of CWGC.

SD/1633 Pte William Jared Brooks, 12th Royal Sussex Regt

William Jared Brooks was born in Fletching, Sussex in 1896. He appears on the 1901 census living with his family at Cherry Tree Cottage, Fletching Common. The household comprised: Jared Brooks (head, married, aged 32, a bricklayer journeyman), his wife Frances E Brooks (aged 33) and their three children: Frances E Brooks (aged six), William (aged four) and Sydney Arthur Brooks (aged three). Also living at the cottage was William's maternal grandfather, 82 year old William Hart.

Chailey Parish Magazine first mentions William in its April 1918 issue, stating Brooks, Lance-Corporal W J, 12th Royal Sussex. This information is repeated up to and including the final published roll call in July 1919. In fact, William had been in khaki for a long time. He and his brother Sydney had enlisted with the 12th (South Down) Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment at Brighton on 11th November 1914 and they had travelled to France together in March 1916. Sydney’s number was SD/1632 and William’s SD/1633. The 12th Sussex was thrown into action at The Boar’s Head on 30th June 1916 and the casualties were great.

When the roll call was taken later, Sydney was reported missing and later presumed dead. Soldiers Died in The Great War notes his date of death as 30th June but I have been unable to find his entry on the Commonwealth War Graves’ site. William appears to have come through the encounter unscathed. Certainly, his old headmaster, John Oldaker, of Newick school, makes no mention of it in the notes he jotted down about him (below). Both boys had been at the school between 1905 and 1911 and at some stage, William sent Mr Oldaker the photograph of himself that is reproduced on this page.

William remained overseas with the Royal Sussex Regiment until he was wounded on 23rd July 1918 and his war ended.

33870 Cpl Henry Alfred Brooks, 9th York & Lancaster Regt

Henry Alfred Brooks was born in Chailey about November 1895. When the 1901 census was taken, he was a five year old living at home in Balneath, Barcombe with his younger brother Ernest Edward Brooks (aged two) and his parents. His father, Alfred Brooks, born in East Chiltington, was a 26 year old brickyard labourer. His mother, Sarah Brooks, aged 27 had been born in Barcombe, as had Ernest. Later, a daughter – Daisy Margaret Brooks, born around 1902 – would complete the family.

According to Soldiers Died in the Great War, at the time of his enlistment Henry was living in Chailey although he actually enlisted at Brighton. This is confirmed by his surviving army papers which exist as a burnt document in the WO 363 series at the National Archives in London .

On 25th January 1915, aged 19 years and three months, Henry enlisted in the Army Veterinary Corps (AVC) at Brighton and was given the army number 4482. He was five feet six inches tall and weighed 148lbs. He gave his trade or occupation as “carter”. He was deemed fit and up to standard by the officer examining him and there was a recommendation which read that he was a “smart young man, intelligent and of good appearance.” The following day his enlistment for the AVC was approved and he was duly enlisted a few days later on 1st February. The following month, Chailey Parish Magazine noted that he was serving his King and Country.

At some point prior to embarking for France, Henry was appointed acting sergeant. He embarked at Folkestone on 19th July 1916, disembarking at Boulogne. On 4th October 1916 he was appointed paid lance-sergeant while in the field but was deprived of this stripe on 9th May 1917 for being absent from his stable at 5.35am and for handing over his party without permission. On 29th September 1917 he was transferred to the 9th York and Lancaster Regiment (70th Brigade, 23rd Division), although the reason for this transfer, given on his official papers, is obscured and damaged now. Chailey Parish Magazine noted in December 1917 that he was now a corporal with the Yorks and Lancs, Henry having been allowed to keep his NCO rank when he moved from the AVC.

In November 1917 the division moved to the Italian Front and it was here, on 15th June 1918, that 33870 Corporal Henry Alfred Books was killed in action. He is buried at Granezza British Cemetery (Plot I, Row D, Grave 10). The Commonwealth War Graves’ Commission’s Debt of Honour Register also notes that he was the son of Sarah Brooks of Gate Cottage, Balneath, Chailey near Lewes.

On 15th September 1919 on Army Form W. 5080 (a statement of the names and addresses of all the relatives of Henry Alfred Brooks then living), the following information was recorded: Father: Alfred Brooks, Gate Cottage, Balneath, Chailey Mother: Sarah Brooks [address as above] Full Blood brother: Ernest Edward Brooks, Age 21 [address as above] Full Blood sister: Daisy Margaret Brooks, Age 17 [address as above] The information was declared correct by Sarah Brooks. Henry’s younger brother Ernest Brooks also served his King & Country during the First World War.

The image on this post is taken from the Commonwealth War Grave register for Granezza British cemetery and can also be downloaded from the main CWGC site.

Private Ernest Edward Brooks, 3rd Royal Sussex Regt

Ernest Edward Brooks was born in Barcombe, Sussex about 1898.  When the 1901 census was taken, he was a two year old infant living at home in Balneath, Barcombe with his older brother Henry Alfred Brooks (aged five) and his parents.  His father, Alfred Brooks, born in East Chiltington, was  a 26 year old brickyard labourer.  His mother, Sarah Brooks, aged 27 was also a native of Barcombe.  Later, a daughter – Daisy Margaret Brooks, born around 1902 – would complete the family.

I know little about Ernest Brooks’ war service.  Chailey Parish Magazine first mentions him in August 1918, noting that a Pte E Brooks is serving with the 3rd (Reserve) Royal Sussex Regiment.  This information is repeated up to and including the final published roll call in July 1919.

Ernest Brooks died in 1965.  His brother, Henry Alfred Brooks was killed in action on the Italian Front on 15th June 1918. My thanks to Mr and Mrs Alfred E Brooks of Chailey for assisting me with my research.

Reverend Arthur Hamilton Boyd OBE MC TD

Arthur Hamilton Boyd was born in Edinburgh on 7th June 1869.  He was the son of Sir John and Lady Isabella Boyd (nee Lawson) of Maxpoffle, Roxburgh.  Sir John was Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1888 to 1891.

Arthur had nine brothers and sisters including a twin brother, Alan Stuart Boyd.  One of his sisters, Bethia Theodora Boyd, the youngest of Sir John’s daughters, would later marry the vicar of St Peter’s Church, Chailey, The Reverend Thomas Harry Lee Jellicoe.

Arthur was educated at the Edinburgh Academy, graduating from Edinburgh Theological College in 1894 and at Woolwich Theological College.  From 1896 to 1898 he was curate at Chailey and from 1898 to 1901 was a clergyman at Hurstpierpoint, also in Sussex.

Presumably while he was at Chailey, Arthur met and married Penelope Elizabeth Blencowe of Bineham, Chailey.  Their marriage is recorded in the March quarter for 1898. The 1901 census notes Arthur (aged 31) and Penelope (aged 32) living at Hurstpierpoint with their two month old son, William Arthur Hamilton.  Later that year the family moved again, this time to Slaugham, where Arthur took up the position of rector, a post he would hold until 1928.

In 1903, Arthur and Penelope had a second son, James Hamilton, and two years after that, Arthur took up the post of Chaplain to the Forces, 3rd Class, attached to the 4th Royal Sussex Regiment.  There were various grades of chaplain, each grade carrying an equivalent army rank.  Fourth Class was equivalent to captain, Third Class to major, Second Class to lieutenant colonel and First Class to colonel. 

When war was declared, Arthur Boyd was appointed Acting Chaplain to the Forces 4th Class and posted to Divisional Troops, 3rd Cavalry Division British Expeditionary Force, France. In 1915 he was appointed Senior Chaplain 3rd Class, 3rd Cavalry Division and in November 1916 he was appointed Deputy Assistant Chaplain-General, 2nd Class, Cavalry Corps.

Chailey Parish Magazine first mentions Arthur Boyd in its November 1916 issue, noting that he is a temporary lieutenant colonel.

Arthur Hamilton Boyd led a distinguished military career. He was captain of the St Mary’s Slaugham company of the Church Lads’ Brigade and was decorated for gallantry.  He was awarded the Military Cross on 18th February 1915 for distinguished conduct in the field and was Mentioned in Despatches three times: 17th February 1915, 22nd June 1915 and 30th December 1918.  On 1st January 1919 in the King’s New Year’s Honours’ List, he was awarded the OBE (military) and this was followed up in August 1919 with the award of the Territorial Decoration.

On 23rd September 1919, the Reverend A H Boyd OBE, MC, TD, relinquished his commission and reverted to T/CF 3rd Class.  Arthur Boyd was also a member of the Junior Army & Navy Club, Whitehall and in 1921 was living at Slaugham Rectory, Haywards Heath, Sussex.

Arthur Boyd’s medals are held by The Royal Army Chaplain’s Department Museum (The Museum of Army Chaplaincy) at Amport House, Amport, near Andover, Hampshire.  The group consists of: OBE, MC, 1914 Star with clasp, British War Medal, Victory Medal with MID Oakleaf and his George V Territorial Decoration.  The photograph of his medals on this website is re-produced by kind permission of the trustees of The Museum of Army Chaplaincy. The photo of Reverend Boyd at the top of the is post is published with the permission of Alison Botterill to whom, many thanks.

Lt Robert Campion Blencowe, Royal Defence Corps

Robert Campion Blencowe was born at Hurstpierpoint, Sussex in 1858.  He appears on the 1861 census as the eldest son of John George Blencowe and Frances Campion Blencowe.  At the time the census was taken, Robert Campion was two years old and his younger brother, John Ingham Blencowe, was four months old.  The family lived at Bineham Mansion in Chailey.

John George Blencowe was the only son of Robert Willis Blencowe and had inherited a considerable sum of money plus the combined estates of The Hooke and Bineham.  When he married Frances Campion, an heiress in her own right, he received an additional marriage settlement of nine thousand pounds.  As well as being a significant landowner (the 1861 census notes that he owns 220 acres and is the employer of eleven men and two boys), John George Blencowe was also a Member of Parliament (1859-1865) and, like his father before him, a magistrate at Lewes, serving there from 1842 until 1897; the longest serving magistrate except for the Duke of Richmond.

Robert Campion Blencowe appears on the 1871 census as a 12 year old scholar staying at 40 Upper Brunswick Place, Hove, Brighton.

I have been unable to locate Robert Blencowe on the 1881 census return.  His parents, John George Blencowe and Frances Blencowe appear on the 1881 census still living at Bineham but by this time, their three sons (William Poole Blencowe was the third son, born in 1869) had obviously left the family mansion.  In 1881, the census recorded John George Blencowe, (aged 64), Frances Blencowe (51) and their five daughters: Florence C[harlotte] Blencowe (aged 21), Harriet Blencowe (aged 18), Frances I[sabel] Blencowe (aged 16), Mary Blencowe (aged 15) and Penelope E Blencowe (aged 13).

It is possible that by the time the 1881 census was taken, Robert was in India.  A copy of Dress Regulations for Officers of the 1^st Battalion (XX) Lancashire Fusiliers, offered for sale by Maggs Brothers military booksellers in August 2006, notes Robert Campion Blencowe as the book’s owner.  The Maggs Brothers website notes that Robert made full lieutenant in January 1880 and that the 2nd Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers embarked for Bombay the following year.

On the 1891 census, John George and his wife are still at Bineham with their daughters although by now, Florence C Blencowe had married and become Florence C Drummond. Her son, Frederick John Drummond (whose birth was registered in the September quarter of 1891) would later be killed in action in the First World War. 

Robert Campion Blencowe (aged 32) appears on the 1891 census living at The Grove, Basingstoke, Hampshire with his 36 year old wife Augusta Blencowe (nee Dickenson) and three servants.  The couple had married in 1886 and Robert Campion is noted on the census as “living on own means”.

On the 1901 census, Robert Campion Blencowe’s name appears under the ecclesiastical parish of St Michael and All Angels in Basingstoke.  He and Augusta were now living at Skippetts House with three servants.  Robert Campion is still noted as “living on own means”.  Augusta died in 1905 and Robert re-married Jessie Wright, a woman who was, according to Rob Tillard, “a formidable lady who seemed forbidding to small boys.

Robert Blencowe’s service record could not be found at the National Archives but it is possible to piece together a sketch history based on information contained in Chailey Parish Magazine and The London Gazette.

Supplement to The London Gazette, Page 8013, of the issue dated 7^th October 1914 notes that Robert Campion Blencowe, late Lieutenant of The Lancashire Fusiliers, is to be a lieutenant with the Territorial Force Reserve.

Chailey Parish Magazine first mentions him in March 1915, noting that he is serving his King & Country and then adding in October that year that he is a lieutenant with the Norfolk Regiment.  On 28^th June 1916, the Supplement to The London Gazette notes that Lieutenant Robert Campion Blencowe is promoted to Captain.

At some point thereafter, it would appear that Robert Blencowe transferred from the Norfolk Regiment to the Royal Defence Corps.  On 7^th November 1917, on page 13176 of the Supplement to The London Gazette, it was noted that Lt R C Blencowe of the RDC would retain his seniority.  Just over a month later, on 17^th December, he resigned his commission on account of ill health, and was granted the honorary rank of lieutenant.  His name appears for the final time in Chailey Parish Magazine’s roll of serving men in January 1918 where it is {incorrectly) noted that he is still serving with the Norfolk Regiment.

The Blencowe family was one of the most influential families in Chailey and the family name crops up time and time again in contemporary newspaper cuttings.  John Ingham Blencowe and Frances Isabel Blencowe in particular, also played significant roles in the village during the war years but Robert appears to have been the most influential member of the Bineham family.  The term, “pillar of the community” appears apt in his case and as well as involving himself in local affairs he also supported a number of worthy causes.  The Women at Work Collection held at The Imperial War Museum in London notes that he was a member of the RSPCA in 1914, contributed a £50 donation to the Soldiers’ Clubs Association in 1915 and 1916 and, also in 1916, donated £20 to Queen Alexandra’s Field Force Fund.

Captain John Ingham Blencowe, Eastern Command

John Ingham Blencowe was born at Hurstpierpoint, Sussex on 15^th December 1860.  He appears on the 1861 census as the second son of John George Blencowe and Frances Campion Blencowe.  At the time the census was taken, John Ingham was four months old and his elder brother, Robert Campion Blencowe, was two.  The family lived at Bineham Mansion in Chailey.

John George Blencowe was the only son of Robert Willis Blencowe and and had inherited a considerable sum of money plus the combined estates of The Hooke and Bineham.  When he married Frances Campion, an heiress in her own right, he received an additional marriage settlement of nine thousand pounds.  As well as being a significant landowner (the 1861 census notes that he owns 220 acres and is the employer of eleven men and two boys), John George Blencowe was also a Member of Parliament (1859-1865) and, like his father before him, a magistrate at Lewes, serving there from 1842 until 1897; the longest serving magistrateexcept for the Duke of Richmond.

I have been unable to locate the Blencowe family on the 1871 census.  John George Blencowe and Frances Blencowe appear on the 1881 census still living at Bineham but by this time, their three sons (William Poole Blencowe was the third son, born in 1869) had obviously left the family manison.  In 1881, the census recorded John George Blencowe, (aged 64), Frances Blencowe (51) and their five daughters: Florence C Blencowe (aged 21), Harriet Blencowe (aged 18), Frances I[sabel] Blencowe (aged 16), Mary Blencowe (aged 15) and Penelope E Blencowe (aged 13).

On the 1891 census, John George and his wife are still at Bineham with their daughters although by now, Florence C Blencowe had married and become Florence C Drummond. Her son, Frederick John Drummond (whose birth was registered in the September quarter of 1891) would later be killed in action in the First World War. 

John Ingham Blencowe (aged 30) appears on the census living at Court House, Lewes with his 29 year old wife Mabel Frances Blencowe and their daughter, Margaret P[enelope] Blencowe (aged one).  Mabel’s maiden name was Ingram and she was one of seven daughters living at Ades in Chailey.

On the 1901 census, John Ingham Blencowe’s name appears under the parish of St Michael’s in Lewes.  He and his family were living at Pelham House with John Ingham’s profession noted as Land Agent.  The family comprised his 39 year old wife Mabel Frances Blencowe and their daughter, Margaret P Blencowe (aged 11).  Staying with them was Thomas A Ingram, John’s nephew as well as his pupil.

According to John Ingham’s application for a commission in the Sussex Yeomanry (TF) which he completed on 18^th September 1914 (aged 53), he had previously served with the regiment as a sergeant between 1902 and 1905, being discharged in 1905 on the expiration of his time.  On his application he indicated that he had been educated at (what looks like) Bradfied College and Brasenose College, Oxford.  He gave his address for correspondence as Cinder Farm, Chailey and his profession as Land Agent.

John Ingham Blencowe was appointed 2^nd lieutenant with the 2/1^st Sussex Yeomanry on 5^th October 1914, temporary lieutenant on 18^th February 1915 and then temporary major on 6^th April 1915. 

In December 1916, Major John Ingham Blencowe was appointed as Assistant War Department Agent and Valuer for Eastern Command and continued in this role, gaining the final rank of captain, until his duties ceased on 10^th July 1920.

John Ingham Blencowe lived at Pelham House in Lewes (now the council offices) and eventually moved to Church House in Chailey where he died in 1945 at the age of 85.

The Blencowe family was one of the most influential families in Chailey and their names crop up time and time again in contemporary newspaper cuttings.  Robert Campion Blencowe and Frances Isabel Blencowe in particular, also played significant roles in the village during the war years.

G/24460 Private William Hugh Blanchard, 9th Royal Sussex Regt

Chailey Parish Magazine notes that a Private W Blanchard is serving with a Training Reserve battalion in April 1917.  In December 1917 the regimental information is updated to 3^rd Royal Sussex and in May 1918 it is updated again to 9^th Royal Sussex.

The National Archives in Kew has only one W Blanchard with the Royal Sussex Regiment noted and that is G/24460 Private William Hugh Blanchard.  In fact the National Archives holds two card for this man: one in the name of W Hugh Blanchard, serving with the 9^th Royal Sussex Regiment, and the other in the name of William H Blanchard, serving with the Royal Sussex Regiment (no battalion given). 

In July 1918, the parish magazine notes that Blanchard has been wounded and this information is repeated monthly thereafter until July 1919 which is the final entry for this soldier.

The 9^th Royal Sussex Regiment was a New Army battalion which was formed at Chichester in September 1914 and all original recruits were given the ‘G’ prefix to their regimental number.  However, although Blanchard too has the G prefix to his number, the fact that he appears for the first time in the parish magazine in April 1917, coupled with the fact that he spent an initial period of time with a Training Reserve battalion would appear to suggest that he was not an early volunteer. 

The 9^th Royal Sussex formed part of the 73^rd Brigade in the 24^th Division and first saw action at Loos in September 1915 where it suffered heavy losses.

In “This and That in Chailey and Barcombe”, Andrew Fayle recalls, “For years the post was delivered on walking rounds.  Old Mr Blanchard, an ex soldier who had only one eye and an artificial leg, was the postman.  He walked from South Common Post Office, all up through Norman’s Brick Yard, then South Street, along Markstakes Lane as far as High House and Tutts Farm, and back.  A long way.  Like all postmen in those days he would carry stamps which you could buy from him and you could ask him to bring a postal order by arrangement. He was also our own ‘Broadcasting Station’. If you saw cattle straying, or if you lost anything, you would tell him and he would broadcast the news. ‘Yes’, he would say, ‘I’ll pass the news on.’”

 
The Mr Blanchard referred to above may be the same Private W Blanchard noted in Chailey’s parish magazine in 1917.