G/1967 Private Arthur Thomas Washer, 8th Royal Sussex Regt

Arthur Thomas Washer was born at Chailey in late 1893 or early 1894, his birth recorded at Lewes in the March quarter of that year. By the time the 1901 census was taken, he was living with his family in three rooms at Bureet House, North Common, Chailey.  The household comprised Alfred Washer (head, aged 33 and working as a general agricultural labourer), Eliza Washer (his wife, aged 31), and their four children: Alfred (aged ten), Edith Mary (aged eight), Arthur Thomas (aged seven) and Albert Frederick (aged four).

In October 1914, Chailey Parish Magazine noted that Arthur was serving his King & Country, recording the following October that he was serving with the 7th Royal Sussex Regiment in France. The following month, November 1915, Arthur Washer is noted as serving with the 8th Royal Sussex Pioneers in France.

The 7th Royal Sussex was a service battalion which had begun recruiting at Chichester on 12th August 1914 and would later form part of the 36th Brigade in the 12th (Eastern) Division.  The 8th Royal Sussex was also a service battalion formed at Chichester in September 1914.  In time, it would form part of the 54th Brigade in the 18th (Eastern) Division.

According to Chailey Parish Magazine, Arthur Washer served with the 8th Royal Sussex Regiment throughout the First World War, his name appearing in all issues from October 1914 right through to the final published roll call in July 1919. The 1914-15 Star medal roll tells us that he was discharged to Class Z Army Reserve on the 8th March 1919 but the British War and Victory Medal also notes that he latterly served with the 1/5th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment.

Arthur Washer’s younger brother Albert Washer also served during the First World War.  The two men were cousins of George Trayton Washer.

Medal index card courtesy Ancestry.

10233 Private George Trayton Washer, 7th East Surrey Regt

George Trayton Washer was born about May 1891 in Fletching, Sussex. His birth was registered in the June quarter of that year at Uckfield (volume 2b, page 131). The 1901 Census reveals George as the only son of George Washer (a 36 year old general labourer) and his wife, Ada Esther Washer (36) living at Oaklands Cottage, North Chailey. As well as nine year old George, the family also comprised his four sisters: Susan Hannah (aged 12), Edith Ada (aged nine), Mary (aged two) and Annie (aged two months). Another sister, Frances, would follow the following year.

Both the 1901 census and Chailey Parish Magazine record George Washer’s first name as Trayton rather than George although the latter appears to be his given name.

George enlisted in the Corps of Hussars at Lewes, Sussex on 7th September 1914. A Cowman by trade, he was certified as five feet seven inches tall, weighed ten stone, seven pounds, had a fair complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. He was posted to the 5th Cavalry Depot at Bristol and given the number 23402. On 15th January he was given his first typhoid inoculation. On 2nd June 1915, George Washer transferred from the cavalry to the infantry, joining the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion of the East Surrey Regiment at Dover. On 15th July he was posted to the 7th Battalion and sent overseas to France.

The 7th East Surreys formed part of the 37th Brigade in the 12th (Eastern) Division and had been overseas since 2nd June 1915. George Washer went proceeded first to the 12th Division infantry base, joining his battalion on 19th August and on 13th October 1915, he was killed in action at the Battle of Loos. Two companies of the 7th East Surreys had been tasked to capture a German trench known as Gun Trench and, although, as the 12th Divisional history states, “the attack had been entirely successful, 16 prisoners, 1 machine gun, 3 trench mortars and a large quantity of ammunition being captured”, the attacking forces had not come out unscathed. George was one of 212 Other Rank casualties sustained in the action. His body was never recovered and his name was later commemorated on the Loos memorial (below).

In March 1916, a meeting of The Ancient Order of Foresters in Chailey reported that “… at the end of the year the Court had 20 members serving in the Army or Navy. I regret to state that the court has lost one young member who died fighting for his country – Bro G T Washer, killed in action in France on October 13th 1915…”

On 22nd June 1919, George's living relatives were noted as: George Washer (father) of Burnt House, North Common, Chailey; Ada Washer (mother), Susan Hannah Campbell (full blood sister), aged 30 (Burnt House), Mary Smith (full blood sister), aged 20 of Sewells Cottages, Barcombe; Annie Washer (full blood sister), aged 18 of 3 Sussex Road, Hove and Frances Washer (full blood sister), aged 17 of Burnt House.

Medal index card courtesy of Ancestry. 

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.

219181 Driver Oswald Richard Walden, Royal Field Artillery

Oswald Richard Walden was born in late 1888 or early 1889, his birth recorded in the March quarter of that year at Bridport.  He appears on the 1891 census as a two year old living at Shipton Gorge, Dorset (the place of his birth) with his father (28 year old George Richard Groves Walden; a farmer), his mother (29 year old Martha Joan Walden) and a cousin (22 year old Ellis Thomas Robert Walden, also a farmer and recorded as a nephew of Oswald’s father).  I have been unable to locate him on the 1901 census.

Chailey Parish Magazine first notes him in its February 1916 issue, stating: Walden, Dvr O R, ASC, France.  This information appears up to and including November 1916.  Thereafter, there is no mention of this man in the parish magazine.

Oswald's medal index card (above, courtesy of Ancestry) shows him arriving overseas in France on the 18th July 1915.

17855 Battery Quartermaster Sergeant William Walder, Royal Garrison Artillery

William Walder was born in 1882 and appears for the first time on the 1891 census.  He is recorded as an eight year old,  living at South Street, Chailey with his parents George Walder, (a 46 year old bricklayer from Fletching), Harriet Walder (nee Heasman, aged 48, born in Chailey) and his brothers and sisters:  George Walder (a 22 year old labourer), Ellen Walder (a twelve year old scholar) and John Walder (aged six). There was also another sister – Anne Walder – born in 1872.

As early as July 1915, Chailey Parish Magazine notes that Wiliam Walder is serving his King and Country and in October 1915 notes that he is a sergeant with the Royal Garrison Artillery.  In February 1917 it notes that he is a brigade [sic] quarter master sergeant and this information is then repeated up to and including the final published roll call in July 1919. 

 

No service record appears to survive in WO 363 or WO 364 but thankfully we do get a sketch history of his service from his surviving entry in the Royal Artillery's archive. He originally attested in London on the 22nd January 1904 aged 20 years and three months. At the time he was working as a footman and gave his place of birth as Chailey. His next of kin, if that person were a parent, would have been noted in pencil. However, William was married in 1907, to Thomasine Louisa Pascoe in Falmouth and it is her details which have been over-written in the attestation register. The couple would go on to have three children; William (born 1911), Doris May (born 1912) and Ella Joan (born 1919).

 

William was discharged at Dover on the 21st January 1925 on the termination of his engagement. His address was given as 6 H Battery. I have seen a photograph of William taken in Singapore earlier in his career and wearing a single stripe.

 

William's medal index card, above, is courtesy of Ancestry.

Captain Henry William Towner, Royal Garrison Artillery

Chailey Parish Magazine first mentions Harry Towner in November 1914 when it notes that he is serving his King and Country. In October 1915 it notes his rank – lieutenant – and the fact that he is serving with the Garrison Artillery.

Harry Towner is Henry William Towner, a career soldier who was born at Slaugham, Sussex around 1873. He was the brother of Edgar Lancelot Towner who was also a career soldier having served for twelve years with the Royal Garrison Artillery prior to joining the Canadian Field Artillery. Henry appears on the 1891 census of England and Wales living at South Street, Chailey with his family. The household comprised: Emily Towner (head, widow, aged 45) and four children: Henry (aged 17, working as a gardener), Rose Harriet Towner (aged 11), Edgar Lancelot Towner (a nine year old scholar) and Emily Walls Towner (aged five).

Ten years later, Edgar is still living in Chailey although by now his 21 year old sister Rose (a housekeeper) is noted as the head of the family with Edgar (aged 19) working as a stockman on a farm and his sister Emily noted as being at home with her sister. Their mother had died a few weeks before at the age of 56, her death registered at Lewes in the March quarter of 1901.

By the time the 1901 census was taken, Henry was serving with the British Army. He is noted in the return for South Shoebury, Essex as being stationed at Shoeburyness barracks where he is recorded as a 27 year old unmarried corporal serving with the Royal Garrison Artillery.

Henry arrived overseas with the RGA on the 29th June 1915 as 3822 Quartermaster Sergeant

On 3rd March 1916 the London Gazette noted that “Second Lieutenant H W Towner, Royal Artillery, to be Captain Instructor in Gunnery, to be seconded, and to be temporary Lieutenant. Dated 11th February 1916.” In September it announced that he was to be promoted to Lieutenant, effective from 8th August, and to remain seconded. In February 1917 the East Sussex News reported:

OFFICER PROMOTED
Lieut H Towner RGA, who is well known in the Chailey district, has been promoted again.

This was duly followed up in the parish magazine in May, noting that Towner’s rank was now Captain. There is then little information on Harry Towner. In October 1918 under the heading: Establishments – Schools of Instruction for RH and RFA, The London Gazette noted “Lt (Actg Capt) H W Towner RA, from Asst Supt of Experiments, to be Capt Instr in Gunnery, to retain his acting rank and to remain seconded. 13th June 1918.”

Henry Towner may be related to Timothy Towner who is also noted by Chailey’s parish magazine as serving his King and Country. Medal index card courtesy of Ancestry.

1608 Gunner Edgar Lancelot Towner, Canadian Field Artillery

According to his Canadian attestation papers, Edgar Lancelot Towner was born in Sussex, England on 17th November 1881. This date is confirmed by the registry of births, marriages and deaths which has an entry for him on page 194 of the Lewes volume (2b) for the December quarter of 1881. He appears on the 1891 census of England and Wales living at South Street, Chailey with his family. The household comprised: Emily Towner (head, widow, aged 45) and four children: Henry William Towner (aged 17, working as a gardener), Rose Harriet Towner (aged 11), Edgar (a nine year old scholar) and Emily Walls Towner (aged five).

Ten years later, Edgar is still living in Chailey although by now his 21 year old sister Rose (a housekeeper) is noted as the head of the family with Edgar (aged 19) working as a stockman on a farm and his sister Emily noted as being at home with her sister. Their mother had died a few weeks before at the age of 56, her death registered at Lewes in the March quarter of 1901. There is no mention of Henry on the census return for Chailey. If the information Edgar gave on the census and subsequently on his attestation papers is correct, it would appear that shortly after 1901 he left farming and joined the army. His attestation papers, dated 1st February 1916 and signed and witnessed in Toronto, note that he had previously served for 12 years with the Royal Garrison Artillery.

By the time he attested, Edgar Towner was 35 years old, married to Gertrude and working as a milk driver. He gave his address as 108 Jones Avenue, Toronto although this was subsequently scored through and 180 Bertrand Avenue written in its place. Edgar's height was recorded at five feet nine and a quarter, his complexion fresh, eyes blue and hair black. A small scar on his left side was noted as a distinctive mark. He gave his religion as Church of England.

Edgar Towner’s attestation was approved by the officer commanding 48th Overseas Battery, Canadian Field Artillery and he was given the army number 1608. Between 22nd and 25th May 1916, he was treated for laryngitis at Toronto Hospital and on 3rd August 1916 he completed a statement of family information stating the same address he had given on attestation. His father and mother (both un-named) were noted as deceased and he also noted a son, Edgar Thomas Towner, aged one year and three months. Edgar gave his profession as Dairyman.

On 11th September 1916, Edgar Towner embarked upon SS Cameronia at Halifax, Nova Scotia and eleven days later disembarked at Liverpool. Chailey Parish Magazine first records him in November 1916 as Towner, Gunner E, Canadian F A, England. Thereafter, continuously until July 1919, the magazine would simply record him as Towner, Gunner E, Canadian F A.

Edgar Towner appears to have spent time initially with the 16th Canadian Field Artillery Brigade before being Struck off Strength and posted to the 31st Battery, 15th Brigade at Milford Camp, Witley on 22nd January 1917. He proceeded overseas on 20th March 1917, arriving in France the following day. Between the 4th and 16th November 1917 he was at an Army Rest Camp and was later on leave between 13th and 27th January 1918. He was awarded a Good Conduct badge at Rouen on 1st February 1918 (two years to the day since he had attested) and was again on leave between the 1st and 20th January 1919. On 25th April 1919 he left for England and was Struck off Strength, pending his departure for Canada on arrival in England the following day.

A Medical History Form was completed two days later at Bramshott. On 18th May 1919 he embarked for Canada aboard SS Aquitania, arriving at Halifax on the 25th. He was discharged from Number 2 Discharge Depot in Toronto on 27th May 1919. At his Bramshott Medical Board it was reported that Edgar had suffered permanent partial hearing loss which had gradually worsened as a result of an explosion in May 1917. The incident which caused this hearing loss did not, at the time, necessitate him being hospitalised. The Board also noted that he had partial dentures. Apart from the two home addresses noted on his attestation form, in pay records dated February 1917 his address was given as 39 Galt Avenue, Toronto and on his discharge in 1919 he gave his address as 70 Marjory Avenue, Toronto. The address on his Medal Card, stamped 11th March 1922 gave a fifth address: 148 Gurzon (or Curzon) Street, Toronto.

Edgar Lancelot Towner’s brother, Henry (Harry) William Towner also served during the First World War. The two men may be related to Timothy Towner who is also mentioned in Chailey’s parish magazine.

Driver W Tingley, Army Service Corps

I know very little about W Tingley.  In July 1918, Chailey Parish Magazine notes: Tingley, Dvr W, ASC and this information is then repeated monthly up to and including the final published roll call in July 1919. I have not been able to identify a medal index card for this man and, given that he was first reported by the church magazine in July 1918, it seems likely that he never served overseas.

618329 Pioneer William Henry Tingley, Royal Engineers

William Henry Tingley was born in 1899, his birth registered in the March quarter of that year. He appears on the 1901 census as the only son of William Henry and Jane Tingley. The family was living at No 1, Reedens Cottage, Newick and comprised: William senior (head, aged 26, a coachman), his wife Jane (aged 29) and their four children: Mabel Jane Tingley (aged seven), Annie Amelia Tingley (aged five), Margaret Elizabeth Tingley (aged three) and William (aged one).

William's Record of Service Paper (Army Form B2513) exists as a burnt document at the National Archives in London and from this we are able to tell that he enlisted with The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) on 12th June 1918. He gave his address as Reedens Cottage, Newick, his age as 18 years and eight months (which in turn places his date of birth around November 1899) and his occupation as agricultural labourer. He enlisted at Brighton and this was approved the following day at Chichester. He was given the number 26245 and posted to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion. It was noted that he was five feet, five inches tall, had brown hair and eyes and a fresh complexion. He was vaccinated on the 18th, 24th and 28th June and appears to have remained with The Buffs for the remainder of that year.

On 14th March 1919 he was “compulsorily and permanently transferred” to the 1st Battalion and remained with them until August when he was transferred again, this time to the 6th Royal West Regiment and the Eastern Divisional Signalling Company. He was given a new number: 38561 but retained the rank of private. He was granted fourteen days’ leave between 29th August and 13th September 1919 and was transferred again on 12th January 1920, to the Royal Engineers where he became 618329 Pioneer W H Tingley. It is unclear when he was finally demobbed but he gave his home address on demob as Bank Cottage, Westmester, Ditchling, Sussex.

Medal index card courtesy of Ancestry.

Captain William Tidswell Towers Clark MC, Machine Gun Corps (formerly Coldstream Guards)

William Tidswell Towers-Clark was born in Scotland in 1886. He was the son of James and Annie Towers-Clark of Wester Moffat, Lanarkshire. 

The Towers-Clark surname was a relatively new one. William Tidswell’s grandfather, William Towers, a prominent JP in Scotland, had inherited Wester Moffat from his cousin, Dr William Clark in 1859. One of the conditions of the inheritance was that William was to bear his surname and so William Towers became William Towers-Clark and passed this name down through the generations.

William Tidswell Towers-Clark was a career soldier who first appears in the London Gazette on 3rd May 1907 as a “Gentleman Cadet from the Royal Military College” who is about to become a second lieutenant with the Coldstream Guards. Two and a half years later on 2nd November 1909, The London Gazette announced that he was to be a lieutenant. On 12th August 1914 the 2nd Battalion of the Coldstream Guards arrived at Southampton and embarked for France aboard SS Olympia and SS Novara. The following day it arrived at Havre and went straight to a rest camp. Lieutenant W T Towers-Clark (Machine Gun Officer for the battalion), is noted in the war diary.

Little is currently known of his movements over the next nine months. In October 1914, Chailey Parish Magazine noted that he was serving his King and Country but by 30th June 1915 the London Gazette was reporting that Captain W T Towers-Clark of the Coldstream Guards was to be seconded to the Machine Gun Corps as an instructor at one of its training centres. It is unclear whether this training centre was in the UK or abroad. He was certainly back in England in September because on the 14th of that month he married Helen Frederica Elizabeth Foster Harter (born circa 1890/1891), the daughter of George Lloyd Foster Harter and Frances Geraldine Coke.

In January 1917, the parish magazine reported that William Towers-Clark had been awarded the Military Medal (correcting this in December 1917 to Military Cross). On 1st May 1917 the London Gazette reported that Captain W T Towers-Clark MC, who had been a temporary major, had relinquished that roll, effective from 16th April 1917. Three months later on 27th July 1917, The Gazette again reported that he was to be an assistant instructor at the Machine Gun Corps – School and Admin Group and was to remain seconded from The Coldstream Guards.

On 28th November 1917 his brother in law, James Collier Foster Harter (born 24th May 1889) was killed in action in the Middle East and would later be buried in what is now Ramleh War Cemetery, Israel.

On 14th February 1918, William ceased to be employed as an assistant instructor and presumably joined a unit of The Machine Gun Corps. The London Gazette issue of 31st May 1918 reports: “Machine Gun Corps. Captain W T Towers-Clark MC (C Gds) to be 2nd in command of a Bn and to be acting Major while so employed.” The “effective from” date is recorded as 20th February 1918. He was promoted to temporary major with the Machine Gun Corps on 14th June 1918 and for purposes of pay was graded as GSO 2nd Grade. He relinquished this temporary rank on 23rd June 1919 on ceasing to be employed with the Corps.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission notes a 20 year old Lieutenant John William Towers-Clark killed on 1st July 1916 whilst serving with the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers and this man is almost certainly a nephew of William Tidswell’s.

41987 Pte William Tingley, 11th Suffolk Regiment

Chailey Parish Magazine notes in July 1917, Tingley, Pte W, 25th Training Reserve and in December 1917 updates this with Tingley, Pte W, 9th Suffolk Regiment.  In January 1919 it notes that he has been awarded the DCM whilst serving with the 12th Suffolk Regiment and in July 1919, gives his battalion as the 1th Suffolk Regiment and the fact that he also holds the Croix de Guerre.

I know very little about this man.  On 12th March 1919 William's award of the DCM is confirmed in the supplement to The London Gazette, (Page 3389):  

 

"Chorley" should of course be "Chailey".

 

The medal roll for the British War and Victory medals gives a little more information about the battalions that William served with: the 9th Battalion, 11th Battalion and 12th Battalion. No service record however, survives to enable us to dig down a little deeper.

 

Medal index card courtesy of Ancestry.

82017 (later 1013273) Gnr (later Sgr) Benjamin Tingley, RFA

Benjamin Tingley was born at Chailey in early 1897, his birth recorded at Lewes in the March quarter of that year. He appears on the 1901 census as a four year old living at North Common, Chailey.  The household comprised, Moses Tingley (head, aged 33, working as a boot maker), his wife Mary Ann Tingley (aged 31) and their five children: Esther Tingley (aged seven), Ruth Tingley (aged five), Benjamin, William George Tingley (aged two) and Ebenezer Tingley (aged five months).

Chailey Parish Magazine notes in October 1914 that Benjamin Tingley is serving his King and Country.  In October 1915 it notes that he is a gunner serving with the Royal Field Artillery in France.  His medal index card notes his regimental number as 82017 and the medal rolls don't add an awful lot, the only point of interest being the roll for the British War and Victory medals which records his rank as signaller.

 

More complete service details appear in the Royal Artillery's enlistment books, published on Findmypast. Benjamin was a regular soldier who enlisted for 3 and 9 on the 13th August 1914. He was eighteen years old and attested at Brighton. His trade, on enlistment, was noted as "cycle merchants" and Moses Tingley was given as his next of kin. He served in France between 1915 and 1917 and in Egypt between 1917 and 1919. He was finally discharged at Woolwich on 12th August 1926 with the rank of signaller and a character described as "Very Good". By this time he had been given a new regimental number: 1013273.

 
Chailey Parish magazine mentions three other Tingley men who served their King and country during the First World War.  It is probable that these are William George Tingley (his brother), his uncle William Henry Tingley and his cousin, also William Henry Tingley.

B/201564 Alfred Ticehurst, Rifle Brigade (also ASC, 5th London Regt and 17th London Regt)

 

Alfred Ticehurst is probably the Alfred Ticehurst born at Plumpton in 1895 whose birth was registered at Lewes in the September quarter of that year.

He appears on the 1901 census living at Frenches Farm in the civil parish of Heathfield (part of the rural district of Hailsham, East Sussex).  Family members recorded are: James F Ticehurst, a 43 year old farrier and head of the family, and his wife Elizabeth aged 45.  The couple had four children living with them when the census was taken: Frederick A Ticehurst (aged 18 and working as a baker), Dorothy Ticehurst (aged ten), William Ticehurst (aged eight) and Alfred (aged five).

Chailey Parish Magazine notes in March 1915 that Alfred Ticehurst is serving his King and Country.  In October 1915 it notes that he is a driver with the ASC in France.  By December 1917 however, he is recorded as Rifleman A Ticehurst, serving with the 2/5th London Regiment and this is the information which is then repeated monthly up to and including the final entry in July 1919.

 

His medal index card, shown above, clearly shows that in fact Alfred was overseas by October 1914. The abbreviations against his ASC number stand for Base Depot, Transport & Supply. The information contained against his entry in the British War and Victory Medal roll is extremely helpful and states the following: 

 

ASC Dvr T/1/4145 5/London Regt B/201564 2/Rif. Brig. 17/London Regiment.

 

The B/ number certainly belongs to the series used by the Rifle Brigade and is most certainly NOT a London Regiment number. The roll also gives some dates:

 

1(a) 13.10.14 to 25.9.17; 1(a) 26.9.17 to 4.12.17; 1(a) 4.7.18 to 12.7.18; 1(a) 13.7.18 to 11.11.18

 

1(a) is France and the dates would appear to be the dates that Alfred served with the four different units he served with during the First World War.

G/9591 Pte George Smith, 13th Royal Sussex Regt

The George Spencer Smith commemorated by The Commonwealth War Graves’ Commission was entered in the Lewes District birth register for the March quarter, 1887 as Spencer Maryon Smith. He also appears on the 1891 and 1901 census under this name as well.

He appears on the 1891 census of England and Wales living at Hanly Farm, Cooksbridge Road, Barcombe, with his family. The household comprised James Smith (head, married, aged 32, working as a groom), his wife Margaret Emma Smith (nee Diplock), also aged 32 and their five sons: Arthur Vere Smith (aged eight), Frederick James Smith (aged six), Spencer Maryon Smith (aged four), Henry William Smith (aged two) and Edward George Smith (aged five months). James was from Newick, his wife from Lindfield. Arthur had been born in Newick, Frederick in Hamsey and the other four boys in Barcombe. Next door to them lived William Diplock and his family. William was almost certainly directly related to Margaret; either an older brother or her father.

By the time the 1901 census was taken, the family had grown and had also moved house to Cornwell’s Bank, Newick. The household now comprised: James Smith (42, by now working as an agricultural labourer), his wife Margaret Emily [sic] Smith and their nine children: Arthur Vere Smith (aged 18, working as an agricultural labourer), Frederick James Smith (aged 16, working as a gardener), Spencer Maryon Smith (aged 14, working as a gardener), Henry William Smith (aged 12), Edward George Smith (aged ten), Leonard Diplock Smith (aged eight), Cissie Eva Smith (the only daughter, aged seven), Sydney Septimus Smith (aged 5) and Cyril Frank Smith (aged two). The four younger children had all been born in Newick.

George is not mentioned in Chailey’s parish magazine but The Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Debt of Honour Register notes that he was 32 years old and was the son of James and Margaret Emma Smith of Yew Tree Cottage, Colonels Bank, Chailey, Lewes, Sussex.

G/9591 Private George Spencer Smith was killed in action on 26th April 1918 whilst serving with the 13th Royal Sussex Regiment. He has no known grave and is commemorated by name on the Tyne Cot memorial (below) in Belgium. His brother, Frederick James Smith, had been killed in France just over a year before, on 17th April 1917.

Both George and Frederick attended the village school at Newick and the photo that appears on this page is the one which Frederick sent his old headmaster, John Oldaker. A photographer's stamp at the bottom shows that it was taken at Newhaven, Sussex. I am grateful to Simon Stevens for sending me the photo.

Twenty pages of George's service record survive in the WO 363 series at the National Archives, also accessible via Ancestry. These are the key dates taken from that service record.

8th December 1915 - attests at Chichester (Derby Scheme) aged 32. Living at Westdean Park, Chichester and working as a footman. Next of kin given as his mother, Emily Smith, of Yew Tree Cottage, Colonels Bank, Newick
24th March 1916 - called up
25th March 1916 - posted to 3rd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment and given number G/9591
7th December 1916 - arrives France and posted to 40th Infantry Base Depot
25th December 1916 - posted to 13th Bn, Royal Sussex Regiment
9th December 1917 - granted leave to UK until 23rd December
26th April 1918 - killed in action

Alfred W Sinnock

Alfred Sinnock appears on the 1901 census of England and Wales as a 26 year old bricklayer, born in Chailey and living with his 23 year old wife Annie at South Common, Chailey.

He appears in Chailey Parish Magazine’s January 1916 list of attested men and then again in March and April 1916 as attested but medically unfit.  He was presumably discharged without seeing service overseas.

K36936 Stoker George Thomas Simmons, HMS Maidstone, Royal Navy

George Thomas Simmons was born at Chailey on 5th January 1895, his birth registered at Lewes in the March quarter of that year. He appears on the 1901 census of England and Wales living with his family at Middleton Farm House, Chailey village. The household comprised Edward Simmons (head, married, aged 57; a farmer and employer), his wife Alice Simmons (aged 43) and George (aged six). Also at the house were Edward A Funnell (aged 20, noted as a nephew and working as an agricultural labourer) and a 74 year old widower also working as an agricultural labourer.

On 9th October 1916, George enlisted with the Royal Navy at Portsmouth for the duration of hostilities. He was five feet, eleven inches tall, had dark brown hair, brown eyes and a dark complexion. It was noted that he had a scar on his upper lip. He gave his occupation as farm labourer and was given the rating of stoker second class and the service number K36936.

George remained at Portsmouth (on the shore station HMS Victory) until 8th February 1917, at which point he was transferred to HMS Badger, an Acheron class destroyer. He had been promoted to stoker first class in December 1916, the same month that Chailey Parish Magazine first mentioned him as a stoker in the Royal Navy. He remained with HMS Badger until 24th January 1918 at which point he returned to Portsmouth (HMS Victory II). HMS Badger had been launched on 11th July 1911 and was part of the Grand Fleet from 1914 until 1916 when she transferred to the 3rd Battle Squadron. On 2nd August 1918 he was posted to HMS Maidstone (a depot ship and submarine tender based at Harwich) and remained with this ship until 13th April 1919.

George Simmons was demobbed on 29th April 1919. Throughout his service with the Royal Navy his character was rated as very good and his ability as satisfactory. His service record survives at The National Archives in the class ADM 188, piece 940.

Driver Christopher Nathan Short, Div Train, Royal Navy

Christopher Nathan Short was born in 1889, his birth registered in the June 1889 quarter at Thakeham, Sussex. He appears on the 1911 census living at Markstakes Farm, South Common, Chailey as a 22-year-old boarder. The farm was run by Ebenezer Plummer who lived there with his wife, three daughters, two sons and his mother-in-law (Mary Jenner). Christopher was working as a general labourer on the farm along with another boarder, William Ovenden, who was working as a carter.

Chailey Parish Magazine first notes Christopher Short in February 1916, recording simply, Short, CN, RN. The following month it adds a little further detail with, Short, Dvr C N, Div Train, RN and follows this up in April 1916 with the information that he has been invalided. In November 1916 the magazine reports that he has been invalided and discharged and he appears for the last time in this publication in March 1917.

Ernest Sheppard

I have been unable to find any further information on this man other than that which is published, briefly, in Chailey Parish Magazine.

In October 1914 it notes that Ernest Sheppard is serving his King and Country.  This information is repeated in November 1914 but that is the final entry recorded for this man.

Frederick Walter Shepherd, Royal Garrison Artillery

Chailey Parish magazine first mentions Frederick Walter Shepherd in a special list of attested men in January 1916. This almost certainly indicates that he attested under the Derby Scheme. In October 1916 he is noted as a gunner with the Royal Garrison Artillery and this information is repeated up to and including December 1918.

In June 1916, The East Sussex News carried this small article:

HEAD GARDENER & MILITARY SERVICE
At the sitting of the County Appeal Tribunal at Lewes last Thursday, the Military appealed in the case of F W Shepherd, gardener in the employ of Mr W G Cotesworth of Roeheath who was granted conditional exemption from military service by the Chailey Rural District Tribunal while remaining in his present occupation.  Mr Cotesworth attended in support of the decision of the local Tribunal.  The Tribunal granted the appeal, but allowed the man exemption for six weeks.

Albert Setford

Chailey Parish Magazine notes between January and April 1916 that Albert Setford has attested.  He does not however appear elsewhere in the magazine and I am assuming that he was not called upon to serve.

He was born around 1879 in East Chiltington and at the time the 1901 census was taken was a 21 year old grocer’s assistant living at Roeheath Cottage number one with his 23 year old wife Ellen.  The grocer concerned was probably George Martin who ran a grocer’s and draper’s shop at South Street.

 

Also see this post about George Martin and Albert Setford.