240818 Private Erle Bristow, 5th Royal Sussex Regt

Erle Bristow was born around 1894 in Chailey and at the time the 1901 census was taken, was living at North Common with his family.  The family comprised Henry Bristow (head, aged 37 and running his own market gardening business), his wife Emma Esther Bristow (aged 36) and their five children: Henry (aged 13 and working for his father), Ann Bristow (aged 12), Charles Bristow (aged nine), Erle (aged six) and Emily Bristow (aged four). 

Chailey Parish Magazine notes Erle Bristow serving his King & Country in its March 1915 issue.  In October 1915 it reports that he is serving as a private with the 5th Royal Sussex, that information repeated until the final roll call in July 1919. 

The 5th Royal Sussex was formed on 1st April 1908 as part of the newly constituted Territorial Force.  When war was declared in August 1914 the battalion became Army Troops in the Home Counties Division TF and in early 1915 was posted for duty at the Tower of London.  Erle's army number was 5/3109 and when the Territorial Force was re-numbered in February 1917 he was given the new number 240818.  He almost certainly enlisted with Frank Ford of Chailey as the two men’s numbers are almost identical.  Frank’s numbers were 5/3110 and later, 240819. 

The battalion crossed to France on 18th February 1915 and three days later was posted to the 2nd Brigade in the 1st Division.  On 20th August 1915 it became the pioneer battalion of the 48th (South Midland) Division. 

Erle’s brother Charles was killed in action during the First World War.  Chailey resident Reg Philpott recalled that the brothers had arranged to meet up in France but before they were able to do this, Charles was killed.

Thomas Blackman

Nothing is known of this man other than that his name appears in three consecutive lists published in Chailey Parish Magazine between January and March 1916 of specially attested men. 

He is possibly the same Thomas Blackman noted on the 1901 census who was born in Barcombe, Sussex around 1891.  The census lists the following family members: Horace Blackman, head, aged 43 and working as a carter on a farm; his wife, 51 year old Ann Blackman.  Children noted are: Horace Blackman (14), a carter boy on a farm, Caroline Blackman (11) and Thomas (9).  A boarder, 58 year old Thomas Moon, is also noted as living with the family in their house at Mount Pleasant in Barcombe.

75422 Gunner Horace W Blackman, Royal Defence Corps

Gunner H Blackman, RGA first appears in Chailey Parish Magazine in July 1918 and then every month until the final entry in July 1919.   

He is believed to be Horace Blackman who was born in Barcombe, Sussex around 1886.  The 1901 census lists the following family members: Horace Blackman, head, aged 43 and working as a carter on a farm; his wife, 51 year old Ann Blackman.  Children noted are: Horace Blackman (14), a carter boy on a farm, Caroline Blackman (11) and Thomas Blackman (9).  A boarder, 58 year old Thomas Moon, is also noted as living with the family in their house at Mount Pleasant in Barcombe. 

The National Archives notes 156507 Gunner Horace W Blackman serving with the Royal Garrison Artillery and later as a Gunner, number 74522, serving with the Royal Defence Corps.

M2/074635 Private Peter Bishop, Army Service Corps

Peter Bishop appears on the 1901 census of England and Wales at Lindfield, Sussex where it is noted that he is the head of the family, aged 24 (born in Chailey) and working as a market gardener.  With him on the census are his wife Esther Bishop (aged 22), his daughter, also Esther Bishop (aged three) and his son, another Peter Bishop (aged one).  Peter Bishop senior’s birth was registered in the December quarter of 1876 at Lewes. 

Ten years earlier, when the census was taken in 1891 he was living at Leylands Farm, Chailey, the household comprising his father, Peter Bishop (head, aged 48 and working as an agricultural labourer) and his wife Mary Anne Bishop (aged 49).  The couple had four children with them at the time: Peter (aged 14, also working as an agricultural labourer), Edward Bishop (aged ten), William Bishop (aged eight) and Barbara Bishop (aged six).

Ten years before that, Peter Bishop appears on the 1881 census at Bonners, Lindfield in Sussex.  He appears as the five year old nephew of the head of the household, Hannah Betchley, a widowed farmer aged 66.  With Mrs Betchley are her daughter Emma Betchley (aged 25) and another nephew, Joseph Bristow aged 27.

Chailey Parish Magazine reports in October 1915 that a Private P Bishop is serving with the ASC in France and I am presuming that this is the Peter Bishop who appears on the 1881 census and not his son as he would only have been around 16 or 17 years old.  His regimental number was M2/074635. Bishop, Pte P, ASC, features in Chailey Parish Magazine up to and including the final published roll call in July 1919.

Chailey resident Reg Philpott remembers that, “there were Bishops who lived at Leylands Farm and worked for my great grandfather Knight.  Peter Bishop lived here with his family and he was killed at Offham chalk pit; I don’t know how.  This would have been after the First War.  Peter Bishop and his family lived here about 1900.”  As there were at least three generations of Peter Bishops (mentioned above), I am uncertain at this point in time, which of them was killed at Offham. 

I believe though that the E Bishop listed in Chailey Parish Magazine as serving during the First World is Peter’s brother, Edward Bishop.

55429 Private Edward Bishop, Machine Gun Corps

Twenty year old Edward Bishop appears on the 1901 census of England and Wales as a carter on a farm [Leylands Farm] and living at Leylands Cottage with his widowed 59 year old mother Mary Ann [sic] Bishop and his eighteen year old brother William Bishop (a market gardener). 

Ten years earlier, when the census was taken in 1891 he was living at Leylands Farm, Chailey, the household comprising his father, Peter Bishop (head, aged 48 and working as an agricultural labourer) and his wife Mary Anne Bishop (aged 49).  The couple had four children with them at the time: Peter Bishop (aged 14, also working as an agricultural labourer), Edward (aged ten), William Bishop (aged eight) and Barbara Bishop (aged six). 

Chailey Parish Magazine first mentions Pte E Bishop in January 1918, simply noting MGC next to his name.  This scant information is repeated up to and including the final entry in July 1919. Edward Bishop was 55429 Private Edward Bishop of the Machine Gun Corps.  Nothing further is known of this man. His brother, Peter Bishop, also served his King and Country during the First World War.

206610 Rifleman Thomas William Deadman, 24th Rifle Brigade

The Thomas Deadman noted by Chailey Parish Magazine is Thomas William Deadman of Newick, Sussex. 

He was born in Funtley, Hampshire in 1878, the son of Thomas James Deadman.  He appears on the 1881 census living at Lower Street, Farringdon, Hampshire at his grandmother’s house.  The household comprised Elizabeth Deadman (head, widow, aged 69, working as a grocer), Hannah Deadman (daughter, single, aged 30, working as a draper), Thomas James Deadman (son, widower, aged 29, working as a wheelwright) and three year old Thomas (whose middle initial looks like the letter N). 

Ten years later, the 1891 census records Thomas still living in Lower Street, Farringdon.  His grandmother, aged 78 is recorded as a general shopkeeper, classified on the census as “Neither Employer nor Employed”.  Living with her are her daughter Hannah aged 38 and Thomas, a 13 year old scholar.  There is no mention of Thomas’s father. 

By the time the 1901 census was taken, Thomas had moved away from Hampshire and was settled at Fount Hill, Newick and working as a domestic gardener.  He had married Elizabeth Ada Parris just the previous year, their marriage registered at Lewes in the June quarter of 1900.  The Deadman household comprised Thomas and Elizabeth (aged 26, born in Fletching) and their son, Thomas James Henry Deadman aged two weeks old and born at Newick.  Three more children would follow: Elizabeth Louisa Deadman (born 1906), William Mark Deadman and Alfred Edward Deadman. 

In March 1915, Chailey Parish Magazine notes that Thomas Deadman is serving his King and Country and in October that year, adds that he is serving as a private with the 2/5th Royal Sussex Regiment in England.  In March 1916, it is noted that Private Deadman is with the battalion in India. 

In August 1916, the parish magazine notes that Thomas Deadman is still in India but is now a rifleman with the 24th Rifle Brigade.  Except for the omission of his whereabouts, that information is repeated up until the final published roll call in July 1919.

Thomas’s medal index card held at The National Archives in Kew does not make any reference to the Royal Sussex Regiment but it does confirm that he was a private with the Rifle Brigade.  Two numbers are given: 502 and 206610.   

The 24th (Home Counties) Rifle Brigade was a Territorial Force formation formed at Halton Camp West on 10th November 1915.  The Rifle Brigade had no pre-war TF battalions and the 18th through to the 24th Battalions were comprised of supernumerary TF companies from drafts men on the National Reserve who were used in guarding vulnerable points in Britain.  The 24th was composed of drafts from the Queens, Norfolk, Suffolk, Bedfordshire, Royal Sussex, East Surrey, Essex, Royal West Kent and Hertfordshire Regiments and was commanded throughout by Lieut-Col F.W. Burbury, a retired officer of the Royal West Kent Regiment.   

In 1916, the seven battalions were all posted overseas - three of them, the 18th, 23rd and 24th, to India.  Thomas arrived in India on 12th February 1916 and the battalion reached Agra thirteen days later.  The photo above was taken at Agra in 1916 and shows Thomas, standing in the middle, with his companions in the 24th Rifle Brigade Military Police.  He would have been about 38 years old at the time and some of his colleagues in the photo are sporting ribbons from the Boer War campaign.  Thomas does not have any campaign medals but given that the 24th Rifle Brigade was initially comprised of Reservists, it is possible that Thomas had previous military experience. 

On 19th April the battalion moved to Sialkot with detachments dispersed at different periods to Jullundur, Amritsar, Lahore and Ferozepore where they were engaged in Internal Security Duties.  The battalion finally dispersed on 29th November 1919 although Thomas had already received his discharge on 21st October that year.

After the war ended, Thomas returned home and settled in Chailey where he worked on the roads.  Latterly he and Elizabeth lived at 2 Warren Cottages, North Chailey.  He died in June 1953 and is buried with his wife in the graveyard of the now redundant, St Mary’s Church, Chailey.

 

My thanks to Tom Deadman's grandson Alan for supplying me with information about his grandfather and also some wonderful photographs including the one published on this post.

Lieutenant Michael Wallace Blencowe Deane, 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers

Little is known about Michael Wallace Blencowe Deane and his service record has not yet been released to the general public. 

He was born in Eccles, Lancashire in 1896, his birth registered in the December quarter of that year at Barton upon Irwell. He was the son of Richard Woodforde Deane of Bedford and Harriet Deane (nee Blencowe) of Chailey.  The 1901 census records the Deane family living at 145 Canterbury Road, Gillingham, Kent.  His father, a career soldier, is recorded as a 41 year old major in the Lancashire Fusiliers.  Other members of the family are noted as Harriet (mother, aged 38), Frances (daughter, aged six, born in Eccles, Lancashire), Michael (aged four), Richard J[ohn] (son, aged two, born in Fleetwood) and Dorothea (daughter, aged one, born in Malta).  In addition there were three servants: 22 year old Ellen Walder, a nurse, born in Chailey; 26 year old Louisa Philpot, a parlour maid from Rochester, and 18 year old Ada Knight, a nursery maid from Reading. 

Harriet Deane was the daughter of John George Blencowe of Bineham.  Her sister, Florence C Drummond, would lose a son, Frederick John Drummond, in the First World War and her siblings, John Ingham Blencowe, Robert Campion Blencowe and Frances Isabel Blencowe, would all play leading roles in Chailey during the First World War. 

A full picture of Michael Deane’s school career has not yet come to light but he certainly attended West Downs School, Winchester, playing for the 1st XI cricket team between 1908 and 1910, captaining the side in 1910.  He also played for the school football team between 1908 and 1909, captaining that side in 1909. After leaving West Downs he went on to study at Winchester College.

On 12th January 1915, The London Gazette published the following information: “The undermentioned Gentlemen Cadets from the Royal Military College to be Second Lieutenants.  Dated 13th January 1915. INFANTRY. The Lancashire Fusiliers. Michael Wallace Blencowe Deane” 

Second Lieutenant Michael Deane served first in Gallipoli and latterly in Flanders.  Chailey Parish Magazine noted in November 1915 that he was serving with the Lancashire Fusiliers and in July 1916 indicated that he has been promoted to Lieutenant.  In January 1917, the additional information that he had been wounded was reported.  Three months later, in April 1917, there was a further note to say that he had been Mentioned in Despatches.  This information is repeated up to and including the final roll call of Chailey-connected serving men published in July 1919.  

Michael Deane's grandson notes that his grandfather was wounded in the arm in Flanders but survived the war and remained in the army until 1947; a career soldier like his father.  During the Second World War he was in charge of an Army Training Battalion for new recruits in North Wales.  He lived in Stonegate, Kent until his death in 1974.

 

Michael's brother, Richard John Deane, also served his King and Country during the First World War and was accidentally killed on 18th July 1917.

G/3576 Corporal Ernest Arthur Williams, 9th Royal Sussex Regiment

In October 1914, Chailey Parish Magazine notes that Ernest Williams is serving his King and Country and in October 1915 adds the information that he is a lance-corporal serving with the 9th Royal Sussex in France.

Ernest served continuously throughout the First World War, being promoted to corporal in January 1917.  The final entry in July 1919 reads: Williams, Corpl E, 9th Royal Sussex

I believe that Ernest Williams is the same Ernest Arthur Williams, whose medal index card is at the top of this post. This man, according to the medal roll, did serve with the 9th  Battalion and furthermore his regimental number is low enough for it to have been issued in October 1914 and therefore for Ernest to appear in the first Chailey parish magazine roll.

200583 Corporal Frederick James Smith, 4th Suffolk Regt

Frederick James Smith was born in 1884, his birth registered at Lewes in the December quarter of that year. 

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 (aged six), Spencer M 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 Colonel’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 (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. 

Frederick does not get a mention 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. 

200583 Corporal F J Smith was killed in action at the Battle of Arras on 17th April 1917 whilst serving with the 4th Suffolk Regiment.  He has no known grave and is commemorated on bay four of the Arras memorial in France. 

Both Frederick and George 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.  My thanks to Simon Stevens of Newick for sharing this with me.

241023 Private William Snelling, 5th Royal Sussex Regt

William Snelling was born in Reigate, around 1889. He appears on the 1901 census as an eleven year old boy living with his parents, brothers and sister at South Street, Chailey. In 1901 the family comprised: Arthur E Snelling (head of the family, a butcher, born in Battersea, aged 32), Minnie Snelling, (Arthur’s wife aged 34), William (son, aged 11), Richard Ernest Snelling (son, aged nine), Arthur Harry Snelling (son, aged eight) and May Snelling (daughter, aged 11 months). With the exception of May who was born in Chailey, the three boys had been born in Reigate so it seems reasonable to assume that at some time after Arthur’s birth around 1892 and before May’s birth (probably in May 1900), the family had moved from Reigate to Chailey.

William is first mentioned by Chailey Parish Magazine in January 1916 when it is noted that he is serving with the 5th Royal Sussex Pioneers in England. By May, it is noted that he is in France. Apart from details regarding his location, this information is then repeated monthly up to and including the final published roll call in July 1919. William has two army numbers noted, both against the rank of sergeant with the Royal Fusiliers: 3520 and 241023.

 The 1/5th (Cinque Ports) Royal Sussex Regiment was a territorial battalion which went to France in early 1915 and was attached to the 2nd Brigade in the 1st Division. On 20th August 1915 it transferred to the 48th Division and remained there until the end of the war, latterly moving with the division to Italy.

 William’s first number would have been his original territorial number. His second, six digit number, was issued in early 1917 when the territorials were re-numbered and his number falls correctly within the sequence allocated to the 1/5th Royal Sussex. William’s brothers Arthur and Richard also served during the First World War, Arthur dying of wounds in August 1918.

Gunner William C Smith, 2/2nd Durham, Royal Garrison Artillery

The W C Smith first noted by Chailey Parish Magazine in October 1916 as a gunner with the 2/2 Durham Royal Garrison Artillery in England is possibly William C Smith who appears on the 1901 census living, at what looks like, Chafed Land, Chailey village.
 
The household comprised Janus C Smith (head, married, aged 36, working as a gardener), his wife Mary Ann Smith (aged 53) and three children: William (aged 21, also working as a gardener), Kate L Smith (aged 16) and Edith B Smith (aged 13).  Frank Peacock, aged eight, and born in Charlton, Kent, is noted as a nephew and the household is completed by Cecil E Matthews, aged five and recorded as a grandson.

Gunner Smith appears monthly in the parish magazine, up to and including the final published roll call in July 1919. 

When the Territorial Force was re-numbered in February 1917, the 2/2nd Durham RGA was allocated the block of numbers 337001 – 340000.  Logically therefore, William Smith should have a number falling within this sequence although I have yet to identify a number for this man.

Private G Smith, 10th Royal Warwickshire Regiment

Chailey Parish Magazine notes in February 1916 that Private G Smith is serving with the 4th East Surrey Regiment.  In May 1918 it notes that he is with the Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars and in August 1918 that he is serving with the 10th Royal Warwickshire Regiment.  This information is then repeated monthly up to and including the final published roll call in July 1919. 

Nothing further is known about this man an indeed, the information noted above, may refer to more than one individual with the name G Smith.

Private F Smith, Royal Engineers

Although Private Smith gets quite a few mentions in Chailey’s Parish Magazine, I have been unable to positively identify him or tie him to the parish. 

Between January and April 1916 his name appears in a special list of attested men where he is simply listed as Smith, F.  In June 1916 he is noted as serving with the 15th Royal Fusiliers in England but by October 1916 has been posted to the 9th battalion and is in France. 

In December 1917 he is noted as Pte F Smith, Royal Engineers (attached Headquarters) and this information is then repeated monthly up to and including the final published roll call in July 1919.  Nothing further is known of this man.

38946 Private Charles Smith, 13th Bedfordshire Regt

Chailey Parish Magazine notes in October 1915 that Private C Smith is serving with the Royal Sussex Regiment in England.  In December 1915 it notes that he is serving with the 3rd Battalion but by June 1916 he is noted as being with the 7th battalion in France.  In April 1917, the parish magazine notes that he has been wounded and by January 1918 he is reported as being with the 13th Bedfordshire Regiment.  This information is then repeated monthly up to and including the final published roll in July 1919. 

The 13th Bedfordshire Regiment (along with the 12th battalion) was a Transport Workers’ battalion.  It was formed in March 1917 at Croydon and remained there, sending working parties to ports as required.

Driver C Smith, Royal Field Artillery

In April 1918, Chailey Parish Magazine Smith, Dvr C, RFA.  This information is then repeated up to and including the final published roll call in July 1919.  Nothing further is known about this man.

A Smith, 4th Leicestershire Regiment

Chailey Parish Magazine notes in February 1918 that Private A Smith is serving with the 4th Leicestershire Regiment.  In May 1918 it notes that he is serving with the 2nd battalion and this information is then repeated up to and including the final published roll in July 1919. 

Chailey Parish Magazine notes eight men with the surname Smith and it is possible that A Smith is related to some or all of the other seven men.  At this point in time however, it has not been possible to positively identify him.  The only obvious possibility on the 1901 census is Archibald Smith who was five years old and living at Station Cottage Number One, Chailey village when the census was taken.

K29857 Stoker Albert Frederick Washer, HMS Active

Albert Frederick Washer (known as Fred), was born at Lewes on 20th August 1896, his birth recorded at Lewes in the December quarter of that year.
He appears on the 1901 census as a four year old living with his family in three rooms at Burnt 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 Washer (aged ten), Edith Mary Washer (aged eight), Arthur Thomas Washer (aged seven) and Albert Frederick (aged four).

He enlisted in the Royal Navy at Portsmouth on 13th December 1915 for the duration of hostilities. His place of birth is recorded on his surviving Naval papers as Lewes and his occupation as farm labourer.  He was five feet, six and a quarter inches tall, had fair hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion.  It was noted that he had a scar on the joint of his left thumb.  He joined HMS Victory II on the 13th December and was given the number K29857 and the rating of stoker 2nd class. 

Chailey Parish Magazine noted in January 1916 that he had attested and then, the following month, that he was a stoker, reporting him as Washer, Stoker F, RN. He served throughout the war aboard HMS Active, joining the ship on 3^rd April 1916 and only leaving it when demobilised on 11th February 1919.  He was promoted to stoker 1st class on 18th April 1916 and during his time with the Royal Navy was mostly rated as very good, in terms of character and satisfactory in terms of ability. 

Fred Washer married Daisy Hills (1896-1984) and the couple settled in Danehill, Sussex.  His older brother Arthur also served during the First World War and the two men were cousins of George Trayton Washer.  Fred Washer died in 1975.

12961 1st Air Mechanic Corporal William Stephen White, Royal Flying Corps

Chailey Parish Magazine mentions Corporal W White, Royal Field Artillery, England, in its August 1916 edition.  The following month this is corrected to note that he is serving not with the RFA but with the RFC – Royal Flying Corps.

In January 1917 it notes that Corporal White has been invalided but in April 1918 the word “invalided” is removed and the information White, Corpl W, RFC appears.  This is then repeated up to and including the final published roll call in July 1919.

William's papers (extract above) survive in AIR 79 at the National Archives and tell us that he enlisted on 2nd November 1915 as a 2nd Air Mechanic and that he was appointed 1st Air Mechanic the following March. He did not serve overseas and was deemed to have been discharged on 20th April 1920, having been transferred to the RAF Reserve on 12th February 1919. He was a mechanic by trade and living at South Street, Chailey. His next of kin is recorded as his father - W White.

William appears on the 1901 census of England and Wales (above) as a 23-year-old Chailey-born blacksmith living at South Street, Chailey.  Also at that address are his 26 year old sister Beatrice White, his 27 year old brother Reuben White (a boot maker) and his widowed 57 year old father William White (running his own boot-making business).

Images on this page are Crown Copyright, The National Archives.

Pioneer George Wheeler, Royal Engineers

Chailey Parish Magazine notes in March 1918 that Pioneer G Wheeler is serving with the Royal Engineers and this information is repeated up to and including the final published roll call in July 1919. 

He is possibly the same George Wheeler who appears on the 1901 census of England & Wales in the mid or Lewes Division of Sussex.  In fact there are two men noted as George Wheeler: the head of the household, aged 35, born in Chailey and working as a general labourer and his ten year old son, born in Lewes.  The family was completed by Jane Wheeler (aged 33), George senior’s wife and they lived at 7, Back Cottages in the civil parish of St John’s, Lewes.

 

There is also a 23 year old Chailey-born George Wheeler noted on the 1901 census working as a footman at Ades.

Captain Ralph Manwaring West, 3rd Mounted Brigade

Ralph Mainwaring West was the son of Charles Herbert and Ada Elizabeth West.  He appears on the 1901 census of England and Wales as a seven year old living at 2 York Villas, Brighton.  The Household comprised Charles H West (aged 39 and noted as “assessor and Collector Hall Tax”), his wife Ada West (aged 36) and their three children: Ralph, Alan Herbert Manwaring West (aged three) and Brenda Manwaring West (aged eight months).  All three children and Ada West had been born in Brighton; Charles was born in Henfield. 

Also registered on the census return were two servants: Kate Divall (aged 24, from Ringmer, working as a domestic servant) and Ella M Godding (aged 15, from Brighton, working as a domestic nurse).

 

Chailey Parish Magazine notes as early as October 1914 that Ralph West is serving his King and Country and in October 1915 adds that he is a lieutenant with the Sussex Yeomanry.  By April 1916 his rank is noted as captain and in November 1916 he is recorded as serving with the 3rd Mounted Brigade. 

On 9th August 1917 the Supplement to The London Gazette (page 8115) noted under “territorial Force.  Yeomanry” that: 2nd Lt (temp Lt) R M West to be Lt with precedence as from 1st June 1916, and remain seconded.  10th August 1917. On March 1st 1918 on page 2622 of the Supplement to The London Gazette, again under “Territorial Force.  Yeomanry” it read: Lt R M West to be Capt and to remain seconded.  27th December 1917. Finally on 5th May 1919 (page 5642), The London Gazette reported that “Capt R M West is restored to the establishment.  5th Apr 1919”. 

I was unable to locate Ralph West’s service record at The National Archives in London.  His brother Alan was killed in a bomb accident in Mesopotamia in January 1918.