“WE WILL REMEMBER THEM”
On the wall in Nutley Church is a
tablet which commemorates the twenty lives given for their country in the Great
War. Every year their names are read out in church on Remembrance Sunday but
who were they? There are few relatives now living, most people in Nutley know
nothing about them.
The search for information was first begun
in 2001 with an appeal in the Parish News by Jim Hills and Bill Nash. Only a
limited amount of information was discovered. With the progress of the internet
and greater access to other records I felt that the time had come to try to
finish the project. I restarted the search in 2006.
The War Graves Commission have been excellent in trying to find details. I had assumed that they would hold all war grave records but was surprised to find that they did not.
The archives of The Sussex Express newspaper in Lewes Records Office have yielded some valuable facts. Unfortunately I have been unable to discover confirmation of all the soldiers details.
I have found that information from the different sources does not always agree. Regiments and service ranks can be different to the ones on the memorial board. Sometimes only Christian names were given as initials.
I have discovered Nutley men killed who are not on our memorial. There are many instances of men wounded, the hospitals that they had been sent to, men commended for bravery and the volunteer work by the Nutley residents to send parcels to the front.
A newspaper column for The Sussex Express was written by Mrs. C. Whitewood of Whitewood Stores. It did not appear every week but as the war progressed it became more frequent. It also listed village activities, church events, sporting fixtures and club dates.
The total number of men who left Nutley to fight was far greater than I had imagined. It must have been in excess of seventy. Three sons from a family was not uncommon, five and even seven sons from a family was referred to.
In March 1916 Conscription for single men aged 18-41 was introduced, followed with Conscription for married men aged 18-41 in May 1916. A handful were exempted for essential war work or on health grounds.
The war had a profound effect on the lives of everyone. Many families were related or knew their neighbours well. The church was an important part of the community, the village cricket team, and football team lost their young men.
From The Sussex Express newspaper of October 12th. 1917 a Memorial Book was given to the church by Mrs. Lascelles in memory of her husband, Mr. P.P.Lascelles of Nutley Court who died in March 1917. I wonder if this book was used to record the names of the fallen soldiers? No reference is made to such a book with the church records at Lewes.
The majority of Nutley men were fighting in France. Battles close to Arras, Bethune and Cambrai accounted for seven men killed. The Somme took four lives. The Ypres Salient a further three. Mesopotamia one. One died of his wounds in England and is buried in Nutley Churchyard, and one who through an infection whilst on board a warship had to be put ashore at Brest, where he died. We do not know the definite graves of three.
Many men were wounded more than once and sent back to the front. The hospitals were often many miles away. How did some young wives manage to visit their husbands, often with very young children? One soldier was discharged with shell shock in 1916. How difficult that must have been for his family. One newspaper article gave an insight into what families left at home had to endure.
In 1916 the owner of Chelwood Corner, a Mr. Llewellyn Midgely went to court to evict the wife of his coachman, Mr. George Wheatley. Mrs.Wheatley had been helping to look after the animals and Mr. Wheatley had been told by his employer that his wages would be made up whilst he was fighting. This had not happened. The judge stated that this was a separate issue and even after nine years loyal service the flat had to be vacated in seven days.
Families often did not hear for months when a soldier went missing.
One Nutley family waited almost a year before the War Department listed a perceived death. From time to time Mrs. C. Whitewood the agent for the Sussex Express would appeal to readers for information to bring the Memorial Roll up to date. Since the parish magazines from 1909 were lost in the Records Office move valuable information has gone.
There were many fund-raising events in the village, mainly organised by the thriving church committee and congreation. The Reverend John Phillips appointed in 1916 had been the English Chaplain in Lille, France until it fell.
On 6th. May 1916 Mr. A. Turner was elected the vicar’s warden and Mr. C. Sayers the people’s warden.
Village clubs continued to run but committees debated whether some social events should take place.
In March 1917 Nutley Horticultural Committee met to decide whether the Annual Show should take place because the end of the war seemed a long way off. They eventually decided and agreed the date of 1st. August. The Sussex Express newspaper of 3rd. August 1917 reported at great length on it’s success with a full list of prizewinners.
A village show reported in the newspaper on 30th. August 1918 raised £48 for the prisoners of war of the Machine Gun Corps, Sussex Regiment and local Nutley men in enemy hands.
After the Armistice there was little reported on Nutley in the newspapers. Initially there were photographs of prisoners of war being released and men disembarking from ships.
With a General Election soon to take place there was much editorial regarding the candidates and the state of the country.
I researched up to April 1919 hoping that Rolls of Honour might be published but that was not to be.
BOYS OF THE FOREST THEN AND NOW
NUTLEY’S SOLDIER SONS IN THE GREAT WAR
The following article appeared in The Sussex Express newspaper on May 2nd. 1918.
With the article were two photographs, copied from originals taken by Arthur Francis.
Although the quality of the photographs is poor I have reproduced them to add to the names given.
The text is a faithful copy from the newspaper.
The achievements of the men of Nutley and other parts of Ashdown Forest during the war have often been favourably commented upon, but few are aware how the fighting spirit is inculcated in those men from their youth up they have shown the liveliest interest in matters military.
About 1900, boys of Nutley formed themselves into a Company of soldiers and under their own officers armed with wooden swords of their own manufacture and with other impedimentia of the battle arena, for years made mimic warfare their chief recreation.
Eventually with increasing age their enthusiasm carried them to such lengths that the battles excitement got the better of discretion and blood flowed. It was then that the juvenile soldiers had to disband.
But this was not before one of their number, Albert Francis with the idea of increasing efficiency wrote to the late Earl Roberts on January 18th. 1908, asking him to accept two photographs of the Company. He said,
“We are not big enough
to be regular soldiers yet, but we drill at school. There are 28 in our Company
and I am the head one, Walter Kenward is Colonel, Tom Freeland Captain and
Frank Mitchell Lieutenant. We want a gun but are too poor to buy one, so I
thought I would write to you to ask if you could help me. Father says you are
very good to your boys, and have been a good man to your soldiers. I hope to be
a real soldier some day and hope I shall be a good one. We have several men who
have been good soldiers. Sergeant Carr and Spencer Streeter were both in the
Boer War. I must conclude, hoping you will be able to help us “.
As you may imagine this missive did not draw the reply that was hoped for, but the following kindly message was received from the recipient through his Secretary.
“I am directed by Field Marshall Lord Roberts to thank you for your letter and the two photographs which accompanied it. Lord Roberts is very glad to hear you are learning drill at school but thinks you are hardly old enough to have a real gun yet.”
The photographs which we reproduce are copies of those referred to in these letters, and it will be very interesting to many to see that the greater number of these boys have followed their instinct.
In the days of Napolean it was suggested by a noble lord that Sussex should send a regiment and that it would be a good thing to put men of Ashdown Forest in the front line as they were full of fighting spirit.
Things have not altered in that respect since then. Many of them have occupied the front line and have done justice to the fine reputation of the men and forest.
Many will recognise the boys of their youth in the pictures, some of them we have not been able to identify, but as far as we can learn the others are as follows
1. Thomas Adams- - - - - worker..
2. Will Wickham Royal Marines.
3. Frank Robinson farming.
4 Herbert Ridley discharged on account of wounds.
5. - - - - Ridley commended.
6. Sid - - Ridley Royal Navy.
7. Bert Francis three times rejected.
8. W. Kenward tank driver.
9. - - - - Penfold farming.
10. M. E. Thomas Kings Royal Rifles.
11. T. Freeland Royal Marines.
12 S. Kenward Sergeant who won the D.C.M.
16. T. Holmes Canadian Contingent.
17. F. Stevenson R.A.M.Q.
18. R. Penfold wounded.
19. F. Mitchell Sergeant in the M.G.C. discharged on account of wounds.
20. C. Wheatley Royal Sussex .
Second Group.
1. George Sayers wounded and one of three brothers
serving.
2. Jesse Tyler killed.
3. Tom Appleby farming.
4. E. Funnell “Contemptibles”.
5. S. Mitchell “Contemptibles”.
6. Rex Turner the youngest of five brothers who each have
won a commission.
7. Bert Russell.
9. Bert Mitchell discharged through shellshock.
10. Jack Gander eight years service in India or Charles
Whitewood Inspector of shells.
11. Jack Kenward R.A.M.C.
12. George Gander Australian Contingent.
15. Jack Thorpe seven years in India.
16. Bert Fox commemded for bravery in the field.
17. Tom Weller Drill Sergeant.
18. Will Sayers South Staffordshire Regiment.
19. Tom Marchant engaged in dairy work.
20. Owen Wickham one of three brothers is prisoner of war.
MEN OF NUTLEY LOST IN THE GREAT WAR
1914 - 1918
IN MEMORY OF EACH INDIVIDUAL AS LISTED ON THE MEMORIAL TABLET
APPLEBY,
ERNEST WILLIAM
Private Canadian Army Military Police.
Ernest was the second son of Isaac and Elizabeth Appleby of Streatfield Farm, Fords Green, Nutley. His brothers were Horace, Herbert and Thomas, and sister, Edith. He was born in 1887 and attended Nutley village school.
He married Fanny Mary Tench in Danehill church. She was the school teacher there.
Soon after they went out to Parys, Orange River Colony, South Africa. In 1905 their eldest son, John was born there.They returned to England in 1908 and then emigrated to Canada in 1909.
They homesteaded at Stocks, Alberta and in 1917 moved to Victoria, British Columbia.Their sons were John (Jack), Rex (died in 1907), James and Frank.
In 1918 Ernest died in a war munitions factory accident.
Isaac and Elizabeth Appleby with Horace ?, Herbert ? and Edith.
The British Colonist newspaper, Victoria, Vancouver Island reported the following.
May 21 1918 - Killed in an accident at James I, BC, E.W. Appleby, aged 41, n/o Sct, a returned soldier. Died of burns received while attempting to clear up with water some high explosive that had fallen on the floor. Immediately the water touched the acid there was an explosion. Deceased leaves a wife and it is believed children, residing in Victoria, for whom the police are now in search. He had only recently received his discharge from the army.
The membership of local Army and Navy Veterans in Canada has passed 400 mark. Immediately after the announcement was made with information that the first death among the membership had taken place, an announcement followed saying that War Veterans would act as pallbearers.
Fanny and her sons returned to Alberta where she taught in school. All three sons entered the teaching profession, and Frank then entered politics and became a central figure in the Alberta Legislature.
CALLAGHAN, MICHAEL JAMES.
Sergeant 36th. Coy. Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). 20301.
Date of Death 16/02/1916 Age 23.
Commemoration Quarry Cemetery, Vermelles, France..
Michael was born in Clonmel, County Tipperary, Ireland.He was married to Jane and had a daughter, Nancy and son, James.The family lived at Pippingford Park , where he worked.He enlisted at Horsham.
He was killed in the heavy fighting at the Hohenzollen Redoubt, France.
His widow remarried William Rivers, widower, in 1918.
The family lived in the lodge house at the entrance to Pippingford Park until her death in 1936.
Michael’s son James worked at Pippingford Park until he was called up for second world war service. He never returned to Nutley.Nancy married and moved to Forest Row.
CHAMPNEYS, JOHN DALRYMPLE.
Lieutenant 6th. Bn. Leicestershire Regiment.
Date of Death 22/11/1915 Age 26.
Commemorated Hannescamps New Military Cemetery, France.
Born in 1889 the second son of Sir Francis Henry Champneys, 1st. Bart, M.D.. and Lady Virginia Julian Champneys of Littlemead, Nutley. A brother Montague born in 1878, died in 1894.He had a younger brother Weldon and a sister Margaret.
Extracts from the Sussex Express newspaper 23rd. June 1916 report,
“Residents of Nutley and many others are much
distressed at the news of the death of Lt. J D Champneys, son of Sir Francis
Henry Champneys , 1st Bart. M.D. and Lady Virginia Julian Champneys
of Littlemead.
The deceased soldier who was attached to the
Leicestershire Regiment was 26 years of age and was the elder surviving son of
his parents.”
In Nutley he was held in high esteem,
taking a considerable interest in the social life of the village. He was a keen
cricketer and was possessed with an excellent voice.
Taken prisoner of war by the Germans but died the following day..
He was a barrister, educated at Rosewall School, held a foundation scholarship. He matriculated at Balliol College Oxford, took honours in the Final School of Law.
Entered at the start of the war as Second Lieutenant and soon became a full Lieutenant”.
He had been reported missing soon after his death but his parents were only officially notified by the War Department in early June. Communications between the German and British War Departments was poor.
The deceased soldier who was attached to the Liecestershire Regiment was 26 years of age and was the elder surviving son of his parents.
CHATFIELD, WILLIAM CHARLES.
Private 1st. Bn. The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment.) G/7220.
Date of Death 29/07/1916 Age 21.
Commemorated Dernancourt Communal Cemetery, France.
William was the elder son of William George and Harriet Annie (nee Carr) Chatfield. He was born in 1893 and had a younger brother Alfred, born in 1901. Both sons were baptised in Nutley Church. The father’s occupation was given as a labourer. His parents married in Nutley Church in 1890. The 1891 Census has William’s parents living in Powder Mill Cottage, Nutley.William was killed during the battle to capture Thiepval. The battle began on 1 July 1916 and ended on 26 September 1916. Dernancourt Communal Cemetery is located in a village 3 kilometres south of Albert.
William’s father died, date unknown and his mother remarried and left Nutley.
Field Ambulances used the Communal Cemetery for Commonwealth burials from September 1915 to August 1916, and again during the German advance of March 1918. It contains 127 burials of the First World War.
The XV Corps Main Dressing Station was formed at Dernacourt in August 1916 when the adjoining EXTENSION was opened. The extension now contains 2,162 Commonwealth burials, 177 of which are unidentified.
COLEMAN, PERCY.
Private 7th. Bn. Royal Sussex Regiment. G/1647.
Date of Death 05/03/1916 Age 26.
Commemoration Bethune Town Cemetery, France.
I have been unable to discover evidence that this soldier is linked to Nutley.
There were Coleman families living in Nutley and Fairwarp at this time, but no records of a Percy.
The next of kin details from the War Graves give his parents address in Somerset.
HARDING, FRANK.
Stoker 1st. Class H.M.S. “Goshawk” Royal Navy K/36544.
Date of Death 04/10/1917 Age 19.
Commemoration Brest (Kerfautras) Cemetery, France.
I could find no details of Frank until I researched the archives of the Sussex Express newspapers.
His death was reported in the October 12th.1917 edition.
He was the adopted son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Tribe of Coffee Hall, (Royal Oak), Nutley.
This photograph was taken in 1911.
Was this their adopted son, Frank?
Whilst aboard his ship off the west coast of France he developed an infection, and was transferred ashore to the hospital in Brest, where he died.
He was buried in Brest (Kerfautras Cemetery).
HARDING, JOHN CHARLES.
Private 7th. Bn. Lincolnshire Regiment. 52173.
Date of Death 06/09/1918 Age 19.
Commemorated Varennes Military Cemetery, France.
Born in 1899 John Charles was the younger son of Henry and Barbara Ellen (nee Allen) Harding of Fords Green, Nutley. He had an elder brother, William, born in 1896 and a sister Annie born in 1897. His father was a tailor journeyman. Parents Henry and Barbara married in Nutley Church and the children probably attended the village school.
He enlisted at Eastbourne and no more is known of his life in Nutley.
He was in the midst of fierce fighting in the second battle of the Somme.The Germans had recaptured Albert in March 1918 and the British eventually recovered it August 1918.
HAZELDEN, WILLIAM.
Private 13th. Bn. Royal Fusiliers. 61379.
Date of Death 10/04/1917 Age 20.
Commemorated Orange Trench Cemetery,Monchy - Le - Preux, France.
Information from the book “Soldiers Died in the Great War” give William’s birthplace as Maresfield. He resided in Nutley and enlisted in Uckfield.
From the 1891 census the family were living at Misbourne Farm and William’s father was a farmer. Previously the family had lived at Marlpits where the children had been born. William was baptised in Nutley church in 1887 and his father’s occupation at that time was a labourer.
I could find no more details of his life.
Orange Hill and Orange Trench were features of the country south of the river Scarpe, through which Commonwealth forces fought their way in April 1917, during the Battle of Arras, and again in August 1918.
Orange Trench Cemetery was made after the fighting of 9 - 11 April 1917 and the 118 graves are of soldiers killed in April and May 1917.
MARCHANT, WILLIAM NEVILLE.
Rifleman 20th. Bn. Kings Royal Rifle Corps. C/9240.
Date of Death 27/08/1918 Age 27.
Commemorated Ligny - Sur - Canche British Cemetery, France.
Neville was the second son of nine children of Thomas and Fanny Marchant of Little Claylands Farm, Nutley. In 1901 the children were Bessie, Thomas, Neville, Doris, Elsie and Denis?
Father’s occupation was given as beerhouse keeper.
Neville was baptised in 1891, father’s occupation given as a labourer.
A younger sister, Edith Ellen was baptised in 1902, father’s occupation given as publican.
I could find no other baptism records.
Neville was husband to Margaret and the War Graves Commission gave Littlemead, Nutley as her address when Neville was killed. Bearing in mind that the information obtained from relatives often did not take place until the twenties she may have resided elsewhere in 1918.
The cemetery was begun at the end of August 1918 and contains 80 graves.
MOORCOCK, FREDERICK ARTHUR.
2nd. Lieutenant 2nd./5th. Bn. Kings Own Light Infantry.
Date of Death 03/05/1917 Age 22.
Commemoration Arras Memorial, France.
Born in 1895 in Peckham, London, Frederick was the elder son of William James and Emma Moorcock. A brother Percy was born in 1909 but died aged two. The family came to Nutley when his father became the Minister at Forest Hall. The family lived at Forest View, now renamed “Pastors”.
He attended Nutley village school and was such a gifted child that he won a scholarship to Cambridge.
Early in the war he enlisted in the East Anglian Field Ambulance of the Royal Medical Corps. Memories of the late Mrs. Alice Tester recalled how when he came home on leave he took the children’s service in the chapel.
He was in the front line and saw action in the Dardanelles. In July 1916 he was commissioned and then in 1917 he was recommissioned into the King’s Own Light Infantry.
This photograph was taken before he was commissioned in 1916
This photograph was taken after his commissioning into the King’s Own Light Infantry.
In the Sussex Express newspaper 11th. May 1917 he was reported wounded and missing. Not until April 1918 was a letter received by his parents from the War Department to say that they perceived his death. He has no grave but his name is on the Arras Memorial.
MOORE, HORACE.
Lance Corporal 3rd. Bn. Grenadier Guards. 14052.
Date of Death 31/03/1916 Age 26.
Commemoration Ypres Town Cemetery Extension, Belgium.
Horace was one of seven sons of Pharez and Margaret Moore of Lower Brickfield Farm, Nutley. The family moved to Nutley in the early 1900 years. Father, Pharez had been a shepherd on the Downs, but ill health forced him to leave his work there.
In February 1902 he had rescued two children from the icy water of Friston pond, and as a result he caught phneumonia. He was presented with an award from the Royal Humane Society for gallantry. His health never recovered and he died in 1910 and is buried in Nutley Churchyard.
In August 1914 five sons were serving.Frederick Moore of H.M.S. “Etropa” with 12 years service already, Pharez Moore of H.M.S. “Agincourt”, serving on the Royal Yacht “Alexandra” prior to the war, Private Horace Moore, 2nd. Battalion Grenadier Guards, Private Herbert Moore, Royal Marines and Gunner Albert Moore, Royal Marine Artillery, H.M.S. “Dominion”.
Another son, Sidney was a gunner in the Royal Canadian Garrison at Halifax, while another son Alec, was discharged from the Royal Navy as a result of an accident to his hip, for which he was successfully treated at the Royal Sussex County Hospital.
He then enlisted into the army,and the youngest son, Thomas joined the East Surreys.
Horace was married and lived at Newhaven in 1914.
From the date of his death it would appear that he had been buried in a small isolated cemetery, and then reburied in Ypres Extension, after the Armistice.
His widow Mrs. F. Moore lived at 15, Clifton Terrace, Railway Road, Newhaven.
MOORE, THOMAS.
Private East Surreys.
The War Graves Commission could find no details.
From family memories, Thomas was married with a daughter and lived at Halland, close to the old forge.
PECKHAM, ARTHUR NYTON A.R.I.B.A.
Indian Army Reserve of Officers.
Captain Attd. 1st. Bn. 112th. Indian Infantry.
Date of Death 14/02/1918 Age 36.
Commemoration Bagdad (North Gate) War Cemetery, Iraq.
Arthur was the second son of the Reverend Harry John Peckham and Edith Peckham. He came to Nutley when he was one year old in 1882 when his father was appointed the Vicar of Nutley Church. A brother Walter was born in 1883 and the youngest brother, Charles in 1886. Richard the eldest brother, born in 1877 became a captain in the 25th Battery Royal Field Artillery but was drowned in a yachting accident in the Portland Race in 1909.
Arthur attended AA Schools and Balliol College Oxford. In 1903 he was articled to the architect Thomas Edward Collcutt and from 1905 was his assistant. In 1909 he became the assistant to architect William Henry Harrison.
He then travelled to Italy and stayed a year, then to India where he qualified as an architect in 1913. His address in 1914 was the Central Hotel, Simla, India where his parents visited before the outbreak of the war
His death was first recorded in the Sussex Express on the 1st. March 1918. On 15th. March 1918 a full report amounting to many inches was written and I will extract from this.
This photograph was taken to commemorate the coronation of King Edward VI in 1901.
Back row. Mr. Arthur Peckham, Mr. P. Wyllie, Mr. Chapman, Mr. W. Gorringe, - - - - - and Mr. J. Taylor.
2ND. Row. Mr. Bertie Turner, Mrs. Peckham, Mr. Albert Turner and Sergt. Streeter.
Front row. Rev. H.J. Peckham, Mrs. W. Riley and Mr. C. Whitewood.
The following extracts from a letter written by his father appeared in the Parish News and was copied by the newspaper.
“ I take this opportunity of thanking you all most warmly on behalf of my wife and myself for your sympathy with us in our great sorrow.
Although our dear son was not born in Nutley, he was only a little more than a year when he came. It was the only home he ever knew and he was most warmly attached to it. There will be some who remember him as a child, as a schoolboy, have heard him read the lesson in church, and may know he designed and carried out the latest additions to the church.
A keen volunteer from his
boyhood at the outbreak of war he at once applied for a commission but the
Public Works Department under which he was serving would not sanction him
leaving until March 1915.
When he was gazetted 2nd. Lieutenant in the Indian Army Reserve of Officers and after a period of training with the Yorkshire Regiment, he joined the Infantry on the north west frontier of India. Christmas 1915 he was sent to Mesopotamia.”
He served in Mesopotamia until his death which occurred as a result of a throw from his horse.
In Nutley Church a tablet and memorial window commemorate his eldest son, Richard, whilst another memorial window his son, Arthur.
PENFOLD, JOHN BERRICK.
Private 2nd. Bn. Royal Sussex Regiment. SD/341.
Date of Death 18/09/1918 Age 27.
Commemoration Epehy Wood Farm Cemetery, France.
John was the elder son of Stephen and Catherine Betsy (nee Smith) Penfold. The 1901 census shows the family living at Sandpits. He had a younger brother, William and two sisters, Florence and Mabel.
John was baptised in 1892 and his father’s occupation was given as a labourer.
At the time of his death the family were living at Hole Farm, Nutley.
He was married but the only information I have is that Mrs. M.E.Penfold left Nutley after the war and lived at Havering, Limpsfield, Surrey.
The Sussex Express newspaper 3 November 1916 showed a photograph of him with the caption “wounded”.
There were no details and I could also find no report of his death.
Epehy village was captured at the beginning of April 1917 but was lost on 22 March 1918. It was retaken in the Battle of Epehy on 18 September 1918.
POPE, GEORGE.
Private 2nd. Bn. Royal Sussex Regiment. SD/5347.
Date of Death 09/09/1916 Age 23.
Commemoration Thiepval Memorial, France.
The 1901 census shows George living at Misbourne with his widowed mother, Harriet and brothers and sisters. The children were Edmund, Annie, George, Ethel and James.
From the book “Soldiers died in the Great War” he was born in Crowborough and enlisted in Uckfield.
I could find no more details until the newspaper revealed more.
The Sussex Express 29 September 1916 showed a photograph and some details.
He had enlisted in February 1916 and had only been in France for two months before he was killed. It said that he was well liked in the village and took an active role.
His mother had remarried and was now Mrs. A. Wickham living at Nether Farm, Nutley.
George was fighting in the battle of the Somme which began on 1 July 1916 with the heaviest losses ever and ended on 18th. September 1916, with the onset of winter.
No body was found and George is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
SAYERS, ARTHUR BARNET.
Private 13th. Bn. Royal Sussex Regiment. G/15974.
Date of Death 14/10/1916 Age 25.
Commemoration Euston Road Cemetery Colincamps, France.
Arthur was the third son of Charles and Harriett Sayers of Elm Cottage, Nutley. He had five sisters, Lizzie, Fanny, Emily, Edith and Constance, and three brothers, William, George and Albert. Edith died when she was twelve years old. Born on 27th. July 1891 he was baptised in Nutley Church, and his father’s occupation was given as a gardener
When Arthur left school he went to work as a grocer’s assistant in Whitewood Stores. He also delivered the newspapers. On 20th. May 1914 he married Maud Frances Yeomans. After their marriage the couple lived at the Homestead. (Cottages below Black Venn Farm close to Picketts Lane).
A son,Alfred was born in 1915.
Arthur went to France soon after the war began and was in the fierce fighting in the first battle of the Somme.
The Sussex Express newspaper 26th. October 1916 reported his death. It gave the family details, including that he had worked at Whitewood Stores for 11 years. A comrade had written to the family to tell that Arthur had been struck by a machine gun bullet which severed a main artery, and he had died within two minutes. A photograph was with the report.
The cemetery was started after the 1 July 1916 attack and initially contained 501 graves, but after the Armistice more than 750 graves were brought in from small cemeteries in the surrounding area. Maud later remarried.
STREETER, STANLEY WALTER.
Private 49th. Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) 132615.
Date of Death 16/10/1918 Age 23.
Commemoration Glageon Communal Cemetery Extension, France.
Stanley was the youngest son of James and Dinah (nee Sayers) Streeter of Old Forge Farm, Nutlley. He had two brothers, Frederick and William and they were all born at Pulborough. The Sayers family had moved to Nutley before 1880 and it would appear that James and Dinah lived with them at some time.
Stanley was the cousin of Arthur Barnet Sayers. Brother Frederick became the well known gardening broadcaster, first on radio and then on early television.
We have no idea how long Stanley was in France or where he served. Glageon village was in German occupation practically the whole of the war and there are over 300 graves in this site.
The War Graves Commission gave Littlemead, Nutley as the address of James and Dinah Streeter. This would probably have been in the twenties and possibly they were both working for the Champneys and living in. Old Forge Farm remained in family hands until after the second war.
TYLER, JESSE BENJAMIN.
Private 13th. Bn. Royal Sussex Regiment. G/8265.
Date of Death 26/09/1917 Age 27.
Commemoration Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.
Jesse was the son of Benjamin and Hannah Tyler of Chestnut Cottage, Dodds Bottom, Nutley. He had three brothers, William, George and Jacob who also enlisted.
He was married to Daisy (nee Walter) and they had three children. They lived at Sandhole, Dodds Bank, Nutley.
He enlisted in 1915 into the Royal Sussex Regiment and was sent to France. Wounded in 1916 he was sent back to England to a hospital in Birmingham. A newspaper report said that he was recovering well. He was sent back to the front in 1917.
The Sussex Express 12 October 1917 reported his death, followed by a fuller account on 2 November 1917.
A photograph accompanied the report which stated that a shell burst where he and a comrade were, and that they had been buried alive. No remains were found.
He left a widow and three children all under five.
Jesse was killed during the third battle of Ypres which began in June 1917 and ended in November 1917 with the capture of Paschendaele.
He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial alongside the names of almost 35,000 officers and men.
His widow later remarried.
WALLER, ALFRED.
Private 11th. Bn. Royal Sussex Regiment. SD/2129.
Date of Death 14/08/1917 Age unknown.
Commemoration Bus House Cemetery, Belgium.
From “Soldiers of the Great War” Alfred was born at Ditchling and enlisted at Bexhill. I could find nothing more from local records until a report of his death in the Sussex Express newspaper 7 September 1917.
The report stated that the family lived at Spring House, Dodds Bank, Nutley and after Alfred left school he worked at Wood’s Nursery, Fairwarp.
He had a brother in the Royal Field Artillery serving overseas, and his father was working at Maresfield camp. It did not say whether he was a soldier or a civilian.
A letter was published from his Commanding Officer commending his bravery, and a letter from the Church of England Chaplain had also been sent to his parents.
Alfred was killed in the third battle of Ypres and the cemetery contains the graves of soldiers killed between June and November 1917 plus five graves added later. There are 206 First World War burials, 12 of them unidentified.
WICKHAM, WILLIAM.
Private 4th. Bn. Royal Marine Light Infantry. PO/18806.
Date of Death 24/04/1918 Age 20.
Commemoration Nutley (St. James the Less) Churchyard.
William was the third son of Albert and Annie Wickham of Mount Pleasant, now renamed “Brackendale”. He had two sisters, Laura and Annie, and four brothers, Albert, Levi, Frank and Charlie. One younger child had died. He was baptised in 1897 in Nutley Church, his father’s occupation given as a bricklayer.The 1901 census gives the family living at Fords Green, his father a bricklayer, so they must have moved to Mount Pleasant after 1901. The children probably all went to the village school and nothing is known of William’s occupation.His brother Albert enlisted in the Royal Sussex Regiment and his brothers Levi, and Frank in the Royal Marines. By 1916 three brothers were at the front. Albert who had enlisted soon after the war had begun was wounded in 1916 and sent back to England to recover.
William was wounded in 1918 and also sent back to England to recover, but died of his wounds.
He is buried in Nutley churchyard.
NUTLEY MEN LOST, NOT ON OUR MEMORIAL.
FAULKNER, ERNEST.
Private 8th. Bn. Border Regiment. 15588.
Date of Death 05/07/1916.
Commemoration Thiepval Memorial, France.
Ernest was the son of Mrs. Faulkner of Misbourne, Nutley.
Information from “Soldiers Died in the Great War” list he was born in Fairwarp, enlisted in Longtown, Cumberland and resided in Uckfield.
He is listed on Fairwarp War Memorial and his regiment is given as Royal Sussex.
Information given after the war was not always correct.
I am fairly certain that the above details are of our man.
He was killed in the fierce fighting in the first Battle of the Somme and has no grave.
FAULKNER, WILLIAM.
Private 13th. Bn. Royal Sussex Regiment. SD/3108.
Date of Death 30/06/1916.
Commemoration Loos Memorial, France.
William, son of Mrs. Faulkner of Misbourne, Nutley died on the date which he was reported missing. A letter from his officer stated that he was a splendid soldier and was a great loss. He is listed on Fairwarp War Memorial.
LEWIS, GEORGE FREDERICK.
Private 8th. Bn. Royal Sussex Regiment G/2229.
Date of Death 22/10/1917 Age 32.
Commemoration Dozinghem Military Cemetery, Belgium.
George was the son of Mrs. Lucy Ridley of Whitehouse Farm. He had two sisters, Jessie and Annie and three half sisters, Grace, Julia and Frances.He enlisted at Lewes early in the war. In July 1916 he was wounded but returned to France in December 1916.The Sussex Express newspaper 9 November 1917 reported his death. A letter was sent from his colonel to the family giving a report.
George died in the third Battle of Ypres and was buried at Dozinghem where there are 3,174 graves.
He is listed on Fairwarp War Memorial.
MAY, ERNEST WILLIAM.
Lance Corporal 9th. Bn. Royal Sussex Regiment. G/3753.
Date of Death 18/08/1916 Age 26.
Commemoration Thiepval Memorial, France.
Ernest was the son of Mr. and Mrs. H. May of Nutley.
I found this soldier when I was viewing the 35mm. films of the Sussex Express newspaper archives.
The newpaper 6 October 1916 contained an impressive report on the death of this soldier.
Death of a very brave soldier.
Lance Corporal Ernest May joined the colours at the beginning of the war and went to Chichester and Shoreham for training.
He was home on June 2nd. 1916 for seven days leave.
Back in the trenches, with a comrade he was taking a message to his colonel. In order to pass a wounded soldier he moved out of the trench and was shot in the chest. He told his comrade that he had been hit and died immediately.
Copies of four letters sent to his parents were written in the newspaper. These were from a lance corporal comrade, his sergeant, Lieutenant and Captain. All stated that he had been a very courageous soldier and was a great loss to the regiment.
His father was bailiff to Countess Muriel De La Warr at Old Lodge, Nutley.
His parents later moved to Bracknell, Berkshire.
ADDITIONAL NOTES FRON THE SUSSEX
EXPRESS NEWSPAPER
9th. June 1916
PRIVATE A. WICKHAM
News has been received that Pte. Albert Wickham of the Royal Sussex Regiment, who is one of three sons of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Wickham of Mount Pleasant has received a gun shot wound in the shoulder. He was sent to England and was making good progress in spite of the fact that a bullet is left in one of his lungs. With his two brothers, Levi and William, he joined up soon after the war began and has seen a good deal of active service.
23rd. June 1916
SHELLSHOCK NUTLEY
It is reported that Private Albert Mitchell, grandson of Mrs. R. Mitchell of Fords Green has been hospitalised in London with shellshock. He had been in France for two months. Private Fred Mitchell of the 23rd. Middlesex Regiment, Private John Mitchell of the 11th. Royal Sussex Regiment and Private Frank Mitchell of the 10th. Royal Sussex Regiment are all fighting in France.
11th. August 1916
NUTLEY BROTHERS LOST
Mrs. Faulkner of Misbourne has been notified that her son Private E. Faulkner has been killed and that since the 30th. June 1916 her other son, Private W. Faulkner has been missing.
18th. August 1916
SUSSEX REGIMENT
Private W. Wheatley is reported wounded on 4th. August 1916. He joined up in March 1915 and as a postman in Nutley was a familiar sight on his bicycle between Nutley and Chelwood Gate.
26th. October 1916
Private W.E. Baker, son of Mrs. Porter of Forest Bank, Nutley has been wounded twice.
NUTLEY SOLDIERS WOUNDED
Private John B. Penfold and Private G.F. Lewis are wounded.
24th. November 1916
Private A. Constable is reported wounded.
11th. May 1917
Private H. Francis, eldest son of Mr. A. Francis, photographer of Nutley is missing. A Royal Fusilier, previously with the Royal Sussex Regiment he volunteered in 1914, but was rejected as below standard. He was accepted at the third attempt. A letter from his colonel stated that he had been missing since 14th. April 1917 along with his officer and several men. He hoped that they had been taken prisoner and were safe.
29th. June 1917
D.C.M. AWARD
Sergeant C. G. Kenward of the Royal Sussex Regiment, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. G. Kenward of Nutley has been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. His brothers, V. J. Kenward, R.A.M.C. and W. A. Kenward, driver are both at the front.
13 July 1917
Private A. J. Wickham, son of Mrs. J. Wickham of Forest Bank, Nutley has been wounded.
5th. April 1918
Private C. Walter, son of Mr. Fred Walter of Dodds Bottom, Nutley has been wounded.
MEN OF NUTLEY WHO RETURNED
SAYERS, WILLIAM CHARLES.
Private South Staffordshire Regiment.
William was the eldest
son of Charles and Harriett Sayers of Elm Cottage, Nutley. He was born
in 1887 and had three brothers, George, Arthur and Albert and five
sisters, Lizzie, Fanny, Emily, Edith and Constance. Edith died when she was
twelve years old.
The 1901 census gives William’s occupation as postboy aged thirteen. In 1909 he married Emily Elizabeth Kennard. She died in childbirth in 1912 with her second child, Dorothy, the first born was a son, William. In 1914 he remarried Ellen Selena Yeomans. A son, Charles was born in 1916.
William enlisted early in the war as did his brothers, George and Arthur. Arthur was killed in 1916 on the Somme. In 1918 William was shot in the head, trying to take out a machine gun post. The bullet remained in his head because it was too dangerous to operate. His brother George was also wounded.
William and Ellen had three more sons, Arthur, Frank and Ray.
The family lived in Butt Cottage until 1929 when they moved to Courtlands.
He remained a postman in Nutley for fifty one years including his war service.
Gardening was a great love and he was involved with church activities.
He died in 1973.
Remembered by his son Charles Sayers.
WALTER, CHARLES EDWARD.
Private Royal Sussex Regiment.
Charles was the son of Fred and Annie (nee Stevenson) of Lavender Cottage, Nutley. He had brothers, George, Alfred and Ernest, and sisters, Kate, Daisy and Minnie. He was born in 1893. He enlisted at the outbreak of the war and met his future wife, Gladys Marks at Bexhill while serving in the army. She was from Wiltshire and was in service at Bexhill. They married in 1917 and she remained in service while Charles was fighting overseas.
Brothers, George and Alfred were also fighting in France and his brother in law Jesse Tyler who was killed. In March 1918 Charles was wounded. He had shrapnel remaining in his body all his life. After the war he and Gladys set up home in Holly Cottage where they kept a cow on the forest, and chickens, and were self sufficient in vegetables. In 1920 a son Charles was born, followed by James, Cyril, Betty and Annie.
He was a labourer for bricklayers and also was self employed digging sandstone on the forest above Misbourne Farm in the 1930’s. He helped to build The William IVth. Public House (Nutley Arms) in the late twenties. His youngest daughter was born on the day that it opened so he had good cause to celebrate. His wife was not pleased at his state when he returned home.
During the second war he was in the Auxiliary Fire Service. His daughter Betty married in 1950 and she and husband Stan lived with her parents for a few years. In retirement Charles kept busy with his garden and enjoyed a drink with his friends. He died in 1977.
Remembered by his daughter Betty Constable.
WICKHAM, ALBERT.
Private Royal Sussex Regiment.
Albert was the eldest son of Albert and Annie Wickham of Mount Pleasant, Nutley. He was born in 1892 and had four brothers and two sisters. He worked as a gardener after he left school and in 1913 married Daisy Mary Hills in Danehill Church. The couple lived in Court House Cottage, School Lane, with Albert employed as gardener to the Court House. A daughter, Doris was born in 1914 and soon after war was declared Albert enlisted. His brothers, Levi, William and Frank followed, all enlisting in the Royal Marines.
Daisy and Doris continued to live in Court House Cottage. In June 1916 Albert was wounded and was sent back to England. He had gun shot wounds to the shoulder and a bullet left in one of his lungs. He was hospitalised in the north of England, making the journey to visit him with a young child very difficult. His brother William was wounded in 1918 and sent back to England, but died of his wounds, and is buried in Nutley churchyard.
After the war Albert continued to work at the Court House until he retired, and the family lived in the cottage until 1937, when a house “Chiltern” was built in part of a field along the Crowborough Road, given to them by Albert’s father. In 1944 Doris married and until 1950 lived with her husband and son at the family home. Albert’s love of gardening continued around his home. He grew lots of vegetables, raspberries and strawberries which the East Sussex Growers collected and took to market. Albert was content with life on the edge of the forest and did not stray far.
He died suddenly at home in 1971.
Remembered by his daughter Doris Penfold.
MEMORIALS
COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSION
Established by Royal Charter in 1917, the then Imperial War Graves Commission was created to carry on essential work of maintaining the graves of soldiers who fought and died in World War One. Also for the care of graves in future wars and conflicts.
It’s other fundamental task is to maintain the many memorials and monuments, and for providing records and registers of the burials and commemorations.
THE THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
The Thiepval Memorial, the largest built by the Commission, commemorates more than 72,000 men who died in the Somme Sector up to 23rd. March 1918, 90 per cent of them from the 1916 battle.
The design by Sir Edwin Lutyens is a massive stepped arrangement of intersecting arches that culminate in a towering central arch 24 metres high. The sixteen piers are faced with Portland Stone on which the names of the dead are engraved.
It was dedicated by the Prince of Wales in 1932.
THE MENIN GATE
The Menin Gate was built on the site of the Medieval Hangoart Poorte, but there was no actual gate at the time of the Great War..
Through this cutting, the British troops marched to the front to defend the Salient.
The Salient bulged out of the straight front line to follow the rough semicircle of low ridges around Ypres.
The archway is the British Memorial to the missing, and it bears the names of 54,896 officers and men who died between 1914 and 15th August 1917.34,984 names of soldiers who had no known grave, and who fell between 16th. August 1917 and the Armistice, are carved on the panels of the Tyne Cot Memorial.
Each and every evening at 8 p.m. the Last Post is sounded by buglers of the fire brigade.
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
The village of Paschendaele gave it’s name to one of the most gruelling battles of the Great War. Many of those who died are buried in nearby Tyne Cot. Cemetery, the largest Commonwealth war cemetery in the world. The identical tombstones, hewn out of white Portland stone, the “Cross of Sacrifice”, built above the captured German bunker and the “Stone of Remembrance” are very impressive. The wall at the back contains the names of 34,957 missing soldiers who fell after 15th. August 1917.
LYSSENTHOEK CEMETERY
This cemetery is the largest of a great number of hospital cemeteries that emerged next to Casualty Clearing Stations.
Graves of the unidentified bear the inscription chosen by Rudyard Kipling “Known Unto God” He also suggested the wording inscribed on the Stone of Sacrifice, “Their Name Liveth for Evermore”.
DEAD MAN’S PENNY
These commemorative plaques, or medals were presented to the next of kin of the men and women who died in the 1914 - 1918 War.
The medal was commonly known as the dead mans penny.
They were manufactured from bronze gunmetal at the Woolwich Arsenal and measured approximately four and a half inches in diameter.
In addition to the medal the family received an illuminated scroll in full colour and a printed letter from Buckingham Palace bearing the King’s signature.
In 1916 the government realised that a memorial to the fallen should be given to the families.
A competition was announced in 1917, with a prize of £250 to the winner for a design of the commemorative plaque.
The winning designer was Edward Carter Preston (1885 - 1965), a medallist, sculptor from Liverpool.
Production began in 1919, the cost to be taken from German Repatriation money.
A total of 1,150,000 were issued for losses between 4 August 1914 and 10 January 1920.
Many were returned to the government because families thought that the medal was an insult to the honour of the families.
In memory of Arthur Barnet Sayers In memory of George Frederick Lewis
CONCLUSION
Very few local people remain who can recall memories of the war. Returning soldiers usually could not talk about what they had endured. My father in law, Jack Smith of Forest Row put up his age to fight with the Royal Sussex Regiment. He fought through the Somme and Ypres and lost many comrades. I first visited the battlefields in the early seventies and have regularly returned. If everyone saw the numbers of graves and memorials I am convinced that there would be no more wars. My father in law would not talk about the war until he was given a postcard showing the interior of St George’s Memorial Church at Ypres. He then said, “we lost our captain there”. He did not wish to return but kept the postcard by his chair until he died.
A Remembrance Day Service has been held in Nutley Church every year on the nearest Sunday to 11th. November. When the names of the fallen are read, give a thought to the short life which each man had.
Remember also when you are inside the Memorial Hall to look at the board with the soldier’s names on.
Information has been compiled from the following sources.
1. The War Graves Commission Registers.
2. The book “ Soldiers died in the Great War”. Researched by the War Graves Commission.
3. The Sussex Express Newspaper Archives.
4. The Observer Newspaper Archives.
5. The 1891 Census.
6. The 1901 Census.
7. The 1913 Electoral Roll.
8. Nutley Church Register of baptisms and marriages.
9. The Canadian War Archives.
10. Interviews with the few remaining relatives and local people.
My thanks to
Betty Constable Violet Rivers
Eileen Hawker Charles Sayers
Jim Hills Late Alice Tester
David T. Marchant George Whickham
Edie Moore Jennifer Wood
Eddie Moore Vivien Woods
Bill Nash
Doris Penfold
November 2007