Lest We Forget. The men of Turners Hill who gave their lives in the First World War

Lest We Forget The men of Turners Hill who gave their lives in the First World War

The tower is a memorial to the men of Turners Hill who gave their lives in the 1914 1918 War Forward The bell tower of St Leonard s church in Turners Hill is unusual in that it is also the war memorial for the village. The tablet, with the names of men inscribed upon it takes pride of place on the east wall of the tower, surrounded by a number of original wooden crosses. Not something anyone would easily miss and even less so if you happen to be, like me, a bell ringer at the Church. I am also an amateur historian, although my main interest the minor wars of the Victorian period. Knowing this, an elder member of the congregation (and also a bell ringer), suggested I research the names on the tablet. This is the result. The tower was completed sometime in 1924, nearly thirty years after the main structure and was always intended to be the village war memorial. In 1925 six Whitechapel-cast bells were hung in the belfry and the stone tablet listing those men from the village and its environs who died during the 1914-1918 war was also laid. Thankfully a great deal of effort in the United Kingdom has already been carried out on these war dead so for me it was merely finding the location of so much that has already been recorded. A good deal of information is recorded on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission web site and I am indebted to the historians of the Roll of Honour website who have done much of the donkey-work of research and who publish their findings for no charge. All I have done is to merely collate evidence and information from these web sites, anecdotal evidence and what can be found in the available regimental records into this single document. I believe it is vitally important to record this information, especially as there are no known combatants still alive from this period and so few alive who have any memory at all of that war those who are would have been very young children. I have been fortunate never to have been called to serve my country in time of war. But my father, grandfathers and many of their brothers were and some of those young men never returned. It is impossible for many of us to comprehend the trauma that any soldier, sailor or airman faces in time of conflict and very probably for the rest of their lives. We can only be thankful that such men and women are prepared to give their lives that we may live in peace and freedom. We owe them everything. The following pages just offer a glimpse of the men listed. In time, more research might be done.

Andrew Denley Selsfield Common October 2010

The British Army 1914 1918 Glossary of terms Ranks Rank Private Sapper Trooper Gunner Guardsman Branch of Army Infantry Royal engineers Cavalry Royal Artillery Brigade of Guards Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO s) Lance Corporal Infantry Lance Bombardier Royal Artillery (equivalent to Lance Corporal) Corporal Infantry Bombardier Royal Artillery (equivalent to Corporal) Sergeant Company Sergeant Major Regimental Sergeant Major Commissioned Officer Ranks Second Lieutenant or Subaltern Lieutenant Captain Major Lieutenant Colonel Colonel Brigadier General Major General Lieutenant General General Field Marshal Brevet Platoon Company Battalion Regiment Brigade Division In effect a warrant allowing an officer to hold the next senior rank but without the pay or formal commission usually in recognition of field service. A man holding a captain s commission might be temporarily promoted to Brevet Major. Sixteen to twenty men usually commanded by a Lieutenant Eighty to two hundred men commanded by a captain Between 300 and 1300 men formed of between two and seven companies typically commanded by a Major or Lieutenant Colonel Between five and seven battalions commanded usually by a Colonel Typically comprising between two to five regiments commanded by a Brigadier General Two or more Brigades

Introduction When Britain declared war on Germany on August 4 th 1914, there wasn t a mad rush to join up but there was an orderly queue! The lessons of the Boer War were seemingly forgotten and men were eager to join the ranks. War didn t come as a surprise; there had a been a steady arms-race between Britain and Germany for years, the Kaiser steadily increasing the size of the Imperial German Navy and the British designing and launching the huge Dreadnought class of battleship the fastest and most powerful in the world. Events in Sarajevo and the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand seemed to be the final catalyst. As a result of the assassination, Austria declared war on Serbia (the assassin was Serbian), the Russians raced to the defence of the Serbs, so Germany declares war on Russia and even though they had nothing against them, also declares war on France and Belgium. In defence of Belgium, Britain declares war on Germany and because Germany refuses to withdraw its fleet from the Far East, Japan also declares war on Germany and since so many of these super-powers had been amassing empires over the years, the colonies were also drawn in. In a matter of weeks, the entire world was at war! In 1914 the British army was still relatively small, a mere twelve thousand men. At the declaration of war against Germany on August 4 th, thousands of men, young and old, raced to join up. They truly believed it would all be over in a few weeks and this was their chance to give the Bosch a bloody nose. But the German army was powerful, well equipped, well-trained and big. It would not be the Germans getting a bloody nose! At the start of the war there were indeed so many volunteers that the army didn t know what to do with them! Many men kissed their wives goodbye to go off and fight only to return the next day with instructions to wait until called. The problems of the army commanders escalated; they had to find accommodation, weapons, uniforms and the men had to be trained. But by whom? The majority of the experienced NCO s were now in France with the British Expeditionary Force. Very soon any man with any sort of military service was being called to help in training. Eager young men were being trained by old men boasting service in the Sudan, India and South Africa. New recruits with service in the Church Lads Brigade and Boy Scouts were being promoted to corporal as they at least knew how to march! Lord Kitchener s campaign for this new army was escalating and he initiated a scheme whereby men who worked together would serve together. Very soon (and especially in the North of England) Pals battalions were being formed. In the South, existing regiments were seeing more and more battalions added to the numbers and given new colloquial names that made the men feel more at home. For example, the Royal Sussex Regiment 12 th battalion became the 2 nd South Downs. A number of men form Turners Hill served in this battalion. In the city an entire battalion of the London Rifle Brigade was made up of stockbrokers, the majority of whom joined up on the same day!

Very soon, these existing regiments were full and men were seeking other regiments further afield to join. Within a couple of years, however, regiments were literally fighting to the last man and those who survived were drafted into less depleted regiments. By 1915, the British Expeditionary Force, comprising the regular or standing army of the day and the fledgling Royal Flying Corps, had suffered ignominious defeats at the hands of the well-equipped, well-trained and highly efficient German army and were well and truly entrenched. The war of attrition had begun and months of comparative inactivity were to follow. By 1916, Lord Kitchener was dead drowned after the ship he was travelling in (HMS Hampshire), was sunk by a mine near the Orkney Islands. General French had stood down in favour of General Haig, the French were under dreadful and consistent attack from the Germans at Verdun and the eager young men who had marched away from their villages were now highlytrained soldiers and waiting for the big push the Battle of the Somme. For those who survived, their lives were about to change forever.

The men of Turners Hill and the surrounding area who gave their lives so that we should live in Freedom. Robert E Atkins There are insufficient records to positively identify Robert. He may have private 31162 serving with the 1 st Battalion Northamptonshire regiment, killed in action on July 13 th 1917 and is buried in Grave IV F 6, Larch wood (Railway Cutting) Cemetery. Larch wood (Railway Cutting) Cemetery. Or he may have been Rifleman S23078th (service) Battalion Rifle Brigade, killed in Action16th September 1917 and is buried in Grave I Y 28, Trois Arbres cemetery Steenwerk. We do know that our Robert Atkins served in the Labour Corps ( Infantry regiment s had their own Pioneer Corps known as he Labour Corps) and he lived at Thornhill Cottages. Trois Arbres cemetery

Charles Herbert Avis Private G/11120 7 th Battalion Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment. Known by his second name, Herbert, he was born about 1882 in Fletching, East Sussex and was the son of Charles and Annie Avis. In 1881 the family were living in Sainters Cottage, Fletching but by 1901, the family were recorded as living in Horsted Keynes. Herbert was married to Jessie Beatrice Kate and lived at Withypitts in Turners Hill. He enlisted into the 7 th Battalion Queens Own Royal west Kent Regiment at Croydon. Herbert died of wounds on 11 th August 1917 and is buried in Grave XVII J 17 A in Lijssenhoek military cemetery in Belgium. A letter to Jessie from the Army Chaplain reads I deeply regret to say that your husband, Private C Avis, died here of wounds in the head and legs at 9.50 am on August 11th. He was only with us a day and never really got over the great shock over his wounds. The village of Lijssenthoek was situated on the main communication line between the Allied military bases in the rear and the Ypres battlefields. Close to the Front, but out of the extreme range of most German field artillery, it became a natural place to establish casualty clearing stations. The cemetery was first used by the French 15th Hopital D'Evacuation and in June 1915, it began to be used by casualty clearing stations of the Commonwealth forces. From April to August 1918, the casualty clearing stations fell back before the German advance and field ambulances (including a French ambulance) took their places. The cemetery contains 9,901 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, 24 being unidentified. Some soldiers of the 7 th Battalion Royal West Kents at Tonbridge

George Baker Private 49183 2/10th (County of London) Bn (Hackney) London Rifle Brigade. George was born in Turners Hill about 1899. He was the son of Charles John Baker and his wife Emily. Charles was a House Painter from East Grinstead and Emily was from Turners Hill. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records them as living at 4, Mantlemas Cottages. George died on 24th August 1918 but his body was not found for burial. He is commemorated on Panel 10 of the Vis en Artois Memorial. Vis-en-Artois and Haucourt are villages on the straight main road from Arras to Cambrai about 10 kilometres south-east of Arras. The Memorial is the back drop to the Vis-en-Artois British Cemetery, which is west of Haucourt on the north side of the main road. Vis en Artois Memorial Arthur Beck Guardsman 13356, 13th Company, Coldstream Guards. Arthur was born in Worth about 1894, the son of John William and Alice Beck. John was a Farm Labourer from Brighton and his wife was from West Hoathly. In 1901 the family was living in West Hoathly and young Arthur was a member of the Turners Hill Scout Troop. In 1914 Charles was 20 and soon after the outbreak of war enlisted into the Coldstream Guards at Horsham. Arthur never saw active service as he died in the United Kingdom on 7th May 1915, while still under training, and is buried in the churchyard at St Leonard s, Turners Hill. Training in 1915 would have been undertaken with live ammunition and sharpened bayonets fatal accidents were not uncommon. Arthur is buried in the Churchyard at St Leonard s and his grave is marked by a commonwealth war graves stone tablet bearing his regiment and service number.

The stone is under a tree and very close to the hedge adjoining the vicarage, also, the inscription faces away from the graveyard it almost seems to be placed so that only the family would know where he is. Harold Reginald Billings Driver 136783 71st Field Company, Royal Engineers. Harold was born in West Hoathly about 1896, the son of Thomas William and Clara Billings. Harold s father, Thomas was a bricklayer from West Hoathly and this is where the family were living in 1901. By 1915 the family were at 2, Holly Cottage, Withypitts, Turners Hill. Harold was killed in action on 28th July 1917 and is buried in Grave XIV G 4 in Amara War Cemetery. His brother Percy (see below) was also killed in the war. Percy Billings Private G/31443 7th (Service) Bn, Queen s Own Royal West Kent Regiment. Percy was killed in action on 4th November 1918, just one week before the war finished and is buried in Grave III B 18 in Montay-Neuvilly Road Cemetery, Montay, France. Percy enlisted at Wood Green, London and initially served with the Middlesex Regiment, service Number 61306. Harold Bishop Private G/22653 12th (Service) Battalion (2nd South Down), Royal Sussex Regiment. Harold was born in the parish of Worth about 1884, the son of Joseph and Kate Bishop. Harold was the village grocer and baker following in his father s footsteps. Harold enlisted in Turners Hill and was killed in action on 21st January 1918. His remains were not traced for burial and he is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial. Harold s father, Joseph, was from Yapton, near Littlehampton and appears as the grocer at Turners Hill in the 1881 census, together with his first wife, Harriet Hartley. Joseph Bishop died in 1912.

12 th Battalion (2 nd South Downs) Royal Sussex Regiment Jack Leslie Easton Second Lieutenant, 227 Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Known as Leslie, he was born about 1884 in Hawkhurst, Kent and was the second child and eldest son of Joseph and Alma Easton recorded as living In Tunbridge Wells. By 1901 the family had moved to Turner s Hill where Joseph was the local Butcher. Leslie was married and lived with his wife Mabel Helena at 6, Church Avenue, Westham near Pevensey. He was killed in action on 21st March 1918 and his body was not found for burial. He is commemorated on Panel 10 of the Pozieres Memorial. The POZIERES MEMORIAL relates to the period of crisis in March and April 1918 when the Allied Fifth Army was driven back by overwhelming numbers across the former Somme battlefields, and the months that followed before the Advance to Victory which began on 8 th August 1918.

Fred Edwards The Commonwealth war Graves Commission lists 57 Fred or Frederick Edwards and innumerable F Edwards but none of these names can be positively identified as being from Turners Hill. George Ellis Sapper 556568 212th Field Company (Tottenham), Royal Engineers. George was born about 1878 at Selsfield Common, just south of Turners Hill. However, by 18881 he is recorded as living with his mother, Ann, at the house of her brother in law, William Wheatley in Farnborough, Kent. By 1901 (aged 20) George was a Bricklayer living in West Hoathly and married to Eleanor Ellis of Ivy Cottage, Turners Hill. George died on 5th September 1917 and is buried in Grave II C 5 in Birr Cross Roads Cemetery, two miles east of Ypres. Birr Cross Roads Cemetery Frank Enticknapp Private L/7908 2nd Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment. Frank was born in West Hoathly about 1884, the son of Frederick and Sarah Enticknapp. Frederick was a general labourer, born in Midhurst and the family lived at Mill Cottage on Selsfield Common. Frank is listed in the 1911 census as a reservist which accounts for him being on active service and killed so early in the war. The Enticknapp family was quite large and the siblings comprised: Pricilla Charlotte, Frederick George, Frank, Alfred Henry, Emily and Ethel; Frederick George was two years older than Frank and served with the 10 th Royal West Surrey s. Frank was killed, aged 30, in September 1914 by artillery fire during the retreat to the Aisne on 10th September 1914 and is buried in Montreuil-Aux-Lions British Cemetery.

Montreuil-Aux-Lions British Cemetery The cemetery was made after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of the Aisne. It contains 171 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. One hundred and two of the burials are unidentified, but there are special memorials to 16 casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Charlie Fieldwick Private G/17825 12th (Service) Battalion (2nd South Down) Royal Sussex Regiment. Charlie was born in Turners Hill about 1897, the fourth child, of William and Florence Fieldwick. William was a house decorator and also built their house - Little Miswells. Charlie was killed during an attack on Mesnil on the 3rd September 1916 and is buried in Hamel Military Cemetery at Beaumont Hamel on the Somme. He is one of twenty members of the Regiment buried here. Beaumont village was captured by British troops in November, 1916, but Hamel was in British occupation from the summer of 1915, until the 27th March, 1918. Hamel Military Cemetery was begun by fighting units and Field Ambulances in August 1915, and carried on until June 1917. A few further burials were made in Plot II, Row F, after the capture of the village in 1918. It was known at times by the names of "Brook Street Trench" and "White City

Hamel Military Cemetery Frank Filtness Private, G/13455 B Co 9th (Service) Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment. Frank was born in East Grinstead about 1897, the youngest son of Edward and Ann Filtness. Edward was a stockman at Home Farm, Rowfant and was listed in 1916 as living with his family at Home Farm Buildings, Rowfant, Turners Hill. Frank was killed in action on 6th April 1918 and is buried in Grave II D 17 in Bouzincourt Ridge Cemetery, Albert. Frank s parents are buried in St Leonard s Churchyard, Turners Hill. Bouzincourt remained partly in German hands after the battles of March 1918. The eastern end of the village was attacked by the 12th and 18th Divisions at the end of June 1918, and cleared in the latter half of August. In the first week of September, Plot I of Bouzincourt Ridge Cemetery was made by the V Corps Burial Officer, who cleared the battlefields and the remaining Plots were formed after the Armistice when 500 graves were brought in from the immediate neighbourhood

Bouzincourt Ridge Cemetery Harrison Henry Fisher Private G/16531 9th (Service) Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment. Harrison was born about 1895 in Frilsham, Berkshire. This is a village on the Berkshire Downs. He was the son of George and Susannah Fisher who were from the nearby village of Yattendon. Harrison was the youngest of five children and in 1901 the family was living in Frilsham where George was an Electrical Engine Driver. At the time of enlisting, Harrison was living at Bramble Hill Harrison was killed in action on 11th June 1917 and his remains were not found for burial. He is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres. Harrison enlisted into the 9th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment at East Grinstead, initially with the service number 4423. We don t know why Harrison is listed on the St

Leonard s memorial; it is possible that he was living in Tuners Hill at the time of his enlistment. He may even have been married. Sidney Vivers Gibson Private, 208192nd Battalion Grenadier Guards Sidney was born in Turners Hill about 1889, the son of Thomas Vivers Gibson, a Carpenter from Scotland and his wife Emma. The family lived as Rock Cottage, now Central Stores Sidney died of wounds on 26th September 1916 and is buried in Grave I E 27 in Grove Town Cemetery, Meaulte. Sidney is one of 65 members of the Regiment buried here. He was killed during the Battle of Morval, being shot through the chest. After Sidney s death Thomas and Emma moved to Crawley Down where the Commonwealth War Graves Commission records them at Applecote. Grove Town Cemetery, Meaulte Sydney Harold Graham Rifleman 3734 9th (County of London) Battalion London Regiment (Queen Victoria s Rifles) Sydney was born in Salford, Manchester about 1897. He was the son of C T Graham, the landlord of the Punch Bowl Inn (now Tirana s Indian Restaurant) on the Selsfield Road. Sydney was captured on the Western Front and died of wounds when a Prisoner of War on 6th July 1916. He is buried in Grave IV A 3 in Le Cateau Military Cemetery in France.

Le Cateau and the country to the west was the scene of the battle fought by II Corps on 26 August 1914 against a greatly superior German force. The town remained in German hands from that date until the evening of 10 October 1918, when it was rushed by the 5th Connaught Rangers, but not cleared until a week later. Le Cateau had been a German railhead and an important hospital centre, and the military cemetery was laid out in February 1916, with separate plots for the Commonwealth and German dead. It also contains the graves of over 5,000 German soldiers Le Cateau Military Cemetery Albert Edward Holman Private, SD/680 11th (Service) Battalion (1st South Down), Royal Sussex Regiment. Albert was born in the parish of Worth about 1893. He was the son of John and Matilda Holman. Willett s Directory for 1916 lists John as a Gamekeeper, living at Mount Noddy near Worth Abbey School. Albert was killed during an attack on Beaumont Hamel on 3rd September 1916 but his body was not found for burial. He is commemorated on Pier and Face 7C of the Thiepval Memorial, in the Somme region of France. He is recorded on the War Memorials at Worth and Turners Hill.

Some members of the 11 th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment George Edward Holman Private, 12054 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards Edward was born in the parish of Worth and may have been recorded on the 1901 census as George as there is an Edward Holman aged 38 who may have been his father. The War Memorial lists him as George E Holman, the Commonwealth war Graves Commission lists him as Edward George Holman. The 1901 census records Edward (Snr) as a Bricklayer working with his son, George, then aged 15. George was killed in action on 8th October 1915 and his body was not found for burial He is commemorated on Panel 7 and 8 of the Loos Memorial William Henry Holman Trooper, 39 th (Mounted) Household Battalion. William was born in Turners Hill about 1896. His parents were Henry and Mary Holman. Henry was the landlord of the Red Lion in Lion Lane, Turners Hill from 1895 until his death in December 1940 at the age of 85. William was the husband of Louise Holman of Parmeria Place, Turners Hill and was residing in Turners Hill when he enlisted into the Royal Horse Guards, at Horsham with the service number 2617. He was killed in action on 11th May 1917 and is buried in Grave C 18 in Roeux British Cemetery

Roeux British Cemetery Francis Geoffrey Pearson Staff Sergeant, MS/2921 64th Company, 3rd Ammunition Park, Army Service Corps. It is believed that he was killed while on 6th September 1914 whilst attempting to escape having been taken Prisoner of War. The Honourable Francis Geoffrey Pearson, known as Geoffrey was born on 23rd August 1891 in Kensington. He was the youngest of the three sons (and also one daughter) of Sir Weetman Dickinson Pearson, Bt., 1st Viscount Cowdray & his wife Annie who owned Paddockhurst Park, now Worth Abbey School. Geoffrey is buried in Montreuil Aux Lions British Cemetery and is also recorded on the Colchester War Memorial James R Pollard Private, G/51063 16th (Service) Battalion (Public Schools), The Duke of Cambridge s Own (Middlesex Regiment). James was born in Turners Hill about 1878, the son of James and Mary Pollard. He died of wounds on 14th April 1917 and is buried in Grave VI G 45 in Faubourg D Amiens Cemetery, Arras. James is one of 33 members of the Regiment buried here.

Faubourg D Amiens Cemetery William Godfrey Rapley Second Lieutenant, 1st Battalion The Duke of Cambridge s Own (Middlesex Regiment). Born in Crawley Down about 1894 the son of Edwin and Leonora Dorse Rapley. Edwin was a Domestic Gardener and later a Grocer. William was seriously wounded on the battlefield & died on 25th September 1917 and was buried in St Julien Dressing Station Cemetery. St Julien Dressing Station Cemetery

Charles Joseph Rice Private, G/21004 6th (Service) Battalion, East Kent Regiment (The Buffs) Charles was born in Four Elms, Kent about 1898. He was the son of George and Alice Rice. George was from Holmwood, just south of Dorking. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission notes Charles as living with his wife at Fen Place, Turners Hill. Between 1902 and 1919 this was the home of William Middleton Campbell, Governor of the Bank of England. We can only assume that Charles and his wife were in domestic service. Charles was killed in action on 9th August 1917 but his remains were not found for burial. He is commemorated on Bay 2 of the Arras Memorial. Thomas John Robus Sapper 57279 106th Field Company, Royal Engineers. Thomas was a casualty with seemingly little to do with the village. He was born in Lydd, Kent in February 1881 and was the son of William and Elizabeth Robus. William and Elizabeth s eldest son was Frederick and the Willets local directory for 1916 lists a Frederick Robus as a Carpenter in Lion Lane, Turner s Hill. However, it is noted that Thomas gave his place of residence as Maidstone (his parents lived at 12, Bower Lane Maidstone), but enlisted at Haywards Heath. He was killed in action on 5th April 1917 and is buried in Grave II C 13 in St Quentin Cabaret Military Cemetery St Quentin Cabaret Military Cemetery

Leonard Scutt Private SD/5270 13th (Service) Battalion, (3rd South Downs) Royal Sussex Regiment. Leonard was born in Cowfold, south of Horsham, about 1895 the only son of Leonard and Alice Scutt. The family lived in East St, Turner s Hill where Edward Snr was employed as a gardener. Leonard was killed by shelling at Schwaben Redoubt on 21st October 1916 but his remains were not found for burial. He is commemorated on Pier and Face 7C of the Thiepval Memorial. William Edward Simmonds Private, 11619 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards William Edward was born in Worth about 1890. He was the son of William and Emily Simmonds. By 1901 the family were living at 1, Thornhill Cottages West Hoathly with William Snr working as a Quarryman. William Edward was killed in action on 29th September 1915 but his remains were not found for burial. He is commemorated on Panel 7 and 8 of the Loos Memorial Alfred James Slight Private 12053 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards Alfred James was born in Ore, near Hastings, about 1891. He was the son of Alfred George and Ann Slight. The elder Alfred was a Police Constable and by 1901 was stationed at Worth with his wife and family. Before enlisting Alfred was employed as a Labourer, living at Ivy Cottages, Turners Hill. He was killed in action on 25th January 1915 and is buried in Grave II C 15, Woburn Abbey Cemetery, Cuinchy. He is one of only 6 members of the Regiment to be buried here.

John Styles Private 41364 32nd (Service) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (East Ham) John was born in Balcombe in July 1880. He was the eldest son of George and Fanny Styles. George was a Carpenter from West Hoathly and by 1901 the family had moved to Worth where George was still working as a Carpenter. John does not appear in the 1901 census for the area and may already have been serving in the army. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission notes that by 1917 George and Fanny were living at 95 High St Turners Hill but as this does not exist, it was possibly East St. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission also notes that John s wife Beatrice Elizabeth lived at Red House, 5, North Lane in West Hoathly. John was killed in action on 22nd September 1917 and is buried in Grave VIII H 17 in Oosttaverne Wood Cemetery. Oosttaverne Wood Cemetery William Stevens As with Fred Edwards there are more than 70 William or W Stevens listed on the Commonwealth war Graves records but none can be positively identified as having originated from or having links with Turners Hill. Fred Tanner Private 20409 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards Fred was born in West Hoathly about 1890. He was the son of William and Eliza Tanner. William was from West Hoathly and the family was living at Turners Hill in 1881 where William was a Gardener and later in 1901 by which time he was a bricklayer and living at Withypitts, Turners Hill.

Fred was killed in action on 27th September 1915 but his remains were not found for burial. He is commemorated on Panel 5 to 7 of the Loos Memorial George Noble Ward Private 5760 2nd Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers. George was born in West Hoathly about 1896, the son of Thomas and Emily Ward. In 1901 they were recorded as living in West Hoathly when Thomas is a Groom and George was a member of the Turners Hill Scout Troop. By 1917, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission only lists Emily as a relative and was then living at 2, Chapel Row, West Hoathly. It is assumed that her husband Thomas may have died. Information written in 1924 regarding the War memorial at St Leonard s records George Ward and T ward both residing at Selsfield. George was killed during an attack on Void Farm on 10th November 1917 but his remains were not found for burial. He is commemorated on the Panel 143 to 144 of the Tyne Cot Memorial. Ernest Richard Whitman Gunner 156319 99th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Ernest was born in Worth about 1878. He was the son of Noah and Agnes Whitman. Noah was a carpenter and decorator as well as being the first verger and sexton at St Leonard s church in 1895 at the time of consecration. Ernest was married to Grace, formerly Grace Page, and they lived at 2, East St, Turners Hill. Ernest died after being badly gassed on the 1st July 1918 and is buried in Aire Communal Cemetery, France. His original wooden Imperial (now Commonwealth) War Graves Commission cross has been brought home from France and resides in St Leonard s church. Aire Communal Cemetery

Herbert Maurice Wightwick Private, 13691 5th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Saskatchewan Regiment). Herbert was born in Hastings on 27th August 1885. In 1901 he was living with his mother, Emily, in Tonbridge where he was at school. However Herbert later emigrated to Canada and his attestation papers for the Canadian army in September 1914 note his next of kin was Joseph Easton of Turners Hill, Joseph was the local butcher. The attestation also notes he was single and a clerk; was 5 9 tall with brown hair and blue eyes. He died on May 5th 1915 and is buried in Grave VI C 2 in Duhallow A D S (Advanced Dressing Station) Cemetery.

The Attestation papers of Herbert Wightwick

The following are not listed on the War memorial but are noted within St Leonard s Church. Colin Napier Buchannan Dunlop Major F Battery, Royal Horse Artillery. Colin was the brother of the Vicar at St Leonard s during the Great War. He was born in Aldershot, Hampshire in 1877. He was the third child and second son of Henry Donald and Sabina Buchanan-Dunlop of Dunbartonshire. Henry was a Captain (later Lieutenant Colonel) in the Royal Artillery. There were two other sons, Archibald and Henry who served as army officers. Colin joined the Royal Artillery and served in South Africa during the Boer War. He was promoted to Lieutenant in September 1899 and to Captain on 27th February 1902 while recovering from Typhoid and given a brevet promotion to Major the next day in recognition of his services as reported in the London Gazette of May 1902. In 1912 he attended Staff College and the following March was seconded for service with the Egyptian army. His promotion to Major was announced in November 1913. Colin served with the Royal Field Artillery in France during the early part of the Great War. In June 1915 Colin was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. He was killed by a German shell that exploded in his billet on 14th October 1915 and is buried in Grave I G 12 in Vermelles British Cemetery. The cross from his original burial is in St Leonard s Church Vermelles was in German hands from the middle of October 1914 to the beginning of December 1914, when it was recaptured by the French. The cemetery was begun in August 1915 (though a few graves are slightly earlier), and during the Battle of Loos, when the Chateau was used as a dressing station, Plot I was completed. It was laid out and fenced by the Pioneers of the 1st Gloucester s, and known for a long time as "Gloucester Graveyard".

Hurdis Lalande Ravenshaw The Ravenshaw family were prominent in the Bengal Civil Service and Indian Army with connections to the East India Company. The family lived in Turner s Hill for over 60 years. Hurdis was born at Richmond on 16th June 1869 the son of John Hurdis Ravenshaw and Harriet Lalande Biggs. His elder half-brother was Thomas Edward Ravenshaw. Hurdis was commissioned into the 3rd Battalion Bedfordshire (militia) Regt in 1887, transferring to the East Yorkshire Regt in December 1888 as a 2nd Lieutenant, promoted to Lieutenant in December the next year. In August 1890 he exchanged Regiments with & transferred to the Devonshire Regiment. He served on the North West Frontier of India in the Chitral, Malakand and Tirah campaigns between 1895 and 1898, being promoted Captain in March 1897. The regiment served in South Africa during the Boer War and took part in the Battle of Elandslaagte in 1899 and then the Siege of Ladysmith. He was mentioned five times in despatches during this war. He was promoted to Brevet Major and relinquished the position of Adjutant in December 1902. In May 1903 he was appointed Adjutant of the then Royal Military College. Four years later his promotion to Major was confirmed and he was seconded to the Macedonian Gendarmerie in Greece. In March 1910 he became a Deputy Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General in the Straits Settlements in Malaya until January 1912. On his return he served in the UK in the Coast Defences at Portsmouth in Southern Command in a similar capacity until March 1914. In July 1914 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel commanding the 2nd Battalion Connaught Rangers. The following May was appointed a Companion of St Michael and St George. The following January he was promoted to Brevet Colonel. He was then promoted to Temporary Major General and was commander of the 27th Division in Salonika from 23rd September 1916. However Brigadier General Weir became acting divisional commander from 30th September. Whilst on is way to England the ship on which he was sailing was torpedoed and sunk by and Austrian Submarine. Hurdis was picked up from the sea and spent the next two years in a prison camp near Hanover in Germany. In 1919 he was appointed to the Staff as a Temporary Brigadier General attached to Headquarter Units. In 1920 he travelled to Port Elizabeth in South Africa and on the 6 June was seen entering Addo Bush near the city but failed to return. A search party discovered his body two days later. It is believed that he died of a heart attack while on a Lion hunt. He was only 51. He is buried in South Africa and there is a memorial to him in St George s Cathedral, Cape Town

Those who returned More than three hundred men from Turners Hill and its environs enlisted to fight in this conflict this is a staggering one-third of the village population at the time. Sadly we do not know what happened to many of those men who returned, although we do know that a good many never recovered from the trauma of the fighting and were never quite the same again. I am indebted to Albert Constable and Colin Baker who have both taken the time to research their father s and extended family war service and provide me with some details. I spoke with a number of elderly residents of the village but the majority could not tell me much, it wasn t that they had forgotten but that their fathers or uncles simply wouldn t speak about their experiences. Colin Baker told me that he only knew some of his fathers and uncles services because he used to listen at the door of the parlour when the two men would smoke and reminisce. Frederick Arthur Whitman was the younger brother of Ernest served in the Black Watch. Another brother Richard John Whitman served in the Royal Navy. Both survived the war. Sydney Constable 1894 1961 Sydney Arthur Constable was born on April 28 th 1894 the eldest son of Albert and Lucy Constable. Albert was employed as a gamekeeper by the Paddockhurst estate and Sydney was born at Park House. Sydney left school at 14 and found employment with Alfred Rice, the coachbuilders in East Grinstead and whilst working here he lodged at The Birches in Felbridge. Sydney joined the army on 14 th January 1913 at the age of 18 years and 3 months. Being passed fit for service he entered the 4 th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment. He was soon posted to Aldershot for his basic training and at the outbreak of war in 1914 was serving with C (East Grinstead) company at which time the regiment was sent to Newhaven. In July 1915 the regiment was embarked on HMT Ulysees headed for Gallipoli. The regiment saw heavy fighting in July and August during which time Sydney was wounded. He was later transferred by ship to Cairo where he entered hospital. Leaving hospital he was sent Alexandria where he awaited the remainder of the 53 rd division - i.e. The Queens, The Sussex, the Kent s and Middlesex regiments in December. During his period of recuperation, Sydney was promoted to Corporal for two days, then to Lance Sergeant and then Sergeant. Sydney was demobbed in 1920 and returned to his old job as a coach builder with Alfred Rice in East Grinstead where he worked until being offered a position as Building Foreman at Paddockhurst. We have a great deal of information on the life of Sydney Constable thanks to his son, Albert

Alfred Baker 12/11/1897 26/6/1972 Christened Alfred but known as Fred. Fred was one of ten surviving children of Charles and Emily Baker living at 4 Mantlemass Cottages in Turners Hill. He attended Turners Hill Village School in the early part of the 20 th century and was a member of Turners Hill Scouts (which was a very new organisation then). After leaving school, Fred worked in the village bakery and in 1914, aged 16 he volunteered for service in the Royal Artillery but was instead allocated to the Royal Army Medical Corps. We would not normally be eligible for overseas service until he was 18 so it is very likely that he lied about his age and the recruiting sergeant saw through this. He served throughout the war mainly in Belgium and France but on two occasions in England being based in Fleet and then at Beachy Head. He was demobbed in 1919 and was awarded the 1914-1918 War Medal, the 1914-1918 Victory Medal, the Mons Star and the Military Medal. The Military Medal as awarded for Gallantry in the Field to other ranks, that is, not officers. Unfortunately we don t know the citation for the medal. When Fred returned he worked as a painter and decorator and played football and cricket for the village. In 1927 he married Marie Blanch Langridge of Mount Pleasant, Whitypitts they married on St George s day and afterwards moved to Worthing where Fred continued to work for local firms as a painter and decorator. They had two sons, Colin and Barrie. Fred passed away at home in Worthing in 1972 and is buried in St Leonard s graveyard. Next to him now lies his wife, Marie who died in 1993 at the age of 94. Colin still visits Turners Hill regularly. During the Battle of Britain he stayed with his aunt in Turners Hill and even attended the school for a while. One of Fred s brothers, George was killed on the western front in 1918, aged 18. His body was not found for burial and instead George is commemorated on the Vis En Atois memorial near Arras and of course on the memorial at St Leonard s. Clement James Langridge 2/2/1889 4/1/1969 Marie Baker (nee Langridge) was one of 13 children living in Withypitts with their parents, Alfred and Mary Ann Langridge. Her elder brother, Clement James (known as Clem) worked as an apprentice gardener at one of the local estates, possibly Paddockhurst. Clem was born in 1889 and was 25 at the outbreak of war. He volunteered into the Royal West Kent s serving in Belgium and France. On demob, he took up gardening and rose to become head gardener on estates in Scotland and latterly at Stonehurst in Ardingly. In the late 1930 s he gave up gardening and became a tobacconist in Brighton but sold the business in 1940 and returned to live with his sister, Kate, at Withypitts. Kate had been widowed during the First World War. During WW2 he worked on Dunlop s farm opposite Withypitts. He died in 1969 and is buried next to his sister, Kate, in St Leonard s churchyard.

Postscript In the late1980 s I watched a series of BBC interviews with veterans. One particular chap recalled to the interviewer how his best mate had been shot and badly wounded during an attack and so he picked his friend up and carried him. After some time the wounded man cried out that the pain was too much for him to bear and begged to be let down. He made him as comfortable as possible and then made his own way back to the trenches. He then told the interviewer that he had felt bad about his actions for a long while after the war but eventually returned to the battle fields in France and was relieved to learn that his friend had been taken prisoner by the Germans and put into a field hospital where his wounds were dressed but that the man had died a few days later. The interviewer then asked the man how long he had waited to learn this news and he replied that he had found out in 1984. This poor man had carried this pain and guilt for nearly seventy years. In 1990 I was lucky enough to meet a veteran of the Royal Artillery who was on his way to visit the fields in which he had fought so many years previously. He had with him a wreath that he hoped to place at the spot where his gun was located when it was hit by a German shell and at which point many of the crew (his mates) were killed and when he was severely wounded. When I met him he was 98 years old and was convinced that he remembered exactly where the gun was positioned. I learned afterwards, from one of the men who had taken this party of veterans back to France that the old chap led them along a road eventually stopping by some trees. They got out of the car and the old chap then started walking back and to near this clump of trees and bushes eventually stopping and indicating that this was the spot. Removing their hats, the small party stood in silence whilst the wreath was placed alongside a broken down fence. At this point one of the party came upon some shell fragments in the mud, not unusual in France but surprising just the same. This led to some investigation about whether they were actually any gun emplacements there and if so what had happened. In due course the Commonwealth War Graves commission excavated the area and indeed found the remains of a heavy field gun and they also found battlefield grave. In the grave were six men of the Royal Artillery and each man had been laid to rest with his right arm extended and with the next man resting across that arm. When, in 2011, I gave my presentation to the people of Turners Hill on my research I thought it apt to title it Brothers In Arms During my research I learned that some of my own family had fought and were killed during this conflict. A great Uncle was killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme at a place called Beaumont Hammel and another great Uncle had been killed during the second Battle of Ypres. Both were found and both have marked graves. To date I have managed to visit just one of them.

The men of Turners Hill and district who served 1914 1918 (and returned) Arnold J Canadian Infantry Pvt Turners Hill Austin F 8 Royal Sussex Pvt Fen Place Awcock T 4 Royal Sussex Pvt Turners Hill Baker A Royal Army Medical Corps Pvt Turners Hill Baker Albert Horse Guards Trooper East Street Baker Arthur 19 Lancashire Fusiliers Trooper Turners Hill Baker G Royal Garrison Artillery Bmdr Turners Hill Beck F Coldstream Guards Pvt Turners Hill Beck w Royal Field Artillery Gnr Turners Hill Belst Isaac Royal Sussex Rgt Pvt Turners Hill Billings F 6 Royal West Kents Pvt Turners Hill Bird C 4 Royal Sussex Sgt Turners Hill Blaker B Army Service Corps Lieut Turners Hill Blaker C 2 Royal Sussex Rgt Lieut Turners Hill Bourne E E 4 East Kent Pvt Withypitts Bowen C Royal Field Artillery Gnr Turners Hill Brackpool Royal Field Artillery Gnr Turners Hill Brackpool A 25 Middlesex Rgt Pvt Turners Hill Brackpool F Royal Navy Rating Turners Hill Branch H Labour Corps Pvt Selsfield Budgen C E Royal Field Artillery Bmdr Withypitts Budgen E Royal Sussex Pvt Turners Hill Budgen F 12 Royal Lancers Trooper Turners Hill Budgen G 5 Royal Lancers Trooper Turners Hill Budgen George East Kents Pvt Turners Hill Budgen J 1 Royal Sussex Rgt Pvt Selsfield Common Budgen R Army Service Corps Pvt Withypitts Budgen Reg East Kents Pvt Turners Hill Budgen T Royal Marines Light Infantry Pvt Turners Hill Campbell E 4 Royal Sussex Lieut Fen Place Capon W 6 London Rgt Pvt Turners Hill Chalfield F Labour Corps Pvt East Street Chaplin G Royal West Surrey Pvt Quarry Cottage T.H Colhan A Royal Engineers Sapper Turners Hill Colhan G 13 Royal Sussex Rgt Pvt Turners Hill Colhan H W Army Service Corps Pvt Turners Hill Coltran, Arthur 5 Rifle Brigade Pvt Turners Hill Constable Sydney 4 Royal Sussex Sgt Mjr Turners Hill Covey A Royal Fusiliers Pvt Turners Hill Covey C D Royal Field Artillery Gnr Turners Hill Custer P? Lieut Selsfield Cottages Denman E 3 Royal Sussex Rgt Pvt Turners Hill Denman J Kings Shropshire Light Infantry Pvt Turners Hill Denman W Army Veterinary Corps Pvt Turners Hill Druce A F Surrey Yeomanry Pvt Selsfield Cottages

Dudman J Royal Navy Rating Park House Dunstall C Army Service Corps Pvt East Street Enticknapp A 10 Royal West Surrey Pvt Mill Cottage Selsfield Ethenington W Royal Sussex Rgt Pvt Turners Hill Evans A Royal Sussex Rgt Pvt Turners Hill Evans G I 2 Rifle Brigade Pvt Turners Hill Evans T Turners Hill Fieldwick A Royal Engineers Sapper Turners Hill Fieldwick F East Kents Pvt Turners Hill Fowler W Duke Cornwall s Light Infantry Pvt Turners Hill Francis S Army Service Corps Pvt Turners Hill Fuller W 4 Royal Sussex Pvt Paddockhurst Gackwell A Royal Field Artillery Gnr Fen Place Graham G Army Service Corps Pvt The Punch Bowl Hagell E S Royal Engineers Sapper Turners Hill Harman James Grenadier Guards Pvt East Street Harman Miles Royal Artillery Gnr East Street Harman W G 4 East Surrey Pvt East Street Heasman Ephraim 7 Royal Sussex Sgt Mjr East Street Heasman S 3 Suffolk Rgt Pvt Turners Hill Heasman A Royal Engineers Sapper Turners Hill Heatherington H Army Service Corps Pvt Turners Hill Holman R Royal Sussex Rgt Pvt Mount Noddy Hunt A 4 Royal Sussex Sgt East Street Hunt S 7 Royal Sussex Rgt Pvt Wyndham Croft King S Army Service Corps Pvt The Grove, Turners Hil Langridge A Royal Naval Air Service Rating Turners Hill Langridge G Labour Corps Pvt Withypitts Langridge W 3 Royal Sussex Rgt Pvt East Street Langridge W Royal Field Artillery Gnr Turners Hill Leppard A Machine Gun Rgt Gnr Paddockhurst Lockyer G Royal Navy Rating Paddockhurst Lowman W Canadian Infantry Pvt Turners Hill Mace W 3 Coldstream Guards Pvt Selsfield Martin P Royal Naval Reserve Captain Races McLeod A F Royal Garrison Artillery Gnr Turners Hill McLeod K M Royal Navy Rating Turners Hill Miles W Royal Army Medical Corps Pvt Tulleys Farm Oxley G Kings Royal Rifles Captain Turners Hill Oxley R.S Staff Brigadier General Fen Place Parker E Army Service Corps Pvt Paddockhurst Pearce A E Royal Engineers Sapper Selsfield Common Pearce J Tank Corps Trooper East Street Philips W Royal Horse Artillery Trooper Turners Hill Phillips A Royal navy Rating Turners Hill Phillips Frank?? Turners Hill Phillips S Royal Navy Pvt Turners Hill

Pickard P Royal Field Artillery Gnr Turners Hill Pollard Frank Royal Fusiliers Pvt Turners Hill (North Street) Pollard H Machine Gun Corps Gnr East Street Quickenden C?? East Street Quickenden E Royal Army Medical Corps Pvt Withypitts Quickenden P East Kents Pvt Turners Hill Ravenshaw Staff Brigadier General Stevens W Army Veterinary Corps Pvt Turners Hill Rice G 7 Royal Sussex Pvt Fen Place Rice T 3 Middlesex Rgt Pvt Turners Hill Roberts A Australian Infantry Pvt Grove Robus G Royal Engineers Sapper Turners Hill Robus R Royal Fusiliers Pvt Turners Hill Shelton P Army Service Corps Pvt Fen Place Simmonds A E Royal Flying Corps Pvt Turners Hill Simmonds T 7 Royal Sussex 2nd Lieut Turners Hill Skinisley C Royal Engineers Sapper Turners Hill Slight W Royal Navy Rating Turners Hill Stanford E Kings Royal Rifles Pvt Turners Hill Stevens J Royal Field Artillery Gnr Turners Hill Streeter C Bernard Royal Navy Rating Turners Hill Streeter W. Cecil Royal Navy Rating Turners Hill Styles A Turners Hill Styles F Royal garrison Artillery Gnr Turners Hill Styles T Royal Fusiliers Pvt Turners Hill Tanner E F Durham Light Infantry Pvt East Street Ward T Royal Field Artillery Gnr Selsfield Common Webber G Royal Field Artillery Gnr Turners Hill Weikes G Royal Navy Rating Turners Hill Wells H Royal Engineers Sapper Turners Hill Wells O 4 Royal Sussex Pvt Turners Hill Wheeler G Royal Navy Rating Turners Hill Whiting W Surrey Yeomanry Pvt Miswells Whitman A T 3 Northampton Rgt Pvt Turners Hill Whitman Chris Turners hill Whitman F 3 Northampton Rgt Pvt Turners Hill Whitman R I Royal Field Artillery Bmdr Turners Hill Whitman W Royal Engineers Sapper Turners Hill Willett A Royal Army Medical Corps Major Wyndham Croft Willett B Royal Garrison Artillery Lieut Wyndham Croft Willett O Officer Training Corps Captain Wyndham Croft Winchester G Army Service Corps Pvt? Withypitts