WW1 - Angmering's Survivors

Commemorating the centenary of the outbreak of The First World War

INTRODUCTION

2014 marks the centenary of the outbreak of WW1, a conflict which was to last for four years and which devastated many communities across the world. It is estimated that there were 9.7 million military deaths with a further 21.2 million wounded. But that was not all - there were also approximately 0.95 million civilian deaths as a result of direct military action with another 6 million dying as a result of disease or famine.

However, the statistics do not even begin to tell the story of the effect that the extent of this war had on families on both sides of the conflict. While many serving men may have survived the war, a sizeable proportion could either never work again or would be limited in what they could do. Some died only a few years later and are not reflected in the recorded number of deaths.

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In Angmering, out of a population of 1026 (1911 Census), approximately 250 volunteered or were conscripted between 1914 and 1918. We do not know the names of all of them but we do know 240 of them. Nearly 20% of these (approx 1 in 5) would not survive the war. The known survivors are listed below, many surnames still being familiar with today's parish residents.

Information on each of those who survived comes from numerous sources including the 1918 Electors' Register (Servicemen), the Ancestry website, the Find My Past website, West Sussex Records Office, the Worthing Gazette (WG), Kelly's Directory, Angmering Church Magazine, and "Scribble". Of these, "Scribble" probably tells us more than any about the actual person. "Scribble" was an approximate monthly newssheet published by William Hollis, the developer of the Angmering-on-Sea estate, and contained information largely on people and happenings in Angmering, East Preston, and Rustington during the years 1916-1919.

Related Links

1914-1918 Centenary - Angmering's Fallen
1914-1918 Centenary - A View from Home
1914-1918 Centenary - Stanley Messenger correspondence
Angmering War Memorial

Neil Rogers-Davis
Editor, Angmering Village Life

ANGMERING'S SURVIVORS

Balchin, Alfred	AB	HMS Maidstone		Poling (?Ang Outlier)
Balchin, Herbert	Corporal	21st Lancers		Poling (?Ang Outlier)
Balchin, Leonard		231st D Block RNB Devonport		Poling (?Ang Outlier)
Balchin, Sidney John	SB	RNB Portsmouth		Poling (?Ang Outlier)
Barnett, Charles	Private	339th Road Construction RE		Barrack Yard Cottages
Barnett, George	Driver	R.E. 6th Field Sdn		Barrack Yard Cottages	Formerly an engine driver. Now with Egyptian Expeditionary Force.
Barnett, Percy	Private	Royal Sussex			Wounded: Sept 1917
Bastable, John	Private	7th Royal Sussex	Leonard & Mary	Water Lane	WG 19th Jan 1916 Up to the present time five Angmering men have lost their lives in the war and twelve have been wounded. Private Bastable of Angmering is officially reported as wounded and now under treatment at a Hospital at Rouen and his condition is regarded as so dangerous that his parents were invited to visit him. WG 26th Jan 1916 Private John Bastable has recovered .He hopes soon to be back in Angmering.
Beaty, Walter James	Private	No. 10 Vet Hos.		Ham Park
Bishop, John	Seaman	H.M.S. “Leviathan”	Mrs Bishop	Old Place Farm Cottages
Blunden, C		R.F.A.
Bonnett, Frank	L/Corporal	A.S.C. M.T.		Rose Villa
Boore, Frank		4th Royal Sussex		Weavers Hill
Boyce, William	Bombardier	R.F.A. Y/4T M Bty		Water Lane	Was a Reservist, wounded in France. Now with a Trench Mortar Battery in France.
Bridger, Archie	Private	A.S.C		Elm Grove	Is at the V.A.D. Hospital, Hampton -in-Arden, Birmingham.
Bridger, Arthur Lovell (Bob)	Sergeant	Royal Sussex		Elm Grove	Enlisted in November 1915, was wounded. Now in Essex.
Bridger, J	L.M. Driver			Elm Grove	Is at Chingford Aerodrome. Enlisted in May 1915.
Brockhurst, Fred	Driver	R.H.A.		Elm Grove	Carter for Mr. Peacock. Joined August 14th, 1916. Now in Egypt.
Brockhurst, Henry William M.	Private	Oxford and Bucks LI Gar Bn		Angmering Park
Brown, C
Brown, G		Southdown Bn., Royal Sussex
Brown, Herbert	Sergeant	120th Siege Bty RGA		Yarmer, Poling
Brown, W		Coldstream Guards			wounded
Burch, Ernest James					b.1889
Burchfield, Augustus					Wounded: Oct 1916 (Apr 1917) At home at Angmering on ten days leave after being in hospital for about six months with a fractured jaw.
Burchfield, Morris Reginald	A/S	R.N.		Littleworth	Serving in HMS Hood. RNVR
Burchfield, Wilfred		4th Royal Sussex
Burtenshaw, H		Southdown Bn., Royal Sussex
Butler, Henry William				North Lodge	Prisoner of War
Butler, William John		AVC RFA		Swillage
Caplin, Albert William	Sergeant	C Bty RFA		The Square
Chalk, Jesse	Private	12th Bn MGC		Hollingside
Chalk, Napthali		B Co 23rd Middlesex		Hollingside
Chant, John	Corporal	Royal Sussex, Pioneers			Enlisted at Angmering’s first recruiting meeting on the village green.
Chant, Jonathan	Private	8th Royal Sussex		Chants Cottages
Chaplin, Clement	Captain (Dr)	R.A.M.C.		High Street	In October 1915 he joined the Royal Army Medical Corps and saw service in Egypt as a Surgeon Lieutenant and saw service in Egypt as part of Eastern Command.
Cheeseman, Fred	Sapper	R.E.	Charles Cheeseman	Red Lion	Joined in 1914 for 12 years service; was married during his last leave. Is in Flanders on special service.
Cheeseman, James	A.M.	R.N.A.S.	Charles Cheeseman	Red Lion	Formerly carpenter for Mr. Peskett. Now on aeroplane work in France.
Cheesemen, Charles	L/S	R.N.	Charles Cheeseman		Employed in submarine work; received Russian decoration. Now in one of our latest “surprise” submarines.
Cheesman, John	Corporal	Royal Artillery	Charles Cheeseman	Red Lion	Enlisted 1914, severely wounded in France. Now in hospital.
Choate, Arthur William G.	Driver	RFA		Belmont Villa
Choate, Henry William	Private	RAMC		Belmont Villa
Clavey, Herbert	Sapper	529 Co. R.E.		Station Road
Collins, Frederick George	Driver	31st Div R.E.		Lamb Hotel
Cox, A		Y.L.I.
Cox, Frank	Private SD/3557	Royal Sussex	John & Emily Cox	Lee Farm	Awarded Silver War Badge for gunshot head wound. When enlisting he took 3 years off his age to be accepted. Later married and had 6 children.

Cragg, William	Private	Royal Warwickshire Cyclists		Cottrell Cottages	Is now in training at Colchester; was assistant at Boswall’s. Later 8th Leicsters
Dale, Fred	Private			Station Road	Has had shell shock three times, possesses one wounded stripe. Now in a convalescent camp in France.
Dale, Walter	Bombardier	R.F.A.			Now in Mesopotamia.
Dartnell, H		8th Royal Sussex		Barrack Yard Cotts
Davidson, Reginald		8th Royal Sussex		High Street
Denyer, H		9th Royal Sussex
Earle, Herbert		7th Royal Sussex			wounded
Enfield, H	L/Corporal	R.E.		Manor Road, E.P.	Has been in France since August 1915, is now in Hospital at Sheffield. He is suffering from malaria, but is reported to be progressing favourably.
Faulkner, Charles Owen	Corporal	ASC Italy		Meadow Bank
Field, Arthur	L/Corporal G/24327	7th West Kent		The Square	Awarded Military Medal for bravery in the field. (Edinburgh Gazette 19 June 1919)
Field, Ernest	Driver	R.H.A.	George Field	Church Road	Enlisted August 1914. Now with a mobile section in France.
Field, Frederick		4th Royal Sussex
Field, George		N.Z.E.F.
Field, Owen	Driver	R.H.A.	George Field	Church Road	Enlisted October 1914. Now with a Howitzer battery in France.
Finch, Ernest		HMS Cochrane
Finch, James Richard	Private	ECLC / 4th Royal Sussex		Ham Cottages
Fleming, Samuel	Lieut-Col.	War Office			Transferred from Headquarters Staff at Aldershot to the War Office.
Frampton, Frederick John	Private	ASC		Woodford Villas
Gent, Albert	Driver	R.E.		Elm Grove	Formerly carter for Mr. Stoner. Now at Salonika.
Gilbert, Charles		Royal Aviation Corps		Upper Barpham
Gladman, L		8th Royal Sussex
Gordon, George	Lieut	RNVR		Waterton	Rev.
Graysmark, Percy	Private	2/6th Suffolk	Jack Graysmark	High Street	Was in the local Volunteer section. Now at Sandilands.
Green, Alfred	Bombadier	R.F.A		Honey Lane	Joined in 1914, was roadman for R.D.C. Now in France.
Green, Herbert	Private	Queen’s West Surrey Regt.		Longback Cottges	Prisoner of War in Munster, Westplalia.
Green, Jesse		13th Royal Sussex		Longback Cottages
Green, Thomas Benjamin	Private / Pioneer	Royal Sussex / 317th Co R.E.		High Street	Now in Labour Battalion in France. Was a roadman for R.D.C.
Greenfield, Edwin
Greenyer, Albert George V.	Private	2/6th Royal Sussex		Station Road
Hammond, Arthur	Driver	RFA		The Cottrells
Hammond, Reginald	Private	Royal Warwicks		Gladstone Cottages	Has been wounded twice, and is now in Ireland.
Hammond, Walter	Private	14th Royal Sussex		Cottrell Cottages	Lost part of a leg in France. Now undergoing treatment in England.
Hanson, Sidney	Private	9th Royal Sussex		New Road
Harber, George William	Private	AVC		Arundel Road
Harmer, L	T.C.	H.M.S. “Medina”
Hayward, Gilbert Dawson	Pioneer	R.E. MEF		Station House
Heasman, Edward Charles	Driver	R.H.A.		Malta Cottage	A Reservist; was postman; was wounded in leg in France. Now at Woolwich, has had 16 year’s service.
Heasman, Frederick Graham	Private	Royal Fusiliers			Prisoner of War. WG 22nd May 1918 The name of Private FG Heasman of the Royal Fusiliers and son of Mrs Heasman of the Cottrells appeared among the missing in a long list of casualties officially reported on Wednesday. He is 21 years of age and has been on the Western Front for two and half years.
Heasman, John Frank	Signaller	11th Royal Sussex		Cottrell Cottages	Formerly in the employ of Mr. Dench. Now in France.
Henson, George	Private	4th/7th Royal Sussex		Water Lane
Henson, Wilfred	Private	7th Royal Fusiliers		Water Lane
Hills, Harry	Private	14th Royal Sussex		Elm Grove	Was a carter for Mr. Peskett. Now in France. Lost his father while on active service.
Hillman, Sidney	Sergeant	4th Royal Sussex		Weavers Hill	Rejoined, and is now with a Training Reserve Battalion in Kinross, Scotland.
Hills, Ernest	Private	139th Labour Corps, formerly in Northants Reg		Littleworth Cottages	Was a gardener at Angmering-on-Sea.
Hills, H W	Private	Royal Fusilliers			Wounded: May 1918
Hills, Richard Henry	Private	R.E. BEF		Elm Grove
Holcombe, Henry		Southdown Bn., Royal Sussex
Holdsworth, H.A.	Lieut	R.N.V.R.			Joined the Navy in November 1914, and was sent immediately to patrol the North Coast of Scotland, and has since been doing patrol work all round the English Coast. He is now on Foreign Duty in British West Indies. Lieut. Holdsworth has recently bought “Fynches” Rustington and intends to live there.
Horn, William	Driver	156th Field Co.			Now in France
Horn, Wilfred	Corporal	King’s Royal Rifles		Old Place, Arundel Road	Now at Salonika. Severely injured in the leg in France/Belgium.

Horsman, Albert George	Private	Labour Corps		Angmering Park
Horsman, Frederick William	Private	5th Royal Sussex		Angmering Park
Horton, Jack Gladman		7th Royal Sussex		The Square
Horton, James Gladman		13th Royal Sussex		The Square
Horton, Thomas William				The Square	War Hospital, Bradford
Howick, Edward George		ASC BEF		Roundstone
Howick, Wilfred Alick		Coldstream Guards		Roundstone
Jose, Francis Richard	Private	Railway Traffic		Ham Lodge
Kent, A	Private	Royal West Kent Regt.			Wounded: Dec 1917
Kinch, Charles	Private	Labour Corps		Arundel Road
Lillywhite, Percy	Sergeant	Army Veterinary Corps		Cottrell Cottages	Formerly a baker at Mr. Meech’s. Now at 21st Reserve Park, France.
Linfield, Cecil Thomas	Corporal	9th Royal Sussex / ECLC		High Street	Wounded in the legs and neck and is at hospital in Aldershot in Oct 1915.
Linfield, Harry	Sergeant	Royal Naval Police	Edwin & Caroline Linfield	The Square	(July 1919) Sergeant Harry Linfield, whose father was recently laid to rest, was killed by a native who ran amok. Harry Linfield was in the Royal Naval Police at Hong Kong.
Linfield, Ralph	Corporal	Royal West Surrey / 7th Royal Sussex		Pear Tree Cott	Joined September 7th 1914. Now in France.
Locock, Leicester	2nd Lieut	17th Northumberland		Pooks Hill
Locock, Reginald	Sub-Lieut	HMS “Idaho”		Pooks Hill
Lovett, Charles		R.F.A.
Lovett, John		14th Royal Sussex
Luck, Charles	Rifleman	King’s Royal Rifles	Frederick & Anne Luck, miller	Church Hill	Now in France
Luxford, Percy		Royal Sussex		Ham Park
Macey, Frank	Driver	RFA		Woolvens Lane
Marshall, Charles	2nd Lieut	R.E.		Littleworth
Marshall, Fred		R.M.L.I.
Martin, James		R.A.M.C		Church Road
May, T.H.		10th Royal Sussex
Messenger, Henry Leslie	Act. Capt.	R.A.M.C			MC and Bar, and the Belgian Croix de Guerre
Messenger, J. Kenneth.		3rd County of London Imperial Yeomanry
Middleton, Harold William	Signalman	7th RSR		Preston Place
Mills, Percy Arthur	Private	Labour Corps		Lane End Cottages
Mitchell, F		Royal Sussex
Munro, James	Private	21st Lancers		8 Weavers Hill
Munro, Roderick	Corporal	ASC		8 Weavers Hill
Nye, Fred					Wounded: Oct 1916
Nye, Richard		14th Royal Sussex
Paine, William Henry	Private	139th Labour Corps		2 Grove Cottages
Parsons, Albert	Private	A.S.C., M.T.	David Parsons	Council Cottages	Carter for Mr. Stoner, served in East Africa, invalided home. Is now in Mesopotamia.
Parsons, Charles	CSM	2nd Royal Sussex / 1st Gar Bn NI	David Parsons	Eagle Cottages	Carter for Mr. Peskett, enlisted April 15th 1916, was a baker at Meech’s. Now in Mesopotamia. Wounded
Parsons, Charles D.		A.S.C.
Parsons, Edward	Rifleman	32nd Rifle Brigade	David Parsons	Council Cottages	Enlisted February 1917, was a gardener at Ham Manor, injured seriously by a kick of a horse. Now in hospital at Mansfield Notts.
Parsons, George	Private	1/4th Royal Sussex		New Mill
Parsons, Harry	Corporal	140th Labour Battalion	David Parsons	Council Cottages	Carter for Mr. Peskett, enlisted August 24th, 1914, wounded in arm on Western Front.
Parsons, Thomas	Private	Royal West Kent		7 Cottrell Cottages	Was roadman for R.D.C. Now at Jubbulpore, India; has a baby whom he has not seen.
Parsons, William A	A.M. (1)	R.F.C.		Gladstone Cottages	Foreman carpenter for Mr. E.A. Harris. Did construction work at Angmering-on-Sea. Now repairing aeroplanes at Dunkirk, France.
Payne, Albert	Driver	234th Field Co		East End House
Pearson, Tom Noel	Chaplin	ESR Crowborough Camp		The Rectory
Peach, Ernest		R.H.A.
Peach, R (Bert)		R.H.A.
Pelham, Alfred		7th Royal Sussex
Pelham, Arthur		Coldstream Guards
Pelham, Charles	Private	Area EMP Co.		Weavers Hill
Pelham, Frank	Private	2/6th Royal Sussex		High Street
Pelham, Fred	Sapper	Royal West Kent Regt. / R.E. 155th Field Co		The Croft	Was formerly in Coldstream Guards. Now at Winchester. Later ASC.
Pelham, John	Private	4th Royal Sussex / 434th Labour Corps		Myrtle Cottage
Pellen, John	Private	95th Labour Corps		New Mill
Pelling, Alfred John	Private	2/4th RWS		Ecclesden Farm
Pelling, James		4th Royal Sussex
Peskett, Edward
Peskett, Frederick	Sapper	155th Field Co R.E.		The Croft
Pickard, Fred	L.S.	R.N. Dic		Cottrell Cottages	At Blandford Camp
Pickard, Frederick	Ldg Seaman	Anson Bn		The Cottrealls
Pocock, Arthur George	Driver	R.F.A. E Sub Sec 50th Bty	Simeon Pocock	Blaber Cottage	Formerly in Mr. Gotelee’s employ. Secretary of Juvenile Forester’s Court. Now in France.
Punch, Frank
Rapley, Ernest		7th Royal Sussex
Rapley, Fred	Bombardier	179th Bde RFA		Mill Cottages	Formerly a gardener at Ham Manor. Now with an ammunition column in France.
Reeves, Albert George	Private	1st Herts / Labour Corps			Is with an Agricultural Company working in Welbeck Gardens.
Reeves, James Harold.	Private	2/6th Royal Sussex		Weavers Hill	In India

Reeves, William Etherington	Private	R.E. IEF		Bellvue
Roberts, George	Sapper	R.E. 529th E Riding Field Co		Vesta Cottage, Post Office Hill (Stubbs Hill)	Was a bricklayer for Mr. Peskett, famous left hand bowler, and good supporter of cricket club, secretary of “Spotted Cow” Slate Club.
Roberts, WE	Sapper	Royal Engineers		The Square	Foreman to Mr. Geo. Peskett. Joined in December, 1916. Now engaged in building operations in Italy.
Sayers, James	Stoker	HMS Saphire / HMS “Eaglet”		Littleworth
Shelley, Percy John		Hampshire Regt	Arthur Shelley	Fitzallan Road, Littlehampton	Son of Mr. Arthur Shelley Clerk to the Council, who was wounded in the arm in the recent fighting in Palestine. Now in the Hospital at Cairo, where he is making satisfactory progress towards recovery.
Shepardson, Harry E	Wireless Observer			School House	Trained at Cranwell. Now posted to airship operating over North Sea.
Shepardson, Leslie W	Lieut	20th Durham LI	Mr & Mrs W Shepherdson	School House	Enlisted in Royal Sussex (Cyclists) August 1914, transferred to Inns of Court O.T.C., commission in Durham L.I. Awarded Military Cross, July 1917. Now in Italy. WG 5th Sept 1917 A young Angmering officer Second Lieutenant LW Shepherdson of the Durham Light Infantry and son of Mr WT Shepherdson has been commended for gallantry and devotion to duty in the fighting which took place on the Western Front at the end of last month. The official record was signed by Major General Lawford reads: "I wish to place on record my appreciation of your gallantry and devotion to duty between the 26th and 30th July 1917 near Klein Zillebeke when you reconnoitred the assembly area with great boldness in spite of enemy patrols and heavy shelling, succeeding in laying out the forming up tapes. Later when acting as liaison officer between Battalion HQ and the Report Centre you kept in touch and guided supporting troops in the face of heavy shell fire". Awarded bar to MC on 22 Nov 1918. Leslie Shepherdson's Military Cross (Photo courtesy of John Tunstill)
Shipham, Robert Henry	Stoker	RNB Portsmouth		3 Eagle Cottages
Short, Fred	Q.M.S.	1st Bat. Scots Guards		The Square	At Wellington Barracks
Short, Henry	1st Class P.O.	H.M. Canadian ship “Niobe”		Gladstone Cottages
Short, James	Private	8th Essex Cyclists		Gladstone Cottages	Stationed at Scunthorpe, Lincs
Smart, Bert	Private	9th Bn Northampton		Woodford Villas	was stable lad at Michelgrove.
Smart, William		Y.L.I.
Smith, Alfred	Private	4th Royal Sussex Reg't	George & Olivia Smith	Water Lane then Swillage	Nurseryman before war. Alfred enlisted aged 29 on 12 December 1915 Received shrapnel head wounds and invalided out of the Army in 1916. Died in 1978 aged 92.
Stanford, Albert Charles	CSM	Artillery Sig Dept, Fareham		2 Weavers Hill
Stringer, Albert		4th Royal Sussex
Stringer, Ernest		3rd Royal Sussex			wounded
Stringer, James		9th Royal Sussex
Tasker, Edward		R.F.A.
Terry, Charles	Rifleman	3rd Bn KRC		The Square	wounded
Terry, Frank		4tgh Royal Sussex
Tester, Owen	Private	1sr RSR		Angmering Park
Thair, George Smith	Private	A.S.C. 58th Co		The Rosary	Now with the A.S.C. at Bordon Camp.
Thair, Percy	Private	25th Middlesex / 133rd Labour Corps		Ash Tree Cottage
Thirwell, Dennis	Capt	2/5th RW Regt		Meadow Bank
Turner, James		A.S.C. (motor Transport)
Vaughan, Charles	Private	Machine Gun Corps			One of Mr. Bradley’s roundsmen. Now in Northumberland. Was wounded in the chest on the Western Front.
Voller, George	Private	A.S.C. 699th MTC	David & Sarah Voller	Rose Cottage	Was chauffer to Mr. Stoner. Now driving in East Africa.
Voysey, Frederick Benjamin	Private	25th Bty RGA		Hangleton
Wadey, David		Royal Aviation Corps
Wadey, Frank		Australian E.F.
Wadey, Herbert		12th Essex
Wadey, Walter	1st Class P.O.	H.M.S. “Hercules”		8 Cottrell Cottages	Was in Battle of Jutland; has 18 years’ service.
Ward, George Laing F.	Private	Remount Depot, Reading		Ascot House
Watts, William George	Private	28th Durham LI		Station Road
Weller, John A.		Royal Sussex
Wheeler, Fred	Sergeant	R.G.A.
White, Percy	Private	Royal Sussex		Water Lane

I would welcome any additions/amendments/photos to the foregoing list. See Contacts page.

Neil Rogers-Davis
May 2014

WW1 - Angmering's Survivors

Commemorating the centenary of the outbreak of The First World War

Page first uploaded:1 May 2014 (updated 8 June 2016)