COPTHORNE
WAR MEMORIAL
World War 1 - Roll of
Honour with detailed information
Compiled and copyright © John Harrison 2005
Copthorne
is a village in West Sussex approximately mid way between Crawley
and East Grinstead. The War Memorial is situated inside the church
of St John the Evangelist and consists of a large plain white marble
plaque surrounded by a striated red and white marble border. The dedication
on upper part of the plain section of the memorial is inlaid in gold
and reads:-
‘
In Honoured Memory of those who gave their lives
in the Great War 1914 – 1919.’
Below
this the casualties are listed by Regiment, the name of the Regiment
is highlighted in gold and that of the casualty in black.
ROYAL
FIELD ARTILLERY
SECOND
LIEUTENANT W DOUGLAS BRADSHAW
BOMBARDIER
HERBERT MAYNARD
ROYAL FUSILIERS
PRIVATE
HAROLD F ARNOLD
PRIVATE
GEORGE BUDGEN
PRIVATE
ALBERT G LOCK
PRIVATE
GEORGE WORSELL MM
LANCASHIRE
FUSILIERS
CAPTAIN
JOSEPH W HEDLEY
PRIVATE
ALBERT HOLMAN
SHERWOOD FORESTERS
LANCE
CORPORAL ARTHUR E PAYNE
PRIVATE
AUBREY G HARMER
ROYAL
ENGINEERS
MAJOR
AUSTIN HANBURY-BROWN DSO MC
SAPPER
FRANK STEVENS
ROYAL
SUSSEX REGIMENT
SERGEANT
WILLIAM R HABGOOD
LANCE
CORPORAL FREDERICK R DANCY
LANCE
CORPORAL CHARLES H PAYNE
PRIVATE
THEODORE B FULLER
PRIVATE
ALBERT W F GIBBY
PRIVATE
WILLIAM LANGRIDGE
PRIVATE
PERCY F LINFIELD
PRIVATE
PERCY TARGETT
PRIVATE
ROBERT VIGAR
LONDON REGIMENT
LIEUTENANT
RICHARD E K BRADSHAW
PRIVATE
THOMAS WALTER MAYNARD
QUEENS ROYAL WEST SURREY REGIMENT
LANCE
CORPORAL ARTHUR W CARMAN
LANCE
CORPORAL GEORGE MAYNARD
PRIVATE
SYDNEY W CARMAN
PRIVATE
DAVID MAYNARD
PRIVATE
DAVID NICHOLSON
PRIVATE
JOSEPH SKEETS
EAST KENT REGIMENT
PRIVATE
VICTOR FRIEND
HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT
PRIVATE
WILLIAM GIBBS
CYCLIST CORPS
PRIVATE
ALLEN CONSTABLE
The lych
gate to the church was formerly the cover to the well that was on
the village green opposite the school. It was originally a memorial
to the Reverend Cooper who died in 1896 and was erected the following
year by his wife and family. In 1911, as the well had been closed
for some years, the cover was moved to become the lych gate. After
the Great War the names of those from the village who had served in
the armed forces were inscribed on it. This list is contained on six
panel, three on each internal side, behind individual glass covers
to protect them. There is a further memorial for Old Boys from the
school at Copthorne School.
ARNOLD |
Harold |
Private
GS/69549 17th (Service) Bn (Empire) Royal Fusiliers. Harold was
born about 1898 in Burstow, son of Thomas Arnold, a General Labourer.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission record his parents lived
at Bonwick Cottages, Copthorne. He died on 24th March 1918 and
his body was not found for burial. He is commemorated on Bay 3
of the Arras Memorial. |
BRADSHAW |
Richard
Edward Knynaston |
Lieutenant
1/12th (Country of London) Bn London Regiment (The Rangers). Richard
was born in the village of Little Parndon in Essex about 1895.
He was the third child and elder of two sons of William Graham
and Dora Sophia Bradshaw. By 1905 William had moved to Crawley
Down where both Kelly’s Directory and the Commonwealth War Graves
Commission state they lived at Down Park which is between the
village of Crawley Down and Copthorne. He was also Deputy Chairman
and a Director of the London City and Midland Bank.
His brother William Douglas Bradshaw served with the Royal Field
Artillery and was killed nearly four months later on 31st October,
also on the Somme. Both brothers are included on the War Memorials
at Copthorne School and Crawley
Down.
Richard was killed on 1st July
1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme. His remains were
not found for burial and he is commemorated on Pier and Face 9C
of the Thiepval Memorial. |
BRADSHAW |
William
Douglas |
Second
Lieutenant 88th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. He was born in
the village of Little Parndon in Essex about 1896 and was the
fourth child and younger of two sons of William Graham and Dora
Sophia Bradshaw. By 1905 William had moved to Crawley Down where
both Kelly’s Directory and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
state they lived at Down Park which is between the village of
Crawley Down and Copthorne. He was also Deputy Chairman and a
Director of the London City and Midland Bank.
His brother Richard (above) served with the 1/12th Battalion London
Regiment and had been killed almost four months earlier on 1st
July. Both brothers are included on the War Memorials at Copthorne
School and Crawley Down and
he is recorded on both war memorials as Douglas.
He was killed
in action on 31st October 1916 and is buried in Grave L 49 in
Aveluy Communal Cemetery Extension. Aveluy is a village just north
of Albert in France. He is one of forty members of the Royal Field
Artillery buried here. |
BROWN |
Austin
Hanbury |
Major,
2nd Field Company, Royal Engineers Austin was born in Cairo, Egypt
about 1886. He was the son of Sir Robert Hanbury Brown and his
wife Marian. Robert was born in Brixton &joined the Royal Engineers
in 1870. H was commissioned as a Lieutenant in August 1872 and
posted to India, and specialising in water supply. He served in
Bengal in 1873 and in the Irrigation Department in Egypt from
1884 until 1903. He took part in the Second Afghan War from 1879-1880
and was mentioned in despatches. He became a Knight of the Order
of St Michael & St George in 1902. The family moved to Newlands
in Crawley Down after returning from Egypt. Austin followed his
father into the Royal Engineers, commissioned in July 1906 & became
a Lieutenant in November 1908. He was subsequently promoted to
Captain and, in January 1916, to Major. At the outbreak of war
in 1914 he was stationed in Cairo and returned to the UK to be
sent to France on November 5th 1914 with the 2nd Field Company
and spent all his war service with them. In January 1916 he was
awarded the Military Cross and the Distinguished Service Order
in December 1917. He was also mentioned in dispatches four times.
In January 1918 he married Charity Hampton Weekes of the Mansion
House, High St., Hurstpierpoint. Two months later Austin was killed,
but he and Charity had a daughter. Charity never remarried and
died in September 1963. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
notes she was living at Flat 8, Sussex Square, Brighton, but died
at 106, Southwick St, in nearby Southwick. Austin was killed
on 27th March 1918 at Rosieres during the German attacks in the
Spring of 1918. His remains were not found for burial and he is
commemorated on Bay 1 of the Arras Memorial. |
BRUNT |
Alfred
Arthur |
Private
12119 6th (Service) Bn Royal Berkshire Regiment. Alfred was born
in the village of Alciston south east of Lewes about 1891. In
1881 William was living with his parents at 8 Somers Street Portsea
in Hampshire where his father was an Income Tax Collector. By
1901 the family were living in Willingdon near Eastbourne where
William was a Police Constable. Both the Commonwealth War Graves
Commission and Willett’s Directory for 1916 list William and Maria
as living at Effingham Croft, Copthorne. Soldiers Died in the
Great War states Alfred was resident in Crawley when he enlisted
in London. He was killed in action on 3rd May 1917 and his body
was not found for burial He is commemorated on Bay 7 of the Arras
Memorial. On 2nd May they moved to old German trenches between
Neuville Vitasse and Wancourt in preparation for an attack The
battalion war diary reads
‘4.00
p.m. Moved forward through heavy German barrage to trenches in
N30 b & c. Casualties in moving through barrage 15 killed 23 wounded
2 missing. Bn now in close support to 55th Brigade whose attack
had failed and had withdrawn to old British front line.
Quiet night.’ |
BUDGEN |
George |
Private
5357 11th (Service) Bn Royal Fusiliers He died on 17th October
1917 and his body was not found for burial. He is commemorated
on Panel 28 to 30 and 162 to 162A and 163A of the Tyne Cot Memorial |
CARMAN |
Arthur
William |
Private
L/7174 1st Bn The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Arthur
was born in Burstow about 1885. He was the son of John Carman
who, in 1901 was still living in Burstow. The local directory
in 1916 lists him as living at Brook Hill. Arthur had moved to
Colchester, but Soldiers Died in the Great War notes he enlisted
in Guildford. He may have been a reservist and returned to the
colours at the outbreak of war which would explain his early service
and death. He died on 22nd October 1914 and his body was not found
for burial. He is commemorated on Panel 11-13 and 14 of the Menin
Gate Memorial at Ypres. His brother Sydney was killed in June
1916 serving in the same battalion. |
CARMAN |
Sydney
W |
Lance
Corporal 11160 1st Bn The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment).
Sydney was born in Copthorne about 1897. He was the son of John
and Amy Carman John was a Farm Labourer from East Grinstead who,
in 1901 was still living in Burstow. Burstow. The local directory
in 1916 lists him as living at Brook Hill. He died on 23rd June
1916 and is buried in Grave G 8 in Cambrin Military Cemetery.
21 members of the Regiment are buried here. His brother Arthur
(above) was killed in October 1914 serving with the same battalion. |
CONSTABLE |
Allen |
Private
16131 XV Corps Cyclist Bn, Army Cyclist Corps. Allen was born
in Fletching, Sussex about 1888, the son of Lucy Bedwell. Lucy
was unmarried and lived with her parents, George and Eliza in
Fletching. She later married Samuel Constable, an Agricultural
Labourer from Godstone. The family later moved to Copthorne, but
Allen stayed with his grandparents in Fletching. In Copthorne
the Constables lived in Copthorne Bank. He died on 30th September
1917 and is buried in Grave I D 18 in Zuydcoote Military Cemetery.
He is one of only six members of the Army Cyclist Corps buried
here. |
DANCY |
Frederick
Richard |
Private
L/7581 2nd Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment. Frederick was born
in Copthorne about 1883. He was the son of William and Mary Dancy.
William was a Bricklayer from Turners Hill where his elder children
Alice, William. Charles, Joseph. Laura and Millicent were born
and where he was living in 1881. By 1901 he had moved to Copthorne
and lived at 3, Newtown. The younger children, Frederick, Beatrice
and Mabel were born here. In 1901 Frederick was living at home
and was employed as a Farm Cowman. He died on 9th May 1915 and
his body was not found for burial He is commemorated on Panel
20 and 21 of the Le Touret Memorial. The Copthorne Roll of Honour
in the Horsham Times lists him as a Lance Corporal. |
FRIEND |
Victor |
Private
G/23861 8th (Service) Bn Buffs (East Kent Regiment). He was born
in Worth about 1898 and resident in Copthorne Bank when he enlisted.
He died on 10th October 1917 and his body was not found for burial
He is commemorated on Panel 12 and 14 of the Menin Gate Memorial
at Ypres. On 10th August 1917 the battalion made an unsuccessful
attempt to capture Lower Star Post. |
FULLER |
Theodore
Beresford |
Private
G/3198 9th (Service) Bn Royal Sussex Regiment. Theodore was born
in Burstow, Surrey about 1895. His parents were Thomas Edward
and Emily Fuller. Thomas was an Agricultural Labourer from Burstow.
In 1901 the census describes him as a Well Diggers Labourer aged
45. With this hard manual labour, Thomas died at an early age
before the war. After his death Emily moved to Copthorne where
she lived at 4, Builders Inn Cottages. He died of wounds on 6th
August 1916 and is buried in Grave III B 26 in Heilly Station
Cemetery, Mericourt-L’Abbe. The Copthorne Roll of Honour in the
Horsham Times in 1915 lists him as a Drummer. The Battalion War
Diary notes that Theodore Fuller died as the result of an unfortunate
accident.
“4th August 1916 - Happy
Valley (Somme)
Two other ranks
accidentally wounded by hand grenade while visiting original German
lines. One afterwards died (Pte T.B. Fuller).” |
GIBBS |
William |
Private
1849015th (Service) Bn (2nd Portsmouth) Hampshire Regiment. The
identification of this casualty has proved a problem. The Commonwealth
War Graves Commission entry gives his parents as Edward and Betsy
Gibbs of 4, Brook Hill, Copthorne, but with his surname as Maynard.
The Medal Roll also confirms the Maynard surname. However the
newspaper report of his death lists him as Gibbs as does the War
Memorial. Soldiers Died in the Great War states he was born and
resident in Redhill & enlisted in Portsmouth. The 1901 census
gives a William Gibbs aged 2, born in Redhill and living in Reigate
which appears to confirm the Gibbs surname is correct. The reason
for the use of Maynard is unknown. He died of wounds on 15th
October 1916 and is buried in Grave VII F 9A in Etaples Military
Cemetery. This was a large training base that also contained many
hospitals. |
GIBBY |
Albert
William |
Private
G/16127 7th (Service) Bn Royal Sussex Regiment. Albert was born
in Reigate, Surrey about 1893, the son of Benjamin and Matilda
Gibby. Brothers Charles, 6 and John, 4, were born in Worth (possibly
Copthorne). Matilda was born in Dorking about 1873, but there
is no trace of Benjamin in the 1901 census. However it does show
that Matilda ( as a wife, not a widow) was staying with her brother
in law, Frank Skilton, a General Retailer, in Dale Cottage in
Copthorne with two of her children Albert and John. Frank had
married Matilda’s sister, Mary. Charles was with his Grandparents
William and Elizabeth Bacon who also lived in Dale Cottage. The
1881 census described William as a “Hawker” and the family were
living in a caravan in Copthorne. It is possible Benjamin Gibby
was serving in the army in South Africa in 1901. Albert was killed
in action on 24th September 1918 and is buried in Grave I H 7
in Epehy Wood Farm Cemetery, Epehy. The news of his death appeared
in the Horsham Times on 12th October 1918 ‘Mrs Skilton of Holmwood
Cottage has received official notice that her nephew, Prvt Albert
Gibby of the Royal Sussex Regiment, was killed in action in France
on 24th September. The unfortunate lad was only 23 years of age
and from the early age of five months had been brought up by his
aunt with whom much sympathy is felt in her sorrow.’ |
HABGOOD |
William
Roy |
Sergeant
SD/2931 11th (Service) Battalion (1st South Down) Royal Sussex
Regiment. William was born in Worth about 1891. He was the son
of Emily Habgood who was born in Worth. Although 9 children are
shown, ranging from 21 to 3 months, on the 1901 Worth census;
their father is not present and the family cannot be traced on
the 1881 census. Emily is a laundress and of the children, one
is a Jobbing Labourer, one a Stockman on a farm, one a Journeyman
Baker and one a Domestic Gardener.
He
died on 21st October 1916 and his body was not found for burial
He is commemorated on Pier and Face 7 C of the Thiepval Memorial,
in the Somme region of France. He is also commemorated on the
Worth War Memorial. William enlisted
in Crawley according to Soldiers Died in the Great War.
The Battalion War Diary for 21st October contains the following
entry.
“ 21st October 1916 - Redoubt
Sector
The battalion captured
the German front Line (Stuff Trench). ‘B’ and ‘C’ Companies assaulted.
‘A’ and ‘D’ Companies reinforced them in the front line. Heavy
casualties were inflicted on the enemy and many prisoners taken.”
2 officers killed and 2 wounded. 11 other ranks killed, 186 wounded
and 77 missing.” |
HEDLEY |
Joseph
Walton |
Captain
2/5th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers Joseph was born in Langho, Lancashire
about 1880, the son of Matthew and Jane Hedley. His father was
the Vicar of Langho Hospital for Infectious Diseases. Joseph
went to Brasenose College, Oxford and qualified a Batchelor of
Arts. He became an Assistant Master at Copthorne School. He died
of wounds on 12th September 1916 and is buried in Grave IV F 6
in Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt L’Abbe. On the 7th September
1916 the battalion moved to trenches between Delville Wood, Trones
Wood and Ginchy. Although attached to the 16th (Irish) Division
for the assault on Ginchy that took place by this division on
9th September they did not take part until the following day and
attacked Hop Alley and Ale Alley. Some troops entered Hop Alley
but were forced out by German shelling and machine gun fire at
a cost of 350 casualties. |
LANGRIDGE |
William |
Private
SD/2956 9th (Service) Bn Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment. William,
known as Willie, was born in Copthorne about 1892, the son of
David Langridge, a Farm labourer. David is not listed in the 1881
census, but by 1901 is living in Copthorne with his family. In
Willett’s Directory for 1916 David is listed as a Labourer at
Cottage Place. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission give his
address as Heath View. He was killed in action on 11th June 1917
and his body was not found for burial He is commemorated on Panel
20 of the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres. |
LINFIELD |
Percy
Frank |
Private
G/16044 13th (3rd South Down) Bn Royal Sussex Regiment. Percy
was born in Storrington about 1888, the son of John Linfield and
his wife Friend. Both parents were also from Storrington and John
was a Painter. In 1881 the family was living in Stream Villa,
Storrington. The family was still in Storrington in 1901, but
John is not included in the UK Census and has probably died. The
Commonwealth War Graves Commission notes he was married and that
his wife, Esther Barbara Linfield, lived at White Horse Yard,
Storrington. She came from the Brooker family of Copthorne He
was killed in an air raid and is buried in Grave O 8 in Kemmel
Chateau Cemetery.
Also
included on the East Grinstead
and Storrington War Memorials |
LOCK |
Albert
George |
Private
G/51126 24th (Service) Bn (2nd Sportsman’s) Royal Fusiliers. Albert
was born in Copthorne about 1879. He was the son of Henry and
Elizabeth Lock. Henry was a Labourer and the family were living
in Copthorne in 1881. Willett’s Directory for 1916 gives Albert’s
address as Cottage Place and describes him as a Labourer. The
Commonwealth War Graves Commission note his wife Clara Jane lived
at Heathview, Copthorne. He died on 30th April 1917 and has no
known grave. He is commemorated on Bay 3 of the Arras Memorial. Albert
enlisted in Chichester and initially served with the Middlesex
Regiment, Service Number G/27925. |
MAYNARD |
David |
Private
L/10819 7th (Service) Bn Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment).
David is understood to have been one of the two sons of William
and Sarah Maynard that were killed in the war. His elder brother
George (see below) was killed just under five months later while
serving with the same battalion. He was born in Copthorne about
1873. In 1881 he is listed as a scholar and in 1901 as a Carrier.
Willett’s Directory 1916 records him as a Labourer. The family
lived at 26 Copthorne Bank in 1881 and in Spring Gardens in 1916. He
died on 1st July 1916 and his body was not found for burial He
is commemorated on Pier and Face 5D and 6D of the Thiepval Memorial.
The 7th Bn, following the explosion of two mines under the German
positions, attacked at 7.30 am on a front 200 yards wide. The
heavy cratering from the bombardment caused some problems but
a solitary machine gun in No Man’s land caught the Queens and
the Royal West Kents in support delaying their advance in front
of the Breslau Trench. After further fierce fighting through Back
Trench and Train Alley they reached Montauban Alley by late afternoon
at a cost of 532 casualties. |
MAYNARD |
George |
Private
24577 7th (Service) Bn Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). George
is understood to have been one of the two sons of William and
Sarah Maynard that were killed in the war. His younger brother
David (see above) had been killed just under five months earlier
while serving with the same battalion. He was born in Copthorne
about 1873. In 1881 he is listed as a Labourer and in 1901 as
a General Labourer. Willett’s Directory 1916 records him as a
Labourer. The family lived at 26 Copthorne Bank in 1881 and in
Spring Gardens in 1916. George died of wounds on 24th November
1916 and is buried in Grave VIII D 6 in Warloy-Baillon Communal
Cemetery Extension. On 18th November the battalion took part in
their final assault of the Battle of the Somme and involved them
in an attack north east of the remains of the village of Courcelette
at a position known as Desire Trench. Snow had been falling and
the troops lay in this in No Man’s Land while waiting for the
attack to take place at 6.10 am. The attack began in blinding
sleet that later turned to rain. The earlier snow had covered
what landmarks remained and the Queens together with the 7th Buffs
became lost. C and D companies were caught by machine gun fire
from the Stump Road and the detachment ordered to attack some
dug outs with grenades were virtually wiped out by shell fire. |
MAYNARD |
Herbert |
Bombardier
124619 125th Battery, 29th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Herbert
was born in Burstow about 1896. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
note he was the brother in law of Kate Maynard of ‘Ferndale’,
Bamridge Lane, Stopsley, Luton, indicating his parents were deceased.
He is not included on the Stopsley War Memorial. Soldiers Died
in the Great War list him as enlisting in Guildford. He died of
wounds on 31st October 1918 and is buried in Grave S.II.EE.2 in
St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen. |
MAYNARD |
Thomas
Walter |
Private
228016 1/1st (City of London) Bn The London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers).
Thomas was born in Burstow, just over the county boundary in Surrey.
He was the son of James and Ann Maynard. The Commonwealth War
Graves Commission notes James had died and he also does not appear
in the 1901 census for Worth. Ann is present, with no occupation
provided, living in Burstow. Soldiers Died in the Great War notes
that Thomas was living in Copthorne when he enlisted in Guildford. He
was killed in action on 3rd May 1917 and his body was not found
for burial. He is commemorated on Bay 9 of the Arras Memorial. |
NICHOLSON |
David |
Private
G/7529 7th (Service) Bn Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment).
David was born in Slaugham about 1891. He was the son of William
and Eliza Nicholson. William was a Gardener’s Labourer from West
Grinstead and in 1881 lived at Finches Cottage in Slaugham Soldiers
Died in the Great War notes David was a Copthorne Resident when
he enlisted in Horsham, but the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
give his parent’s address as 59, Lumley Road, Horley. He died
on 16th March 1917 and is buried in Grave X H 3 in Cologne Southern
Cemetery. David was a prisoner of war and died of illness while
in captivity. |
PAYNE |
Arthur
Edward |
Private
92370 15th (Service) Bn (Nottingham) Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire
and Derbyshire) Regiment. Arthur was born about 1896 in Hook,
Surrey (according to Soldiers Died in the Great War), the son
of Arthur and Esther Payne of Haynes Farm, Copthorne. Arthur,
the father, is still listed at this address in Willett’s Directory,
1916. Arthur originally enlisted into the Army Service Corps,
Service Number 918217. He died on 14th July 1918. His body was
not found for burial and he is commemorated Panels 99 to 102 and
162 to 162A of the Tyne Cot Memorial. His brother, Charles (see
below), was also killed. |
PAYNE |
Charles |
Lance
Corporal TF/200168 1/4th Bn Royal Sussex Regiment. Charles was
born in Surbiton, Surrey about 1895. He was the son of Arthur
and Esther Payne who are recorded in the Willett’s Directory of
Copthorne for 1916 and by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
as living at Haynes Farm, Copthorne with Henry as a farmer. He
was killed in action on 26th March 1917 and his body was not found
for burial He is commemorated on Panels 26 and 27 of the Jerusalem
Memorial. One letter received after his death reads “ I was by
his side at the time and we were two of the fourteen men who had
got to within a very short distance of the enemy’s redoubt when
he was shot through the head by an enemy sniper.” His brother,
Arthur (see above), was also killed. |
SKEETS |
Joseph |
Private
1527 7th (Service) Bn The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission give his age as 30 and
state he is the son of Ellen Skeets and a native of Croydon. However
it has not been possible to trace him on the 1901 census. His
wife Dora (later remarried as Mrs Humphrey) was living at 22,
Grove Road, Redhill. His connection with Copthorne has not been
found. He died on 1st July 1916 and is buried in Grave II B 16
in Dive Copse British Cemetery, Sailly-Le-Sec. Joseph is one of
only five members of the Regiment buried here. |
STEVENS |
Frank |
Sapper
57243 105th Field Company Royal Engineers. Frank was born in Crawley
Down about 1890. He was the son of Frank and Martha Ann Stevens.
The elder Frank was born in Hindon, Wiltshire about 1864 and in
1881 he was a Farm Labourer living with his parents in West Tisbury,
Wiltshire which is where he wife was from. The 1901 census for
West Tisbury includes Martha with her son Frank as well as her
parents in law Joseph and Mary Stevens. Martha’s husband Frank
does not appear on the census. It is possible he was serving in
the forces abroad. Both the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
and Willett’s local directory for 1915 show Frank and Martha living
at Newlands Lodge, Crawley Down. He was working for Sir Hanbury
Brown KCMG at Newlands as a Coachman. Sir Hanbury lost his own
son, Austin, serving as a Major in the Royal Engineers. He was
killed in action on 20th July 1916 and is buried in Grave I K
34 in Albert Communal Cemetery Extension.
Frank
is commemorated on the War Memorial at Crawley
Down.
A letter received
from his unit states” He was killed yesterday by a shell which
came into the billet. His death was instantaneous, so he did not
suffer any pain.” |
TARGETT |
Percival
Frank |
Private
200610 1/4th Bn Royal Sussex Regiment. Percival was born in Copthorne
about 1896. He was the son of Henry and Jessie Targett. Henry
was a Domestic Gardener from Weston in Somerset. The 1881 census
shows Henry living with his parents in Lads Barton Weston, possibly
Weston Town hear Frome, Somerset. In 1901 the family are in Burstow. The
Commonwealth War Graves Commission gave their address as 1, Flora
Villa, Charlesfield Road in the Horley Row area of the town. He
died of wounds on 7th August 1918 and is buried in Grave Q III
M 12 in St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen. |
VIGAR |
Robert |
Private
G/12995 13th (Service) Bn (3rd South Down) Royal Sussex Regiment.
Robert was born in Copthorne about 1878, probably at Rowfant where
he is found on the 1881 census with his parents Edward and Mary
Vigar. Edward was from Burstow and his wife from the large Denman
family in Copthorne. Edward was a brickmaker, possibly at Rowfant
Brickworks. By 1901 Edward describes himself as a House Builder,
living at Kimberley House, Copthorne and this is confirmed by
the entry in Willett’s Directory for Copthorne in 1916 listing
E Vigar & Sons as builders in Church Lane. The Commonwealth War
Graves Commission lists his parents living in Copthorne and also
that he was married. However his mother died in 1917, before Robert
was killed.
His
wife Rose Marion Vigar lived at ‘Viola’ in Church Lane. His cousin
Annie Denman married John Johnson from Colgate. Two of their sons,
James and William, were killed in the war and are commemorated
on the Worth War Memorial.
Robert was killed
in action on 31st July 1917, the first day of the Third Battle
of Ypres, known as Passchendaele. He is buried in Grave D 31 in
Buffs Road Cemetery. A letter from the front notes “His death
appears to have been a noble one, killed instantaneously by a
bursting shell when charging the enemy.” |
WORSELL |
John |
Private
GS/62290 2nd Bn Royal Fusiliers John was born about 1880, the
son of John and Ellen Worsell. The 1881 census describes the elder
John as a ‘Higgler’. This was an old term for a pedlar, usually
with a horse and cart. The 1901 census lists Ellen as a widow
and a Licensed Victualler at the Abergavenny Arms, Copthorne Common
Road, Copthorne. John was a barman and his elder sister, Susanna
was a Domestic Help. There were three other children George, Henry
and Walter.
The
pub has recently been demolished and houses built on the site.
Willett’s 1916 lists only Mrs Worsell there, but it does list
John Worsell as a Coal Merchant in Borer’s Yard, Copthorne. .
He was married to Annie Beatrice Worsell who lived at Pembley
Green on Copthorne Common according to the Commonwealth War Graves
Commission.
He
was killed in action on 5th September 1918. His body was not found
for burial and he is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial.
He
was awarded the Military Medal in September 1917 |
Last updated
11 May, 2006
|