Sergeant 8455, 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own). 8th Division. Killed in action on the Somme 4 August 1916. Aged 34. Born in St. Leonards Sussex and enlisted in Hastings. Son of Thomas and Anne Blackman of St. Leonards. Husband of Mrs Harriett Elizabeth Blackman of Sprays Cottages Church Path Ninfield. Buried in VERMELLES BRITISH CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Plot III. Row L. Grave 9. - See also Bexhill-on-Sea

Extract from Bexhill-on-Sea Chronicle - Saturday 2 September 1916, page 14:

KILLED IN ACTION.

Our photograph is of Sergeant C. W. Blackman, who, as reported in our last issue, has been killed while serving with the Rifle Brigade. He was the husband of Mrs. Blackman, of Grinses Farm, Little Common, and joined his regiment in August, 1914.

He went through the Mons retreat, being wounded soon after. After remaining in hospital in England for some time he returned eventually to the Front. A letter has now been received from the Rev. J. E. Hamilton, chaplain to the Forces, containing news of his decease. He was killed on August 14th by a fragment of an aerial dart.

Extract from Bexhill-on-Sea Observer - Saturday 9 September 1916, page 8:

LITTLE COMMON MAN KILLED.

Sergeant Charles W. Blackman, of the Rifle Brigade, was recently killed by an aerial dart. Called up as a recruit two years ago, he was in the retreat from Mons, and was wounded in the Battle of the Marne. He was the first wounded man to return to Little Common. After a period of home service he was then drafted abroad again. and has been in and out of the trenches since the spring, of 1915.

His Chaplain writes:—“He was a good soldier, and held a high place in the esteem of all who knew him. He was very regular at service, and helped me in many ways. I shall miss him very much, and, indeed, so will all his comrades.”

Before he was called up Sergt. Blackman was was working for Mr. Parks, at Grinses Farm, Little Common.

Trimmer 606961, H.M.S. Stephen Furness, Mercantile Marine Reserve, Royal Navy. Died 13th December 1917. Age 25. Son of Mr. and Mrs. William Evans, of Dulwich, London; husband of Emily Evans, of 51, Shenley Rd., Camberwell, London. Commemorated on PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL, Devon. Panel 25. - See also Bexhill-on-Sea

Note: H.M.S. "Stephen Furness" was built at West Hartlepool in 1910. 1712 gross tonnage. Owned by the Tyne-Tees Shipping Co. Ltd., King Street, Newcastle upon Tyne. Ship No.34 129,753. Type: Auxiliaries - Armed Boarding. Sunk by submarine UB64 in Irish Sea, west of the Isle of Man; six officers and 95 men lost 13rd December 1917.

Corporal 3313, 9th Battalion, The Rifle Brigade 14th Division Killed in action near Ypres 9 August 1915. Aged 28. Son of Mr and Mrs Freeman of 2 Railway Cottages Cooden Bexhill. Born in Bexhill and enlisted in Hastings. A note of his death appeared in the Bexhill-on-Sea Observer - Saturday 4 September 1915, page 8. No known grave. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 46. - See also Bexhill-on-Sea

Extract from Bexhill-on-Sea Chronicle - Saturday 4 September 1915, page 5:

DEATH OF CORPORAL FREEMAN.

We regret to record the death of Corporal Albert H. Freeman (aged 28 years), of the Rifle Brigade. Corporal Freeman was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Levi Freeman, of Railway Cottages, Cooden Down, Little Common, and was in the Army serving at Dagshai, India, eventually going to the front in December last. The deceased soldier about six weeks ago was on leave in London. On Thursday, August 26th, news was received from the War Office by his friends, saying that the Corporal had been killed in action on August 9th, and no further information has yet been received.

[Spelt HAWKINGS on Bexhill-on-Sea Memorial and CWGC] Ordinary Seaman SS/4984, H.M.S. Formidable, Royal. Died 1st January 1915. Commemorated on CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL, Kent. Panel 10. - See also Bexhill-on-Sea

Note: HMS "Formidable" sunk by torpedo from German submarine U24 off Portland Bill, in the English Channel, on 1st January 1915. Formidable battleship, 15,000 tons. Launched 17th November 1898, Portsmouth. Heaviest gun, 12 in, 50 tons.

Click on picture for larger view.

Sergeant L/4737, 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. 1st Division. Killed in action near Klein Zillebeke near Ypres 8 November 1914. Born in Sandhurst, Kent and enlisted in Tunbridge Wells. Regular Soldier. No known grave. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, Weswt-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Pan el 20. - See also Bexhill-on-Sea

Extract from Bexhill-on-Sea Chronicle - Saturday 19 December 1914, pager 8:

DEATH OF SERGT. F. JAMES

We regret to state that Sergt. F. James of the Royal Sussex Regiment, the son of Mr. and Mrs. James, of Little Common, was killed in action at Ypres on November 8th. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant on the battlefield. Mr. James who is 65 years of age, has four sons in the Army, and they will have between them done 70 years service and eight years fighting. Ten medals have been awarded to members of the family.

Extract from Bexhill-on-Sea Observer - Saturday 19 December 1914, pager 7:

KILLED YPRES.
LITTLE COMMON SERGEANT DIES ON THE BATTLEFIELD.

Another Bexhill soldier, this time a resident of Little Common, has laid down his life on the battlefield, fighting for his King and country. He is Sergeant Frank James, the 2nd Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment, and information was received this week by his father, Mr. H. James, market gardener, Little Common, that he had been killed while in action at Ypres on November 8th. The deceased soldier lived with his father at Little Common, and was married, but had no family. His wife is at present in Eversfield Hospital. The late Sergeant James was among the first of the British troops go to the front, and the last time he wrote home was about a month ago. He then told his father that he was well, and mentioned a Tunbridge Wells friend of his, who had been wounded in the attacks of the Germans. The deceased had a brother, Sergeant Edward James, who is attached to the Lincolnshire Regiment, and is expecting to be transferred shortly to the 3rd Battalion of the Southdowns.

Second Lieutenant, 10th Battalion, The Hampshire Regiment. 10th (Irish) Division. Killed in action near Anzac Cove 10 August 1915. Aged 25. Son of The Rev. and Mrs Oswald Whaley of 32 Sutherland Avenue Bexhill. B. A. Christs College Cambridge. No known grave. Commemorated on HELLES MEMORIAL, Turkey (including Gallipoli). Panel 126-135 or 223-226 228-229 & 328.- See also Bexhill-on-Sea

Extract from Bexhill-on-Sea Observer - Saturday 18 September 1915, page 10:

LOCAL OFFICER KILLED.

Great sympathy is felt with the Rev. Oswald Whaley, of Hurchington, Little Common-road, Bexhill, whose elder son, Second Lieutenant Oswald Stanley Whaley, of the 10th Battalion Hampshire was killed in action at Gakllipoli on August 10th. Second Lieutenant Whaley was 25 years of age.

Extract from Bexhill-on-Sea Chronicle - Saturday 18 September 1915, page 10:

LIEUT. WHALEY'S DEATH.

We greatly regret to have to record the death of Second Lieutenant Oswald S. Whaley, of the 10th Hampshire Regiment, who was killed in Gallipoli on August 10th, aged 25. He was the eldest surviving son of the Rev. Oswald and Mrs. Whaley, of Hurchington, Bexhill, and formerly of Poslingford Vicarage, Suffolk. He was educated at Sedbergh School, Yorkshire, and after taking his B.A. degree at Christ's College, Cambridge, was engaged in tuition work until the outbreak of the war, when he enlisted in the University and Public Schools Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. Subsequently, he received a commission in the 10th Hampshire, and landed in Gallipoli during the first week of August. Sympathy with his father and mother has been widely expressed.

The deceased officer was the nephew of Miss Whaley, of Hurchington.

Gunner. Died at Ypres 1916.

Private 13343, Royal Lancaster Regiment. Died 1st January 1915, Age 29.

Lieutenant in Command, H.M.S. Flint. Accident drowned off Pevenesey Sluice. {Date illegible) Age 27.

No further information currently

Sergeant 781504, 7 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery. Died 3 December 1940. Aged 31. on of William Thomas Clarke and Bertha Rosina Clarke, of Little Common, Bexhill-on-Sea. Buried West of the church in BEXHILL (ST. MARK) CHURCHYARD, Sussex.

Sub-Lieutenant, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Killed in action at sea 27th July 1940. Aged 29.