Major (Brevet Lieutenant Colonel) Royal Engineers AQMG Third Army GHQ Born 18th June 1880. Son of Colonel Woodford George Du Boulay and his wife, Rose, (Nee Hawkins) Married 21st September 1909 at Roffey to Blanche Hornung, daughter of John Peter Hornung J.P and his wife, Laura, of ‘Compton’s Lea, Horsham. Arthur and Blanche later lived at 3, West Halkin Street, Belgrave Square, London. They had 1 daughter, Suzanne. She married Captain Lord Douglas Gordon of the Black Watch in 1940 at St George’s, West Grinstead. In 1939, many years after Arthur’s death Blanche married General Sir Hugh Elles who commanded the Tank Corps in World War 1. 23rd August 1914 – 15th June 1915, Deputy Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General as Captain. Promoted Major 18th August 1916 and brevet Lieutenant Colonel 1st June 1917 Arthur died of illness on 25th October 1918. Buried in Grave A 36 in Fillievres British Cemetery, France. This is about 25 miles south west of Arras and was used by the 46th Casualty Clearing Station and 6th Stationary Hospital.

Also commemorated on the Cheltenham Borough War Memorial, the Cheltenham College Roll of Honour, the All Saints Church, Cheltenham War Memorial, the West Grinstead Old Comrades Memorial and on his fathers grave at St Peter’s Church, Leckhampton.

His brother, Hubert Lionel, who was killed in 1916, is also commemorated here. Awarded the Distinguished Service Order (London Gazette 31st May 1918), Officer of the Order of Agricultural Merit( France), Officer of the Order of Leopold II with Palm (Belgium), Croix De Guerre (Belgium). Mentioned in Despatches 4 times. His brother in law, John Peter Hornung MC, was killed in 1916 (see below)

Captain, 6th (Service) Bn Somerset Light Infantry Killed in action 31st July 1915. Buried in Grave I D 4 in Ypres Town Cemetery Extension.

Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead. A John Bradney is living at ‘The Lodge’, West Grinstead in 1915

Private 424327, 28th Bn Canadian Infantry (Saskatchewan Regiment) Born at West Grinstead 28th June 1887. Son of William and Ellen Cheesmore of Worthing Road, West Grinstead and previously of Thakeham Enlisted in Canada in Dauphin, Manitoba January 1915. He was 5’ 4 1/22 tall with brown eyes and dark brown hair. Died 6th June 1916. Commemorated on Panel 18-26-28 of the Menin Gate, Ypres.

Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.

Private G/12287, 7th (Service) Bn Royal Sussex Regiment Born in Shipley about 1887. Son of William and Eliza Coote of 59, Worthing Road, West Grinstead. Husband of Mrs E M Coote of Bacons Farm, Dragons Green, Shipley. Enlisted in Worthing. Died of wounds 10th April 1917. Buried in Grave III A 18 in Duisans British Cemetery, Etrun Brother of Frank Coote (below)

Also on Shipley and the West Grinstead Old Comrades War Memorials

Private G/17800, 9th (Service) Bn Royal Sussex Regiment Born about 1894 in Dial Post. Son of William and Eliza Coote of 59, Worthing Road, West Grinstead. Enlisted in Horsham Killed in action 27th March 1918. Commemorated on Panel 46 and 47 of the Pozieres Memorial. Brother of Charles Coote (above)

Also on Shipley and the West Grinstead Old Comrades War Memorials

Corporal 12071, 19th (Service) Bn (4th City) Manchester Regiment. Born Kingsthorpe, Manchester. Resident in West Grinstead, enlisted in Manchester. Killed in action 23rd July 1916. Commemorated on Pier & Face 13A & 14C of the Thiepval Memorial.

Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.

Private 9345, 1st Bn Royal Berkshire Regiment Born in Corfe Castle, Dorset. Resident in Romsey. Enlisted in Reading Died of wounds 5th July 1915. Buried in Division 19, Grave F 6 in Ste Marie Cemetery, Le Havre.

Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead. West Grinstead connection not traced.

Petty Officer 174897, HMS ‘Formidable’, Royal Navy Born about 1876 in Washington, Sussex. Son of John and Harriet Golds. John was the publican at the Crown Inn at Dial Post. Died 1st January 1915. Commemorated on Panel 9 of the Chatham Naval Memorial.

Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.

HMS Formidable was the nameship of the ‘Formidable’ Class of pre-dreadnought Battleships. Launched in 1898 she initially formed part of the Mediterranean Fleet, then the Channel Fleet and then the Home Fleet until 1912 when she was placed in reserve. At the outbreak of war she joined the 5th Battle Squadron with whom she served until her sinking. She was sunk on New Year’s Day 1916 off Portland while returning from gunnery exercises by two torpedoes from the U-24. 547 men from her crew of 780 lost their lives.

Major Worcestershire Regiment, attached as Brigade Major to the 17th Infantry Brigade Born about 1874. Son of the late Henry Green. Husband of Isabella M Green of ‘Caryll Hurst’, West Grinstead. Served in South Africa during the Boer War. Killed in action 28th September 1914. Buried in Grave A 1 in Soupir Communal Cemetery, Aisne, France Awarded the Distinguished Service Order. Listed by ‘Soldiers Died in the Great War’ as ‘Arthur Downson Green’.

Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.

Private 295182, 2/7th Bn TF, Manchester Regiment Born about 1898 in West Grinstead. Son of Edwin and Sarah Haycox of Worthing Road, East Grinstead. Edwin was the local grocer. Enlisted in Horsham. Initially served with the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment, service number 203835. Died of wounds 26th July 1917. Buried in Grave I L 9 in Coxyde Military Cemetery, Belgium

Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.

Second Lieutenant John Peter Hornung, 95th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery Born 18th December 1894 in Icklingham, Suffolk. Son of John Peter Hornung J. P. and his wife, Laura, of West Grinstead Park. Died of wounds 20th February 1916. Buried in Grave IX F 74 in Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres.

Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.

His sister, Blanche, married Arthur Houssemayne du Boulay who was also killed in the war (see above) There is also a memorial window in St George’s Church to them and his sister Bertha’s husband, Captain Francis Spencer Collin who died in 1920. This window is in three sections The elder John Peter was a brother of E W ( Ernest William) Hornung, the then well known author of ‘Raffles’. The Hornung family was connected with the sugar trade in Mozambique and Portugal (his wife was Portuguese). His company now forms part of Tate and Lyle This window is in three sections and is inscribed:

This window is erected by John Peter and Lorna Hornung of West Grinstead Park of these, their beloved sons and sons in law. Major and brevet Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Houssemayne du Boulay DSO, Royal Engineers. Born 18th June 1880. Died in France October 25th 1917. Second Lieutenant John Peter Hornung MC. Born 18th December 1894. Killed in action in France February 26th 1916

(NB this disagrees with the CWGC details)

Captain and brevet Major Francis Spencer Collin. Born August 5th 1885. Died in Ireland March 17th 1920

Major Collin served in the Royal Engineers and married Bertha Mary Hornung in 1915

Private 207135, 20th (Northern) Bn Rifle Brigade Born about 1882 in West Grinstead. Died in the sinking of the troopship ‘Ivernia’ 1st January 1917. Commemorated on the Mikra Memorial, Greece.

Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.

The 20th Bn was formed in 1915 from supernumerary TF companies formed from National Reservists. It was sent for garrison duties in Egypt Ivernia was a former Cunard liner, converted to a troopship in 1914. It was on its way to Alexandria with 2,400 troops aboard when it was torpedoed 58 miles south east of Cape Matapan by the UB-47. 199 of those on board lost their lives, a low amount from what it could have been.

Lieutenant, 2nd Bn Grenadier Guards. First Guards Brigade. Born 18th May 1888. Son of the Reverend Reginald Bridges Knatchbull-Hugessen and his second wife Rachel Mary (Nee Montgomery). He was a member of the Special Reserve. Awarded the Military Cross (London Gazette 14th January 1916). Killed in action 25th September 1916. Buried in Grave II C 2 in Citadel New Military Cemetery, Fricourt, Somme, France.

This is the only casualty of this surname of the war.

Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.

The battalion moved to assembly trenches in front of Ginchy on 24th September in readiness for an attack the next day. These trenches were too narrow to lay or sit down in and the troops had to remain standing until the attack at 12.35 pm the next day. The enemy wire was then found to be uncut and four officers went out in an attempt to cut this wire. The regimental history records high casualties in the officers in the attack on the first objective and that the second objective attack was led by N.C.O.’s. The battalion suffered 351 casualties.

Private SD/4040, 11th (1st South Down) Bn Royal Sussex Regiment Born in Shipley and enlisted in Hastings Killed in action 3rd September 1916. Commemorated on Pier and Face 7C of the Thiepval Memorial.

Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.

On 2nd September the battalion took over trenches in front of Hamel. The attack took place the next day at 5.10 am with the first wave entering the enemy front line trench. However the second and third waves were hit by German shelling in No Man’s Land which caused heavy casualties. The enemy positions could not be held and troops withdrew by 6.30 pm with 299 casualties.

Private G/17871, 7th (Service) Bn Royal Sussex Regiment Born about 1896. Son of John and Martha S May of Hurst Cottage, Dial Post, West Grinstead. Killed in action 11th August 1918. Commemorated on Panel 6 of the Vis-En-Artois Memorial

Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.

Private G/8683, 2nd Bn Royal Sussex Regiment Born about 1895 in Ashington. Son of Charles and Harriett Ockenden of Fosters Cottage, West Grinstead. Enlisted in Horsham Killed in action 23rd July 1916. Commemorated on Pier and Face 7C of the Thiepval Memorial.

Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.

On 22nd July the battalion took over trenches opposite ‘The Triangle’. The following they the troops, together with 2nd Bn KRRC, attacked Munster Alley. Both battalions were caught by machine gun fire from the start. An unsuccessful attempt was made to capture enemy trenches under the cover of a British barrage. The battalion was forced to withdraw with 116 casualties. Brother of Frederick Ockenden (below)

Private G/31141, 1st Bn Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) Born in Cowfold. Enlisted in Brighton. Killed in action 28th June 1916. Commemorated on Panel 8 of the Ploegsteert Memorial

Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.

Lance Corporal G/7571, 8th (Service) Bn, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) Born about 1897. Son of William and Annie Phillpott, Dial Post. Died 2nd January 1919. Buried in the churchyard at St George’s Church, West Grinstead.

Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.

Private 41814, 11th (Service) Bn Royal Fusiliers. Born in West Grinstead about 1885. Husband of Mary Josephine Roberts of 3, St Mary’s Place, Brighton. Enlisted in Brighton. Killed in action 17th February 1917. Commemorated on Pier and Face 8C, 9A & 16A of the Thiepval Memorial

Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.

Gunner 55020, 381st Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Born Witley, Surrey about 1897. Son of William and Fanny Kate Stickles of Copsale. Enlisted in Horsham. Killed in action 8 November 1917. Buried in Belgian Battery Corner Cemetery 1 ½ miles south west of Ypres.

Also commemorated on the Nuthurst and Old Comrades, West Grinstead War Memorials

Driver 14283, ‘B’ Battery, 72nd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery Born about 1894 in Horsham. Son of Mr H Turrell, Butcher’s Row, West Grinstead. Enlisted in Horsham Killed in action 21st September 1918. Buried in Grave VI D 9 in Fins New British Cemetery, Sorel-Le-Grand.

Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.

Company Sergeant Major, L9049, 7th (Service) Bn Royal Sussex Regiment Born St Mary’s, Sussex and enlisted in Chichester. Killed in action 9th August 1918. Commemorated on Panel 9 of the Vis-En-Artois Memorial.

Also commemorated on the East Grinstead and West Grinstead Old Comrades War Memorials

Private, T/203965, 1st Bn The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) Born in West Grinstead. Resident in Maplehurst when he enlisted in Horsham. Initially served with the 5th Bn East Surrey Regiment, service number 203290 Killed in action 24th June 1917. Commemorated on Panel 15 to 19 of the Loos Memorial

Also commemorated on the Ashurst Wood and West Grinstead Old Comrades War Memorials

Private 36739, 4th Bn Royal Fusiliers Born about 1881. Son of Alfred and Mary Ann Warnett of Dial Post. Husband of Mary Warnett of 8, Ivy Cottages, Hillingdon, Middlesex. Died 18th June 1917. Buried in Grave IB 3 in Hillingdon Cemetery.

Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.

Private 11323, 2nd Bn Royal Sussex Regiment. Born in Wimbish, Essex. Enlisted in Horsham Killed in action 8th June 1918. Commemorated on the Addenda Panel of the Loos Memorial

Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.

Sergeant 1882405, 612 Field Squadron, Royal Engineers. Born about 1911. Son of George and Jane Budd of Brighton. Husband of Mildred Mabel Budd of Brighton. Died 28th June 1944. Buried in Grave V E 18 in St Manvieu War Cemetery, Cheux, Normandy, France

Also listed at Partridge Green and on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.

Able Seaman, Royal Navy in World War 1 sunsequently Merchant Seaman until the early part of World War 2. Died in the April to June Quarter 1942, death registered in the St. Pancras Registration District. Born January to March Quarter 1881 in the Horsham Registration District. In the 1891 census he was aged 10, born Nuthurst, Sussex, resident with with his parents, Henry and Sarah Flint, in Nuthurst, Sussex. In the 1901 census he was aged 20, born Horsham, Sussex, a crew member, Ordinary Seaman, H.M.S. Alexandria, Royal Navy, based at Portland, Dorset. In the January to March Quarter 1907 he married Lucy Johnson in the Horsham Registration District. In the 1911 census his wife was aged 26, born Ashurst, Sussex, resident 46, Park Lane, West Grinstead. He was acCrew member of SS Pannonia in 1918 travelling from London to Quebec. A Merchant Seaman (611067) between 1928 and 1930 on SS Minnetonka and later on SS Maryland travelling between London and New York. IN the 1939 Register he was listed as born 4 January 1881, a Lamp Trimmer in the Mercantile Marines, married to Lucy, resident Glenmore, Dial Post, Horsham. Buried in West Grinstead Churchyard, Sussex, 15 May 1942.

Also listed on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.

Extract from Parish Magazine June 1942:

Mr. Harry Flint, of Dial Post, was laid to rest in West Grinstead Churchyard on May 15th. He had lived a hero's life. But, like most heroes, he was probably unconscious that he was doing anything out of the ordinary. He joined the Navy at the age of 14, but was invalided out during the Great War, after being torpedoed in H.M.S. Gundreda, known as a mystery ship. There were only four survivors. His eyesight was affected by the explosion. He then joined the Merchant Service, and spent 24 years in it. He was torpedoed on the Galway Castle, nine days out of port — also during the Great War. In this ship he was Quartermaster in charge of four lifeboats, and was one of the last to leave the ship. Again he went to sea and was torpedoed in a Union—Castle ship in the Atlantic. Soon after the beginning of the present war he was blown up by a mine off the East Coast in the Dunbar Castle. Immediately he sought another ship. His last voyage was in April, 1941, in the M. V. Hylton. He was torpedoed in the Battle of the Atlantic. For eight hours he was in the water. This long exposure affected his heart. He was sent to hospital, but escaped his doctors and sought another ship. However, the ship's doctor would not pass him. The Union-Castle Line gave him a shore job. He passed quietly into his last port on May 12th, 1942.

Mrs. Flint is very grateful for the sympathy and friendship shown to her on every side, and desires to express her thanks for the many wreaths sent to her.

It is clear from other reports in the parish magazines that Mrs Flint was a tireless fund raiser in Dial Post, raising money for war efforts, prisoners of war and the village hall, amongst other causes.

Sergeant (Air Gunner) 1814726, 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Born about 1924. Son of Herbert Thomas Grantham and his wife Mabel Grace, of West Grinstead. Died 2nd May 1944. Buried in Row A, Grave 20 in Poix De Picardie (previously known as Poix de la Somme) Churchyard

Also listed on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.

218 Squadron flew Short Stirling heavy bombers. He was the rear gunner in the crew of Stirling II, EF259, Code letters HA-G. that crashed at La Houssaye. Four were killed and 4 escaped and evaded. They were on a mission to destroy the main stores and repair depot for the railway in the north of France at Chambly, near Paris. They were the only Stirling squadron operating and only two crews were lost.

Aircraftman 2nd Class 1194884, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Born about 1922. Son of Herbert Alfred and Caroline Ellen Knight of Partridge Green. Died as a Prisoner of War 29th November 1943. Commemorated on Column 430 of the Singapore Memorial

Also listed at Partridge Green and on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.

Sapper 1873470, 41 Fortress Company, Royal Engineers Born about 1912. Son of William and Ada Mary Lucas of Dial Post. Died as a Prisoner of War 4th August 1945. Buried in Grave 6 F 35 in Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Thailand. This was one of the main camps involved in building a railway to Burma including the infamous ‘Bridge on the River Kwai’.

Also listed on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.

Sub-Lieutenant (A), HMS Colossus, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Son of Herbert and Rose Margery Mitchell of Partridge Green. Died 30th May 1945. Commemorated on Bay 6, Panel 4 of the Lee On Solent Memorial.

HMS Colossus was an Aircraft Carrier, completed in September 1944. In March 1945 she sailed for the Far East, but spent the next two months in the Mediterranean on flying exercises. It is probable he died in a flying accident.

Also listed at Partridge Green and on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.

Private 6404733, 2nd Bn Somerset Light Infantry Born about 1915. Son of William and Lilian Sayers. Husband of Dorothy Rena Sayers of Fittleworth, Sussex. Died 15th September 1944. Buried in Grave XVI C 4 in Coriano Ridge War Cemetery, Italy.

Also listed at Partridge Green and on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.

Boy 1st Class, P/JX 177365, HMS Cossack, Royal Navy Born about 1924. Son of Hilda Winifred Weaver of Partridge Green. Died 23rd October 1941. Commemorated on Panel 51, Column 3 of the Portsmouth Naval Memorial

HMS Cossack (Pennant No L03) was a ‘Tribal’ class destroyer. In February 1940 she freed British seaman who were prisoners aboard the German supply ship ‘Altmark’, then in Norwegian waters. Two months later she took part in the Second Battle of Narvik. In October 1941 she was part of the escort to a convoy from Gibraltar to the UK when she was hit by a torpedo from U-563 that blew her bows off. This killed her captain and a further 158 officers and crew. As the ship did not sink immediately, efforts were made to save her and she was under tow when bad weather two days later caused her loss.

Also listed at Partridge Green and on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.

This casualty is included on the war memorial for Partridge Green where he also has a memorial in St Michael’s Church. The memorial in St George’s is in the area for bell ringing and consists of an inscribed brass plaque which reads:-

In ever loving memory of Robert James Brownlow Frank, Lieutenant, 4th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment. A Bell ringer in this church who gave his life for his God, King and Country 6th June 1916