
CRAWLEY
DOWN WAR MEMORIAL
World
War 1 & 2 - Roll of Honour with detailed information
Compiled and copyright © John Harrison 2006
Crawley
Down is a village about eight miles east of Crawley and about three
miles south west of East Grinstead. This memorial is at the junction
of Vicarage Road and Sandy Lane, about ¼ mile from the Church
of All Saints. The memorial does not contain a list of the casualties,
these are listed on a roll of honour at the church itself, that was
originally built in 1843 but has had several alterations in the years
since then. The list is to be found below and below that the researched
details of the individuals who died.
1914-1918
CASUALTIES |
BASIL
ANSELL |
7
ROYAL SUSSEX |
26/7/1916 |
FRANK
ANSELL |
7
BUFFS (EAST KENT) |
8/7/1917 |
OLIVER
BRACKPOOL |
9
ROYAL SUSSEX |
27/7/1917 |
SIDNEY
BRACKPOOL |
2
ROYAL SUSSEX |
9/5/1915 |
RICHARD
E K BRADSHAW |
12
LONDON |
1/7/1916
|
WILLIAM
DOUGLAS BRADSHAW |
88th
BDE RFA |
31/10/1916 |
CHARLES
WILLIAM CROUCHER |
2
ROYAL SUSSEX |
25/9/1915 |
ERNEST
FUNNELL |
1/4
ROYAL SUSSEX |
26/4/1917 |
FREDERICK
FUNNELL |
QUEENS |
23/4/17 |
FREDERICK
WILLIAM KINGSLAND |
22
ROYAL FUSILIERS |
2/2/1917 |
ALFRED
MITCHELL |
6
NORTHAMPTON |
20/9/1918 |
WILLIAM
MITCHELL |
11
ROYAL SUSSEX |
21/10/1916 |
GEORGE
THOMAS MILLYARD |
1
QUEENS OWN RWK |
27/9/1918 |
HENRY
ALBERT PAGE |
7
QUEENS |
1/7/1916 |
HERBERT
JOHN PHILLPOT |
MGC |
2/4/1918 |
STEWART
PLAWS |
BRITISH
RED CROSS |
|
PAUL
RODOCANACHI |
53
SQUADRON RFC |
27/7/1917 |
FREDERICK
SERGENT |
3
CAN INF (CAN MTD RIFLES) |
9/12/1916 |
WILLIAM
THOMAS SEARLE |
3
ROYAL SUSSEX |
|
JAMES
JOHN SCARAMANGA |
22
SQUADRON RAF |
10/7/1918 |
BRUCE
FRANCIS SHOLTO DOUGLAS |
2
SOUTH STAFFORDS |
14/4/1915 |
GILBERT
ARTHUR SIMMONDS |
121
SIEGE BTY, RGA |
8/9/1918 |
FRANK
SIMMONDS |
7
ROYAL SUSSEX |
7/7/1916 |
WILLIAM
HENRY SLATTER |
RGA |
6/11/1918 |
GEORGE
SPENCER |
7
LEICESTERS |
31/1/1916 |
FREDERICK
GEORGE STEDMAN |
9
ROYAL SUSSEX |
31/8/1916 |
FRANK
STEVENS |
105
FIELD COY RE |
20/7/1916 |
LEONARD
STREETER |
10
QUEENS |
6/8/1917 |
STANLEY
TERRY |
9
ROYAL SUSSEX |
12/11/1916 |
JABEZ
TESTER |
16
SHERWOOD FORESTERS |
13/10/1916 |
ALFRED
TOWES |
4TH
BN AIF |
30/4/1918 |
ALFRED
WAITE |
5
ROYAL BERKSHIRES |
5/4/1918 |
RICHARD
A WALLER |
5
ROYAL FUSILIERS |
1/11/17 |
JOSEPH
WHITMAN |
RGA |
1/7/18 |
OTHER
GREAT WAR CASUALTIES NOT LISTED ON THE MEMORIAL |
EDWIN
BRACKPOOL |
11
SHERWOOD FORESTERS |
5/10/1918 |
JOHN
FUNNELL |
2/9
DLI |
23/7/1917 |
GEORGE
ISTED |
7
ROYAL SUSSEX |
9/6/1920 |
FREDERICK
JOHN TOWES |
RGA |
2/6/1920 |
CHARLES
WAITE |
3
GRENADIER GUARDS |
9/10/1917 |
SECOND
WORLD WAR CASUALTIES |
REGINALD
GEORGE BILLINGS |
5017
AIRFIELD CON SQN RAF |
2/12/1944 |
CRYSTAL
HERBERT BOTTING |
RASC |
16/3/1943 |
GEORGE
BUCKLAND |
RAF |
9/10/1942 |
JOHN
FRANK CHANDLER |
9
SQN, RAF |
30/10/1939 |
FREDERICK
JAMES COLVILLE |
1
GORDON HIGHLANDERS |
11/6/1940 |
CHARLES
HENRY DAWSON |
7
ROYAL SUSSEX |
20/5/1940 |
ERNEST
FRANK DAWSON |
55
A/T REGT R A |
25/6/1944 |
FRANK
EDWARD JOHN FOSTER |
1
BUFFS |
24/6/1943 |
PHILIP
HALFHEAD |
7
HAMPSHIRE |
2/8/1944 |
ROYSTON
ELVIN KEEL |
218
SQN RAF |
1/1/1945 |
WILLIAM
NICHOLSON LAW |
RAMC |
18/7/1944 |
MICHAEL
J MACNAUGHTON-SMITH |
630
SQN RAF |
22/6/1944 |
GORDON
MURRAY PIRIE |
RE |
15/9/1939 |
EDWIN
ARTHUR LEONARD POLLARD |
RE |
17/5/1942 |
PETER
DE LANCEY WATSON |
2
ROYAL SUSSEX |
30/10/1943 |
KENNETH
FRANK WHEELER |
1
ROYAL SUSSEX |
18/2/1944 |
Researched details
1914-1918 |
ANSELL |
Basil |
Private
8429, 7th (Service) Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Born in Hampstead,
London about 1896. Son of Frederick and Emily Ansell of West View
Cottage, Turners Hill Road, Crawley Down. Died of Wounds 26th July
1916 and buried in Grave A 37 11 in St Sever Cemetery, Rouen.
He
was wounded during an attack on Ovillers village on 7th July when
the battalion was hit by machine gun fire and shrapnel, suffering
461 casualties. Hit in the chest about 9.00 AM, he lay on the battlefield
until after dark until he was able to return. One of his brothers,
Oswald, was also killed in the war (See below) |
ANSELL |
Oswald |
Lance
Corporal G/3211, 7th (Service) Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
Born in Hampstead, London about 1890. Son of Frederick and Emily
Ansell of West View Cottage, Turners Hill Road, Crawley Down. He
enlisted in Wimbledon. Killed in action 8th July 1917. Commemorated
on Panel 12 and 14 of the Menin Gate, Ypres. His brother, Basil,
also died (See above). |
BRACKPOOL |
Oliver |
Lance
Sergeant G/3200, 9th (Service) Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment
Born in Worth about 1896. Son of Arthur and Sarah Brackpool. She
later lived at 17, Albert Road, Southwick, Brighton. He enlisted
in East Grinstead. Killed in action 27th July 1917 and commemorated
on Panel 30 of the Menin Gate, Ypres. He was killed by a shell and
buried near the trenches, but the site of his grave was subsequently
lost. |
BRACKPOOL |
Sidney
Edward |
Private
G/4630, 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Born in Worth about
1886. Enlisted at East Grinstead. Killed in action 9th May 1915
and commemorated on Panel 20 and 21 of the Le Touret Memorial.
Died
in attack on German positions at Richebourg L'Avoue. The troops
were caught by heavy machine gun fire and shelling and were unable
to reach the German lines with 103 killed, 338 wounded and 121 missing. |
BRADSHAW |
Richard
Edward Kynaston |
Lieutenant
1/12th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Rangers).
Born in Little Parndon, Essex about 1895. He was the third child
and eldest of two sons of William Graham Bradshaw and his wife Dora
Sophia. William was a solicitor and the family lived at Down Park,
Crawley Down. He was reported wounded and missing on 1st July 1916,
the first day of the Battle of the Somme and was never found. He
is commemorated on Pier and Face 9C of the Thiepval Memorial.
His
battalion was one of those that took part in an unsuccessful diversionary
attack opposite Gommecourt, some miles north of the main assault.
517 men from his battalion became casualties.
He
is also commemorated on the War Memorials at Copthorne
and Copthorne School. His brother
William was killed four months later on 31st October (See below). |
BRADSHAW |
William
Douglas |
Second
Lieutenant 88th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Born in Little Parndon,
Essex about 1896. He was the fourth child and younger of two sons
of William Graham Bradshaw and his wife Dora Sophia. William was
a solicitor and the family lived at Down Park, Crawley Down. He
was killed in action on 31st October 1916 and is buried in Grave
L 49 in Aveluy Communal Cemetery Extension.
He
is also commemorated on the War Memorials at Copthorne
and Copthorne School. His brother
Richard had been killed four months earlier on 1st July (See above). |
CROUCHER |
Charles
William |
Private
G/4389, 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Born at Bromley, Kent
about 1895. Son of Stanley and Bertha Croucher of 55, Victoria Road,
Bromley Killed in action 25th September 1915, the first day of the
Battle of Loos. Commemorated on Panel 69 to 73 of the Loos Memorial.
Although
affected by gas, the battalion advanced to the German barbed wire
defences that were uncut and almost all the officers and NCOs became
casualties. Later attacks eventually succeeded in capturing the
German front line, but on 4th October a draft of 6 officers and
392 men arrived as replacements for the casualties. |
DOUGLAS |
Bruce
Francis Sholto |
Lieutenant,
2nd Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment Born 1st April 1897
in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He was the eldest son of
Lord Sholto Douglas, son of the 9th Marquess of Queensberry, and
his wife Loretta. Killed in action on 14th April 1915 and buried
in Grave II B 15 in Bethune Town Cemetery.
In
the 1901 census he was aged 4, son of Shotto and Loretta Douglas,
born Vancoucer, British Columbia, resident 94 Prince Wales Road,
All sints, Batersea. His connection with Crawley Down may be through
his grandmother, Sybil, the Dowager Marchioness of Queensberry.
Between 1915 and 1920 she was living at The Folly near Lewes, but
then she went bankrupt having bailed out her son, Lord Alfred Douglas
(Bosie, the friend of Oscar Wilde). In 1922 she converted to Catholicism
and in 1935 was buried at the Franciscan Monastery in Crawley. Lord
Alfred living in Lancing and Hove and when he died in 1945, he was
buried with his mother in Crawley. They have a single gravestone.
Extract
from Liverpool Echo 20 April 1915, page 4:

|
FUNNELL |
Frederick |
Private
G/62958, 7th (Extra Reserve) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. No personal
details are known of him. The details of his death do not appear
in the local newspaper, indicating he may not have been a local
man before the war. Funnell is a name particular to Sussex. He enlisted
into The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment, service number 8492,
before being transferred to the Royal Fusiliers. Killed on 23rd
April 1917, during the Battle of Arras and commemorated on Bay 3
of the Arras Memorial. Possibly a relation of John Funnell (below) |
KINGSLAND |
Frederick
William |
Lance
Corporal 150, 22nd (Service) Battalion, (Kensington) Royal Fusiliers.
Born in Uckfield about 1896. Son of William Kelso Kingsland and
his wife, Elizabeth of 'The Lodge', Tiltwood, Sandy Lane, Crawley
Down where he was Gardener to Sir David Barbour. Killed in action
2nd February 1917. Buried in Grave I E 29 in Courcelette British
Cemetery. |
MILLYARD |
George
Thomas |
Private
G/20117, 1st Battalion, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment).
Born in Crawley Down about 1898. Son of John and Sarah Millyard.
Enlisted in Horsham and initially served with the 3rd Reserve Cavalry
Regiment Killed in action 27th September 1916. Buried in Grave II
F 18 IN Gouzeaucourt New British Cemetery. The battalion was behind
the lines at Citadel Camp, so shelling most probably killed him. |
MITCHELL |
William
Thomas |
Private
SD/1136, 11th (Service) Battalion, (1st South Down) Royal Sussex
Regiment. Born in Bexhill about 1896. Son of William and Jane Mitchell.
William was a member of the Coast Guard. Later moved to Bruce Cottage,
Copthorne. He enlisted in Bexhill and was one of the original members
as shown by his 'SD' service number. Killed in action 21st October
1916. Buried in Grave XVIII D 7 in Mill Road Cemetery, Thiepval.
'B'
& 'C' Companies of the battalion attacked and captured the German
front line trench known as 'Stuff Trench'. The other two companies
later reinforced them. Two officers and eleven other ranks were
killed, with two more officers wounded. However 178 other ranks
were wounded and 77 missing. He is also commemorated on the memorial
at Worth. |
MITCHELL |
Alfred |
Private
49519, 6th (Service) Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment. Born
in Copthorne about 1878. Son of John and Jane Mitchell. Died of
wounds 20th September 1918. Buried in Grave II C F in Villers-Faucon
Communal Cemetery Extension. |
PAGE |
Henry
Albert |
Private
G/1688, 7th (Service) Battalion, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey
Regiment). Possibly born in East Grinstead. Killed in action 1st
July 1916, the first day of the battle of the Somme. Commemorated
on Pier and Face 5D & 6D of the Thiepval Memorial The battalion
took part in an attack towards Montauban. It was hit by heavy machine
gun fire but took the objective with 183 casualties. |
PHILLPOT |
Herbert
John |
Private
127020, 21st Battalion, Machine Gun Corps. John was born about 1895.
Son of John and Elizabeth Phillpot. John died before his son and
Elizabeth became a Laundress, living in Sunny Avenue, Crawley Down.
Worked as a Railway Booking Clerk at Groombridge and Forest Row.
Died of wounds as a Prisoner of War 2nd April 1918. Buried in Grave
III B 16, in Villers-Faucon Communal Cemetery Extension. On the
memorial his name is spelt 'Philpott'. |
PLAWS |
Edwin
Stewart |
Volunteer,
British Red Cross. Listed on the memorial as 'Stewart Plaws'. Little
personal information available. Joined the Red Cross about August
1917 at 83 Pall Mall, HQ of the Red Cross and the Order of St John.
Sent to France before May 1918; certificate number 15459 and passport
number 177837. Appointed to the Motor Department and embarked for
Boulogne. Possibly an ambulance driver. Not listed by the CWGC. |
RODOCANACHI |
Paul
John |
Second
Lieutenant, No 53 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. Born 7th August
1898. Second son of John Matthew Rodocanachi and his wife, Netta
Eliza Reid Clough (daughter of John Henry Clough). His father died
in 1912 and his mother married Eric Frank Hulme King of Park Farm,
Holbrook, Horsham. Shot down and killed in RE8 A4303 near Wytschaete
on 27th July 1917. His observer, Norman Watt died of his wounds.
They are both buried in Torreken Farm Cemetery near Ypres. Paul
is in Grave C6 and Norman in C5. Paul is also commemorated in the
Copthorne School Memorial |
SCARAMANGA |
James
John |
Lieutenant
No 22 Squadron Royal Air Force. Born at 'Rosemount', Meadvale, Redhill,
Surrey on 25th July 1898. Younger of two sons of John Scaramanga
and his wife Liza (Nee Yeames). James was commissioned into the
Special Reserve and joined the RFC as an Observer flying FE2's with
20 Squadron. In August 1917 the squadron re-equipped with the Bristol
Fighter. On 11th April he was wounded and was the posted to 22 Squadron.
Between 19th June and 10th July they shot down six German aircraft
and sent another one down out of control. On 10th July they shot
down another but James was seriously wounded and died later. He
was credited with 12 'Kills' and probably only missed an award due
to his death. He is buried in Grave III H 25 in Aire Communal Cemetery. |
SEARLE |
William
Thomas |
Private
4860, 3rd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. There us very little
information regarding this casualty and some has been surmised.
He does not appear as a casualty with the CGWC or in 'Soldiers Died
in the Great War'. He is possibly the lad born in Horne, Surrey
about 1891, the son of William and Elizabeth Searle. |
SERGEANT |
Frederick |
Private
44193, 3rd Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment).
Born in Turners Hill on 18th July 1882. Son of Benjamin and Ellen
Sergeant of Snow Hill near Copthorne. He later emigrated to Canada
and lived at 237, Chisholm Avenue, Toronto with his wife. He enlisted
there in April 1915. He died on 9th December 1916 and is commemorated
on the Vimy Memorial, France. |
SIMMONDS |
Frank |
Private
G/8430, 7th (Service) Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Born about
1896. Son of Edward and Emily Sarah Simmonds of 10, Bowers Place,
Crawley Down. Killed in action 7th July 1916 and commemorated on
Pier and Face 7C of the Thiepval Memorial.
The
battalion was in reserve on the 1st July, the first day of the Battle
of the Somme. On the 6th it moved to trenches in front of Ovillers
and launched an attack there at 8.30 the following morning. Despite
heavy machine gun and shrapnel fire the battalion captured the first
objective. Parties reached the second and third objectives, but
their were too few to hold the latter against the German counter
attacks Rain then started that continued through the night turning
the ground to porridge. The battalion was relieved the following
evening having lost 20 officers and 508 other ranks. His brother
Gilbert also died (See below) |
SIMMONDS |
Gilbert
Arthur |
Gunner
88571, 121st Siege Battery, (The Gunners) Royal Garrison Artillery.
Born at Crawley Down about 1886. Son of Edward and Emily Sarah Simmonds
of 10, Bowers Place, Crawley Down. Husband of Florence (Nee Parsons)
and lived at 1, Bowers Place, Crawley Down with their son, Clifford.
Died 8th September 1918. Buried in the churchyard at Crawley Down.
Brother of Arthur (above). |
SLATTER |
Henry
William |
Gunner
178962, Signal Training Depot, Royal Garrison Artillery. Known as
Harry, he was born in Crawley Down about 1892, the son of Thomas
and Amelia Slater (Nee Payne). Died 26th November 1918 and buried
at All Saints Church, Crawley Down. He is listed by the CWGC and
on his headstone as 'William Henry Slatter'. The family is also
recorded as 'Slater' and 'Slator'. |
SPENCER |
George |
Acting
Company Sergeant Major 8173, 7th (Service) Battalion, Leicestershire
Regiment. Born at St peters, Leicester about 1890. Mother later
remarried and, as Mrs Mary Gamble, continued to live in Leicester.
He was married and his wife, Edith, lived at 1, Oak Cottage, Crawley
Down. Died 31st January 1916 and buried in Grave I A 3 in Bienvillers
Military Cemetery. |
STEDMAN |
Frederick
George |
Private
G/3261, 9th (Service) Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Born in
Salfords, near Earlswood, just south of Redhill in Surrey about
1896. Little else has been traced other than a Mrs Steadman was
living in Turners Hill Road, Crawley Down in 1916. Killed in action
31st August 1916 and commemorated on Pier & Face 7C of the Thiepval
Memorial.
The
battalion was in trenches near Delville Wood at Longueval on the
Somme. After a heavy bombardment The Germans broke through the positions
on the left of the battalion and attacked the Royal Sussex with
grenades who fought off the attack. |
STEVENS |
Frank |
Sapper
57243, 105th Field Company, Royal Engineers Born in Crawley Down
about 1890. Son of Frank and Martha Stevens. The elder Frank was
a gardener working for Sir Hanbury Brown at Newlands and living
at Newlands Lodge in Crawley Down. Killed by a shell while in his
billet 20th July 1916. Buried in Grave I K 34 in Albert Communal
Cemetery Extension. Also commemorated on the Copthorne
War Memorial. |
STREETER |
Leonard
James |
Private
G/10685, 10th (Service) Battalion, (Battersea) The Queen's (Royal
West Surrey Regiment). Born in Shirley, near Croydon, Surrey about
1897. Son of Edward Streeter and his wife of Haven Farm Cottage,
Hophurst Lane, Crawley Down. Killed in action 6th August 1917. Commemorated
on Panel 11 to 14 of the Menin Gate, Ypres. Killed during a counter
attack by German forces near Hollebeke. |
TERRY |
Stanley |
Private
G/3320, 9th (Service) Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Born in
Worth about 1892. Son of James and Emma Terry of Rowfant Brickworks.
Died 12th November 1916 and buried in Grave I K 24 in Philosophe
British Cemetery, Mazingarbe. Also commemorated on the Worth
War Memorial. |
TESTER |
Jabez |
Private
70170, 16th (Service) Battalion, (Chatsworth Rifles) Sherwood Foresters
(Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment). Born in Crawley Down
in 1878 and baptised the on 5th January 1879. Son of Jabez and Amelia
Tester of Kenward's Farm. Although living in Rodmell near Lewes
he enlisted in Newark, Nottinghamshire. Died of wounds 13th October
1916. Buried in Grave VIII D 139 in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery. |
TOWES |
Alfred |
Private
7538, 4th Battalion, Australian Infantry, AIF. Born about 1880 in
Crawley Down & baptised there 4th July 1880. Son of Charles and
Emily Towes. Alfred emigrated to Australia and worked as a Gardener.
He lived with his wife at 5, Bradley Head Road, Mosman, New South
Wales. Enlisted 5th April 1917 and sailed on the transport 'Euripedes'
from Sydney on 31st October. Killed in action 30th April 1917. Commemorated
on the Villers Bretonneux Memorial. Letters received by his family
from his mates in France indicate a shell killed him and although
buried, the site was lost. |
WAITE |
Alfred |
Second
Lieutenant, 5th (Service) Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment. Born
in Crawley Down about 1890. Son of Edward and Elizabeth Waite of
Sandy Lane, Crawley Down. Husband of Esther Waite of 67, King Edward
Avenue, Shirley, Southampton. Killed in action on 5th April 1918.
Buried in Grave I C 5 in Bouzincourt Ridge Cemetery, Albert. Listed
on the Crawley Down Roll of Honour in January 1916 as a Sergeant
Major when he was with the Royal Berkshire Regiment, service number
10573. Recorded on the War Memorial as being awarded the Distinguished
Conduct Medal and the Military Medal, but actually only awarded
the former. On 5th April the battalion beat off a German attack
at Bouzincourt. Brother of Charles Waite. |
WALLER |
Richard
Alured |
Second
Lieutenant 5th (Reserve) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. Born in Little
Packington, near Coventry, 11th February 1884. Youngest son of Canon
Ernest Alured and Mrs Mary Waller. Canon Waller was the Vicar of
St Bartholomew's Church at Little Packington. Richard was also the
grandson of Sir Jonathan Wathen Waller, Groom to the Bedchamber
to King William IV. He attended Marlborough School and University
College, Oxford, becoming a teacher at Copthorne School. He lived
at 'The Cottage', Crawley Down with his wife, Ethel (Nee Drake)
and their daughter. Richard joined the Royal Fusiliers in May 1916,
serving as a Private in France. He was commissioned into the Royal
Fusiliers with effect from 26th April 1917 and returned to the Front
in June. He was wounded in August and had only just returned in
October. He died on 1st November 1917 and is buried in Grave II
D 3 in Tincourt New British Cemetery. There are a number of memorials
to the family in the former church at Little Packington, that has
now been converted into a private house. |
WHITMAN |
Ernest
Richard |
Gunner
156319, 99th Siege Battery, 49th Brigade Royal Garrison Artillery.
Born in Turners Hill about 1888. Second son of Noah and Agnes Whitman
and was known as 'Joe'. He was married to Grace (Nee Page) with
two daughters, Joyce and Christine. When he enlisted in East Grinstead
he was living in Crawley Down. His widow later moved to Turners
Hill and lived next to her parents in law. He died after being gassed
on 1st July 1918 and is buried in Grave III G 5 in Aire Communal
Cemetery. The original CWGC wooden cross for his burial has been
brought home from France and is now in St
Leonard's Church, Turners Hill. |
OTHER
GREAT WAR CASUALTIES NOT LISTED ON THE MEMORIAL |
BRACKPOOL |
Edwin
T |
Lance
Corporal 267128, 11th (Service) Battalion, Sherwood Foresters. Born
about 1894 in Copthorne. Son of Thomas and Annie Ellen Brackpool..
Thomas was a butcher in Effingham Road. Crawley Down, who later
lived at 1, Oak Cottage. Living at Crawley Down when he enlisted
in Horsham. Killed in action 5th October 1918. Buried in Grave C
7 in Guizancourt Farm Cemetery, Gouy.
On
the 4th the battalion was in reserve for a divisional attack on
Beaurevoir and received orders for an attack on Beaurevoir Farm
the next day. This took place at 6.00 am over open country against
dug in machine guns. The objective was taken but the battalion remained
under fire from high ground to the west that caused a small withdrawal.
The battalion then held its positions until relieved late on the
7th. Casualties were 2 officers killed and 7 wounded as well as
14 men killed, 184 wounded, 20 missing and 4 died of wounds. This
is a total of 231 from the 515 that launched the attack. |
FUNNELL |
John |
Private
326580, 2/9th (Service) Battalion, Durham Light Infantry Born in
West Hoathly about 1878. Son of Isaac and Mary Funnell of Bowers
Road, Crawley Down. Husband of Mary Funnell of Bowers Road, Crawley
Down and later of Wooldridge, Woldingham, Surrey. Died 23rd July
1917. Buried in Grave 67 in Mikra British Cemetery, Kalamaria, Greece.
The battalion was based in Salonika on guard duties and fatigues. |
ISTED |
George |
Private
G/8347, 7th (Service) Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Born in
Worth about 1878. Son of George and Annie Isted of Turners Hill
Road, Crawley Down. Died, probably of wounds, 9th June 1920 and
buried in All Saints Church, Crawley Down. |
TOWES |
Frederick
John |
Sergeant
67421, No 13 Fire Command, Royal Garrison Artillery. Born in Worth
about 1892. Possibly a cousin of Alfred Towes His wife later remarried
As Mrs Shearbourne, she lived at 1, Ashdown Cottages, Crowborough.
Died 2nd June 1920 and buried at All Saints Church, Crawley Down. |
WAITE |
Charles |
Private
27317, 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards. Born in Crawley Down in
1885. Son of Edward and Elizabeth Waite of Sandy Lane, Crawley Down.
Husband of Ada Waite of 13, Bowers Place, Crawley Down. Enlisted
at Horsham. Died 9th October 1917. Commemorated on Panel 9 of the
Tyne Cot Memorial.
This
was the first day of the Battle of Poelcapelle and the battalion
was initially in support. At about 8.15 am the battalion took the
lead and met fierce rifle fire from Houthulst Forest and Les Cinq
Chemins in taking their next objective. A later German attack was
dispersed by machine gun fire and two further ones by artillery
bombardments. Brother of Alfred Waite. |
1939-1945 |
BILLINGS |
Reginald
George |
Leading
Aircraftman, 1860922, 5017 Aircraft Construction Squadron, Royal
Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Born about 1892. Son of George and
Fanny Billings of Turners Hill. Died 2nd December 1944. Buried in
Plot KK, Grave 236 in Woensel General Cemetery, Eindhoven, Netherlands. |
BOTTING |
Crystal
Herbert |
Driver
T/291175, 393 General Transport Company, Royal Army Service Corps.
Born about 1904. Died 16th March 1943. Buried in Grave 7 D 33 in
Benghazi War Cemetery, Libya. |
BUCKLAND |
George |
Sergeant
(Air Gunner) 1320255, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Born about
1923. Son of Charles Victor and Alice Laura Buckland. Died 9th October
1942. Buried in Section 2, Grave 537 in Mount Noddy Cemetery, East
Grinstead. |
CHANDLER |
John
Frank |
Flying
Officer 39221, IX Squadron, Royal Air Force. Commissioned in 1936,
he was promoted to Flying Officer in April 1939 Died 30th October
1939. Buried in Row A, Grave 9 in the churchyard at All Saints,
Honington, Suffolk.
IX
Squadron had been based at Honington since February 1939. It flew
the Vickers Wellington 1 heavy bomber. On 30th October two Wellingtons
were involved in a mid air collision at Honington, probably during
an air test. All 5 crewmembers on board the aircraft were killed
and were buried at All Saints Church. |
COLVILLE |
Frederick
James |
Captain
50797, 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders. Born 30th May 1913. Son
of Vice Admiral the Honourable Sir Stanley Cecil James Colville
GCB, GCMG, GCVO and Lady Adelaide Colville (Nee Meade) of 'Larchwood',
Crawley Down. He married Dorothy Louisa Fane, daughter of Mr & Mrs
Hubert Fane of 24, Dawson Place, London on 28th September 1938.
She later lived in Paddington. He was commissioned in August 1935.
Died 11th June 1940. Buried in Grave C7 in St Valery-En-Caux Franco-British
Cemetery.
The
51st Highland Division held St Valery against the German attack,
but could not be evacuated from there. All survivors became prisoners
of war. His father, brother of the Second Viscount Colville of Culross,
was Flag Officer, Orkney and Shetlands 1914-1916 and Commander in
Chief, Portsmouth, 1916-1919. |
DAWSON |
Charles
Henry |
Private
6403210, 7th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Born about 1917.
Son of Horace Alfred and Edith Lilian Dawson of Bowers Place, Crawley
Down. Died 20th May 1940. Buried in Plot 9, Row F, Grave 6 in Abbeville
Communal Cemetery Extension. |
DAWSON |
Ernest
Frank |
Bombardier
1107577, 55 (The Suffolk Yeomanry) Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery.
Born about 1909. Husband of Elvina Dawson of Crawley Down. Died
25th June 1944. Buried in Grave I A 12 in Tilly-Sur Seulles War
Cemetery, Normandy. |
FOSTER |
Frank
Edward John |
Corporal
6097131, 1st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Born about
1915. Son of Frank and Dorothy Foster. Husband of Elsie Irene Foster
of Crawley Down. Died 24th March 1943. Buried in Grave VI B 8 in
Sfax War Cemetery, Tunisia. |
HALFHEAD |
Philip |
Private
14667356, 7th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment. Born about 1923. Son
of Mr WD and Mrs B E Halfhead of Crawley Down. Died 2nd August 1944.
Buried in Grave II E 12 in Hottot-Les-Bagues War Cemetery, Normandy. |
KEEL |
Royston
Elvin |
Sergeant
(Air Gunner) 1809996, 218 (Gold Coast) Sqn, Royal Air Force Volunteer
Reserve. Born about 1924. Son of Bertie Owen Keel and his wife,
Ellen, of Felbridge, Surrey. Died 1st January 1945. Buried in Grave
VII D 17 in Leopoldsburg War Cemetery, Belgium.
The
squadron was based at Methwold in Norfolk and flew Avro Lancaster
heavy bombers. The crew, in PB768, took part in a rain on Vohwinkel
in Germany and the aircraft was damaged over the target. On the
return flight, probably struggling for height, the aircraft was
identified as an enemy one as the Germans had launched an attack
on the Allied airfields in Belgium that morning and it was shot
down by a US anti aircraft battery near Namur. |
LAW |
William
Nicholson |
Private
1150629, 14 Field Dressing Station, Royal Army Medical Corps. Born
about 1908. Son of John Forsyth Law and his wife Emily. Husband
of Evelyn Mary Law of Portslade. Died 18th July 1944. Buried in
Grave 148 at All Saints Church, Crawley Down. |
MACNAUGHTON-SMITH |
Michael
John |
Sergeant
(Navigator), 1604049, 630Sqn, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Born about 1923. Son of Hubert John and Jessie Macnaughton-Smith
of Crawley Down. Scholar of St John's College, Oxford Died 22nd
June 1944. Buried in Grave IVa F 14 in Schoonselhof Cemetery, near
Antwerp, Belgium.
The
squadron was formed in November 1943 and disbanded in July 1945
and was based at East Kirkby, Lincolnshire. On 21st June the squadron
was detailed to take part in a raid on a synthetic oil plant at
Wesseling. 133 Lancasters and 6 target marking Mosquitoes took off
for the target. Although the weather forecast was for clear conditions,
the target was found to be completely covered by low cloud and the
aircraft bombed using radar. The cloud also silhouetted the aircraft
for the German night fighters and losses were severe, 37 Lancasters,
over 27% of the force, were lost. John's aircraft, Lancaster 1,
ME 782, code letters LE-N, was flown by Pilot Officer Thomas Hart.
It was shot down by a nightfighter and crashed into the countryside
about 3 miles north east of Antwerp. The crew were all killed and
are in Schoonselhof Cemetery. Four other aircraft from the squadron
were also lost. |
PIRIE |
Gordon
Murray |
Lieutenant
Colonel 6562, Royal Engineers. Born about 1899, known as James.
Son of James Gordon Pirie and his wife Charlotte Capon Pirie (Nee
Murray). In 1939 they were in India. Husband of Margaret Joyce 'Peg'
Pirie (Nee Miller) of Weetwood Hall, Chatton, Northumberland and
later of Camberley, Surrey. They had one son, James William Gordon
Pirie. Died 15th September 1939. Buried in Row A, Grave 36 in Tourlaville
Communal Cemetery and Extension. This is 2 miles east of Cherbourg
and he is one of only two World War Two burials here. |
POLLARD |
Edwin
Arthur Leonard |
Sapper
2121133, 80, Chemical Warfare Company, Royal Engineers. Son of Edwin
and Marion Louise Pollard. Husband of Doris Annie Pollard of Crawley
Down. Died 17th April 1942. Buried in Grave 123 in All Saint's Churchyard,
Crawley Down. |
WATSON |
Peter
De Lannoy Paxton |
Captain
91910, 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Born about 1914. Son
of Paxton Hood Watson and his wife Hilda Mary. Husband of Patricia
Watson of Chelsea. Awarded the Batchelor of Arts from the University
of Oxford. Died 30th October 1943. Buried in Grave 7 V 3 in Basra
War Cemetery, Iraq. His father died the following day, possibly
on receipt of the telegram informing him of his son's death. |
WHEELER |
Kenneth
Frank |
Captain
156507, 1st Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Born about 1920. Son
of Thomas Frank and Gertrude Maria Wheeler, later of Wokingham,
Berkshire. Enlisted 1938 into the Queen's Westminster Rifles. Posted
overseas in December 1940, attached to the 4th Indian Division.
Died 18th February 1944. Buried in Grave XVIII G 3 in Cassino War
Cemetery, Italy. |
Last
updated
27 August, 2016
|