ADAMS

Herbert

Lance Corporal 32039 1^st Bn Bedfordshire Regiment. Died on 23^rd April 1917 and his body was not found for burial He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial. Enlisted in Bury St Edmunds, originally enlisted into the Suffolk Regiment, service number 23146, resident in Horsham. Born in Marylebone about 1871, son of Charles and Frances Adams, father was a House Painter. Herbert was married and was Headmaster at Rusper School.

BROOKER

Ernest

Private G/3235 9^th (Service) Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment. Killed in action on 25^th September 1915, the first day of the Battle of Loos, commemorated on the Loos Memorial. Enlisted at Worthing, born in West Grinstead, south of Horsham, about 1895, son of Harry and Fanny Brooker. Father an Agricultural Labourer. Commonwealth War Graves Commission note his parents were living at Pict’s Cottages at Cowfold. Killed during attack on Fosse 8.

CASSWELL

Eric Denison Seymour

Captain 6^th Bn Rifle Brigade attached to 102 Squadron RFC. Died on 7^th November 1917 buried in Tourcoing (Pont-Neuville) Communal Cemetery. Understood to have been shot down over German lines. Observer on FE2b light bombers. Born in Sachel Court, Alfold in Surrey about 1894, son of Henry and Anna Casswell. Father a Rural District Councillor and Guardian for Rusper and a member of the School Committee. Parents lived at Old Park (now Old Park Farm) at Rusper and later at Stammerham Cottage, Holbrook just north of Horsham.

COCKS

Christopher

Rifleman 5750 3^rd Bn Rifle Brigade. died on 25^th September 1914 and understood to have been blown up in a Red Cross Hospital although the 3^rd Bn Rifle Brigade were in combat that day. Commemorated on the La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial. born about 1880, the son of George and Emma Cocks. The spelling of his name is unusual and has led to it often being misspelt as Cox. Willett’s Directory lists him under this spelling as a Gardener living at 3 Hill’s Place in Rusper. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission also use this spelling and show his wife, Dora Annie, also at this address. He had a daughter, Mabel and also a son.

DOWLING

Geoffrey Charles Walter

Captain 2^nd Bn attached 7^th (Service) Bn King’s Royal Rifle Corps. Died on 30^th July 1915 and is commemorated on the Menin Gate. Listed on the War Memorial as Guy, which appears to be a nickname, and is understood to be the son of Joseph and Rose Dowling. born in Melbourne, Australia about 1891. His father was born in Tasmania and his mother, as Rose Tuenich, was born in Blandford Forum, Dorset. They married in Australia. Father died an mother remarried Colonel Foster Cunliffe. He lived at the Nunnery, a country estate south west of Rusper. Killed during a German flamethrower attack at Hooge.

EVES

Frederick C

Staff Sergeant A/1307 Royal Army Ordnance Corps. He died on 9^th January 1918 and is buried in the south western part of Rusper Churchyard. Soldiers Died in the Great War notes he died at home and that he was an Armourer Staff Sergeant. It also states he was born in Westminster and enlisted in Woolwich. No further details traced so far.

FARLEY

Frank

Private 30610 1^st Bn East Surrey Regiment killed on 4^th October 1917, commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial. Enlisted in Chichester, Rusper resident. Born in Slinfold, a village west of Horsham, son of William and Emily Farley. Father an Agricultural Labourer. The local Rusper directory for 1914 lists a Frank Farley living at 2 Canonbury Villas.

HOLCOMB

Charles James

Corporal K/1271 23^rd (Service) Bn (1^st Sportsman’s) Royal Fusiliers. Killed in action 23^rd February 1918 and is buried in Fifteen Ravine British Cemetery at Villers Plouich. Enlisted in Horsham and this was originally into the 22^nd (Service) Bn Royal Fusiliers (Kensington) The 22^nd Battalion was one of the units selected for disbandment in February 1918. It is likely that Charles would have spent virtually all his war service with the 22^nd Bn, only moving to the 23^rd Bn for his final few weeks.. Born in the village of Capel, just over the Surrey border about 1896. Son of Charles and Mary Holcomb.. The elder Charles was a Wheelwright and later an Estate Carpenter. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission note his parents were living at Petworth at Greyhound Cottage; perhaps on the Petworth estate.

HUGGETT

Thomas Harold

Private 41740 1^st Bn South Staffordshire Regiment. killed in action on 25^th October 1917 and is buried in Perth Cemetery (China Wall) near Ypres. Born in Horne, Surrey about 1898 and was the son of Albert and Fanny Huggett. Albert was a Farmer. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission give Albert and Fanny’s address as Broadbridge Cottage, Rusper.

KEMPSHALL

John

Private G/6925 7^th (Service) Bn Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Killed in action 13^th July 1916 and his body was not found for burial Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. Enlisted in Guildford, resident in Capel. born in Newdigate, Surrey about 1895. Son of Henry John Kempshall and his wife Alice. Father a ‘Carter on a farm’. His parents later lived at The Alms Houses in Capel and his sister, Mrs Miles, lived in Rose Cottage (now Michaelmas Cottage), Rusper.

KETCHELL

J

Although listed on the Rusper War Memorial it has not been possible to trace him (or a similar name with a Rusper connection) in the casualty details of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission or in Soldiers Died in the Great War. It may be that his parents or other relatives moved to the area shortly after the war. This has been found with other memorials.

KING

Jex

Private G/41709 24^th (Service) Bn (2^nd Sportsman’s) London Regiment. Died of wounds on 10^th July 1918 and is buried in the St Hilaire Cemetery Extension, Frevent, France. Born in Rudgwick to the west of Horsham about 1882, the son of David and Mary Ann King. Father was a Farmer. Jex appears in Willett’s 1916 Directory as a Gardener in Lambs Green, living at Ivy Cottage with his wife Louisa Ellen.. This latter information is from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission who also note his parents had died.

MERRITT

William Thomas

Private 5392 13^th (Service) Bn Royal Fusiliers Died of wounds on 18^th November 1916, buried in Contay British Cemetery. Born Rusper about 1882, the son of William and Jane Merritt. In 1901 William is recorded on the census as a ‘Carter on a farm’ living with his family in Rusper. In the local Blue Directory for 1914 a William Merritt is recorded at Gardeners Cottage and in Willett’s Directory 1916 he is listed as a Labourer living in East St. However it is not clear which William this is as The Commonwealth War Graves Commission gives Rusper as the address for father and son. The younger William also lived there with his wife Edith. Wounded during an attack on Beaucourt Trench on 14^th November, died of wounds four days later.

MILES

George

Private 1433 22^nd (Service) Bn (Kensington) Royal Fusiliers. Died on 20^th September 1917 and is buried in Bethune Town Cemetery. Born in Rusper about 1888, son of William and Mary Miles. William was a Woodman on a local estate and also the local Sexton. Willett’s Directory for 1916 records William at Rose Cottage in Rusper. George’s brother Leonard was also killed in the war, see below.

MILES

Leonard

Private SD/4048 13^th (Service) Bn (3^rd South Down) Royal Sussex Regiment. Died on 30^th June1916 and is buried in St Vaast Post Military Cemetery, Richebourg L’Avoue. This assault at Richebourg was a diversionary attack for the Battle of the Somme. It was a total failure and almost 1100 men from the four Royal Sussex battalions comprising the South Down Brigade that took part became casualties. Born in Rusper about 1894, son of William and Mary Miles. William was a Woodman on a local estate and also the local Sexton. Willett’s Directory for 1916 records William at Rose Cottage in Rusper. Leonard’s brother George was also killed in the war, see above.

RHODES

George Ernest

Private G/12145 11^th (Service) Bn (1^st South Down) Royal Sussex Regiment. Died on 31^st July 1917 and is buried in New Irish Farm Cemetery. Born in Shipley, south of Horsham, about 1887, the son of Henry and Charlotte Rhodes. Father an Agricultural Labourer. Willett’s Directory for 1916 lists George as a Gardener at Church Cottages, Rusper. Another local directory in 1914 gives his address as Gardners Cottage in East St, Rusper. George is listed as a Gardener at Church Cottages, Rusper. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission record he was married and that his wife, Alice Martha later lived at 43, Greenside Road, West Croydon.

SHARP

John

Company Sergeant Major 200497 4^th (Ross-Highland) Bn Seaforth Highlanders. Died between 20^th and 23^rd November 1917. His body was not found for burial and he is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial at Louverval. Born about 1894, the youngest son of Mr and Mrs John Sharp who, both Kelly’s Directory in 1905 and Willett’s Directory in 1916 note, was the Farm Bailiff to Lady Bell at Culross Farm in Wimlands Road, Faygate. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission note his parents later moved to Horsham where they were living at 35, Crawley Road in Roffey. It also records John as a Sergeant, his permanent rank.

SINGLETON

William

Lance Corporal K/1323 22^nd (Service) Bn (The Queen’s) Royal Fusiliers. Died on 17^th February 1917 and is buried in Queen’s Cemetery, Bucquoy. Little is known of William at present. The 1901 census has been checked for men of this name aged under 40 born in Rusper. None has been found. Soldiers Died in the Great War states he was born in Rusper and enlisted in Horsham. A W Singleton is listed in Willett’s Directory in 1916 as living in Courthouse Lodge, Rusper as a Gardener.

SPENCER

Walter George

Captain 1/23^rd (County of London) Bn London Regiment. Died of wounds on 26^th March 1918, buried in St Sever Cemetery, Rouen. Born about 1888, the elder son of Walter John and Mary Sarah Spencer of ‘The Nook’ (later known as Applegarth), Rusper. However it has not been possible to trace the family on the 1901 Census. The younger Walter was married and lived with his wife, Constance Winifred, at Wandsworth Common. His parents are listed at ‘The Nook’ in Kelly’s Directory., 1905 and Willett’s Directory, 1917. Originally a Corporal in the London Rifle Brigade in 1914 and mentioned in despatches in 1917.

STEERE

Jesse

Private SD/2029 12^th (Service) Bn (2^nd South Down) Royal Sussex Regiment. Died 17^th May 1916 , buried in Le Touret Military Cemetery, Richebourg-L’Avoue. He is one of 17 members of the Regiment buried here. Born in Billingshurst about 1878, son of David and Mary Steer. Father an Agricultural Labourer. Jesse was an early casualty as the division only arrived in France in March.

STONE

Percy

Private G879 2^nd Bn Royal Sussex Regiment. Killed in action 22^nd November 1917. Commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial. Born in Rusper in 1894, son of John and Olive Stone. Father was a stockman on a farm. Family lived at Orlton’s Cottages, Rusper.

TIDEY

Frank Edwin

Private 21142 9^th (Service) Bn East Surrey Regiment. Died on 26^th September 1917. Commemorated on of the Loos Memorial. Born about 1892 in Ifield, the son of Simeon and Elizabeth Tidey. Father a Domestic Gardener. The family lived at the lodge to ‘The Beeches’, now ‘Beechwood’ in Faygate. Battalion hit by German artillery fire on second day of Battle of Loos. Battalion War Diary lists 442 casualties.

WALDER

Albert

Lance Serjeant 1262 22^nd (Service)Bn (Kensington) Royal Fusiliers. Killed in action 3^rd May 1917. Commemorated on the Arras Memorial. Born in Faygate about 1895, the son if William and Clara Walder. Father a Game Keeper living at Lamb’s Green.

WATKINS

A

No details so far traced for this casualty.

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