Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence

Lest We Forget
British Legion
The Royal British Legion


STONE CROSS WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 & 2 - Roll of Honour with detailed information
Compiled and copyright © Transcribed Janet Graves 2004

Stone Cross is a small village between Eastbourne and Bexhill, approximately 7 miles from each town. St. Luke's Church was built as a memorial to Charles William Owen who died in 1922 (please see memorial plaque) and was completed in 1929. Due to lack of support the Church was eventually closed in 1976. The Stone Cross Roll of Honour, along with other items was given for safe keeping, to St Mary the Virgin's Parish Church at Westham, some 3 miles away. In 1989, with considerable new housing having been built in the area, the Church was restored and reopened. However, the Roll of Honour was not returned to St Luke's until March of 2004. The 1914 - 1918 memorial within the Church was once part of an altar. During the various changes that have taken place the alter was moved from the main part of the Church to a side room. Access to the memorial was limited. In 2006 the alatar was moved from the sacristy of St Luke's Church (which was kept locked) into the main body of the church, immediately below the roll of honour. This has effectively turned an area - that was little more than a corridor into the new Parish Centre building - into a memorial chapel. This means both the framed roll of honour and the roll on the front of the altar are now readily available for viewing by members of the public (the church is normally open during daylight hours). The names appearing on both the memorial stone cross and the altar are marked †. As a footnote to the memorial there are two young girls, civilians, who also died. This article by Rod Barker:

The Girls on the War Memorial

We all pass the stone war memorial by the church many times every week. Next time you are passing, stop and read the names and remember those who had lived nearby and died in the horrors of the two world wars. It is a chilling thought.

Among the list of those who died in the Second World War, there are the names of two girls; Myrtle Wilkinson and Peggy Harland. Theirs is a very sad story.

On the 26th September 1940 Myrtle and her sister Phyllis had arranged to meet their friend Peggy in town. What they had not expected was a German air raid during their trip into Eastbourne. When the bombs fell Myrtle died instantly, but Peggy was trapped, had to have her legs amputated and died a few days later. Phyllis was nursed at the local hospital and survived.

It is a sad reflection that they are not better remembered. Peggy was a member of the 1st Stone Cross Company of the Girl Guides and was posthumously awarded their “Gilt Cross” for gallantry. Perhaps the Guides will attend the next Remembrance Day Service to honour their lost sister, one of only a few honoured in this way on a war memorial anywhere in England.

There is a window memorial to Alexander Campbell (WW1) and also to Charles Owen at St Mary the Virgin Church at Westham (presumably because St Luke's Church was not completed until 1929).

Within the church is to be found a Roll of Honour listing all those who served. Those who died are marked on the Roll of Honour with a red cross and R.I.P. Some names are marked with one, two or three lines (these have been marked with the appropriate number of asterisks *). The Churchwarden thought they might represent ranks - lance corporal, corporal and sergeant but we are not really sure. Not all the names appearing on the war memorials appear on the roll of honour, those omitted are marked '-'.

THIS CHURCH WAS BUILT
TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND IN EVERY LOVING MEMORY OF
CHARLES WILLIAM OWEN
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL, I.M.S., C.M.G., C.I.E., J.P.
OF THE HORNS, HANKHAM.
WHO DIED 23RD MAY, 1922, AGED 69.
ALSO OF MARY ELIZABETH, HIS WIFE
WHO DIED 11TH APRIL, 1920, AGED 63.

Photographs Copyright © Janet Graves 2004

THE GREAT WAR
1914 - 1919
THESE DIED FOR US

BARBER

Alfred John

Private G/16488, 11th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Died of wounds 2nd November 1917. Aged 23. Born Stone Cross, enlisted Eastbourne. Son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Barber, of Stone Cross, Westham, Sussex. Buried in LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY, Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot XXI. Row H.H. Grave 1.

BARNES

George [Albert Lelliot]

Private SD/148, 11th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Killed in action 12th July 1916. Born Westham, Susex, enlisted Eastbourne.

 

BOOTH

[Matthew] Frank

Corporal SD/391, 11th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Killed in action 3rd September 1916. Born Westham, enlisted Eastbourne.

BOURNE

Percy

R. F.

BREACH

Albert

Royal Sussex Regiment

-

BURGESS

Albert

Private 12165, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Died of wounds 22nd July 1916. Born Westham, enlisted Eastbourne. Formerly G/7612, Royal Sussex Regiment.

 

BURGESS

George

R.S.A.

 

BURGESS

Hnery [Harry] THomas

Private SD/2864, 13th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Killed in action 30th June 1916. Born Westham, enlisted Hastings.

BURTON

George

Royal Field Artillery

CAMPBELL

Alexander

Sussex Yeomanry

CHEAL

Edward

Royal Sussex Regiment

 

DANN

Robert

Yorkshire Light Infantry

-

EATON

Leslie

No further information currently

ELPHICK

George

P.O.R.

FOORD

Thomas

Royal Navy

FUNNELL

Ernest [George]

Private SD/1333, 12th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Killed in action 30th June 1916. Born Westham, enlisted Eastbourne.

-

FUNNELL

Jack

No further information currently

GANDER

Fred A

Royal Sussex Regiment

†-

GEERING

Job

No further information currently

 

HOBDEN

William

Canada

LANDER

Fred[erick]

Royal Sussex Regiment

-

LEWES

Vincent

No further information currently

 

MARCHANT

Thomas

Irish

MILLER

Alfred

Royal Sussex Regiment

†-

PINK

Whitmore

No further information currently

PLUMMER

Albert

Royal Sussex Regiment

RUSSELL

Alfred

Scots Guards

 

SCOTCHER

Edward

Royal Navy

SCOTT

John

M.S.P.

 

SHERWOOD

Samson

Royal Navy

SHORT

Frank

Royal Air Force - there is an Edward Frank SHORT, Private 48218, 8th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. Killed in action 25th October 1918. Born Stone Cross, enlisted Brighton, resident Pevensey.

 

STAPLEHURST

Henry 'Harry' George

Gunner 210745, Royal Field Artillery. Died of owunds 22nd August 1918. Enlisted Herne Bay, Kent, resident Eastbourne.

 

STAPLEHURST

[William] Reginald

Private G/8708, 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Killed in action 17th August 1916. Born Maresfield, Sussex, enlisted Eastbourne.

 

STEVENS

Charles

Royal Sussex Regiment

THORPE

Frank

Royal Navy

-

TOMSETT

Edward

No further information currently

On Roll of Honour but not on either memorial
 

FUNNELL

Charles

Royal Engineers

 

HAZELDEN

Albert

Machine Gun Corps

 

SMITH

Charles

Royal Sussex Regiment

 

SYGROVE

Charles

Royal Sussex Regiment

1939–1945

 

ALLEN

Charles

No further information currently

 

ANDERSON

Harold

No further information currently

 

BARNES

Richard

No further information currently

 

BEVEN

William

No further information currently

 

BOURNE

William

No further information currently

 

FLY

Ronald

No further information currently

 

HARLAND

Peggy Rosemary

Worked in a garden nursery at Hankam. Attended Hankham C.P. School in the 1930s. Injured at Cavendish Place when a bomb hit the garage where she was visiting a friend and died in Princess Alice Hospital 29th September 1940 after her legs were amputated. Aged 17. Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. Harland, of Peelings Cottages, Hankham, Pevensey. Injured 28 September 1940, at Cavendish Place. At least one other person was killed in the same incident. Listed by EASTBOURNE COUNTY BOROUGH. Buried in the churchyard at the church in Westham, East Sussex.

 

HARLAND

Robert

No further information currently

 

HOWELL

Harold

No further information currently

 

KING

Edward

No further information currently

 

KING

Frank

No further information currently

 

MILES

Oswald

No further information currently

 

MITCHELL

Douglas

No further information currently

 

PEARSON

Robert

No further information currently

 

PORTER

Reginald

No further information currently

 

SMITH

Robert

No further information currently

 

TAYLOR

Percy

No further information currently

 

WADMAN

Peter

No further information currently

 

WEST

Solomon

No further information currently

 

WILKINSON

Myrtle

No further information currently

1914 ROLL OF HONOUR 1918

BRETHEREN PRAY FOR US

ATKINS

Albert

BANKES

Edwin

Royal Sussex Regiment

RIP

BARBER

Alfred

Royal Sussex Regiment

BARBER

Harry

Royal Sussex Regiment

BARKER

Edward

Royal Sussex Regiment

BARNES

Arthur

Royal Garrison Artillery

RIP

BARNES

George

Royal Sussex Regiment

BATTLE

Herbert

Royal Garrison Artillery

BELL

Cyril

North Staffordshire Regiment

BENNETT

Charles

Sussex Yeomanry

BERRY

W

BIDDIS

Thomas

A.P.C.

BLACKMAN

Edward

L.O.R.C.

RIP

BOOTH

Frank

Royal Sussex Regiment

BOOTH

Percy

Canada

*

BOOTH

William

Royal Sussex Regiment

**

RIP

BOURNE

Percy

R.F.

BOURNE

Victor

Royal Garrison Artillery

RIP

BREACH

Albert

Royal Sussex Regiment

*

BROOK

Charles

Royal Navy

BURCHETT

William

Royal Sussex Regiment

RIP

BURGESS

George

R.S.A.

RIP

BURGESS

Harry

Royal Sussex Regiment

BURGESS

Herbert

Royal Navy

RIP

BURTON

George

Royal Field Artillery

BURTON

Herbert

BUTTON

Harry

Royal Sussex Regiment

BUTTON

Walter

Middlesex

RIP

CAMPBELL

Alexander

Sussex Yeomanry

CHATFIELD

Harry

Royal Sussex Regiment

CHATFIELD

William

Royal Army Medical

RIP

CHEAL

Edward

Royal Sussex Regiment

CHRISMAS

Mason

Royal Field Artillery.

CHRISMAS

Stephen

Royal Navy

CHRISTMAS

Edward

Royal Navy

CLARK

Harry

Royal Garrison Artillery

DALLAWAY

Clifford

Norfolk Regiment

DALLAWAY

Frederick

Royal Air Force

DANN

Albert

Middlesex

DANN

Charles

A.F.C.

DANN

Reginald

Royal Field Artillery

RIP

DANN

Robert

Yorkshire Light Infantry

DEEPROSE

Victor

Royal Sussex Regiment

DOLLOWAY

Herbert

Royal Navy

DOLLOWAY

John

London

DOWNEY

Leslie

Sussex Yeomanry

DRURY

George

R.F.

ELPHICK

Caleb

Royal Engineers

ELPHICK

Charles

Royal Sussex Regiment

ELPHICK

Edward

Rifle Brigade

*

ELPHICK

Frederick

Royal Navy

ELPHICK

Frederick

RIP

ELPHICK

George

P.O.R.

ELPHICK

Harold

Royal Field Artillery.

ELPHICK

Oliver

R.S.A.

ELPHICK

Percy

Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve

ELPHICK

Ranger

Royal Sussex Regiment

ELPHICK

Stanley

West Yorkshire Regiment

EVANS

Edward

Sussex Yeomanry

FARRANCE

George

Royal Navy

RIP

FOORD

Thomas

Royal Navy

FOX

Steven

R.N.D.

FOX

Thomas

East Surrey Regiment

*

FRIEND

Arthur

E.F.C.

FULLER

Charles

Royal Garrison Artillery

FULLER

George

Royal Engineers

FULLER

Harry

Lifeguards

FULLER

Herbert

Lifeguards

FULLER

John

Royal Air Force

FUNNELL

Alec

Surrey Yeomanry

RIP

FUNNELL

Charles

Royal Engineers

RIP

FUNNELL

Ernest

Royal Sussex Regiment

FUNNELL

George

Royal Garrison Artillery

FUNNELL

Martin

Royal Engineers

FUNNELL

William

Royal Garrison Artillery

RIP

GANDER

F A

Royal Sussex Regiment

GANDER

George

Royal Navy

GANDER

John

Royal Navy

GEARING

William

A.V.C.

GEERING

Joe

Northamptonshire Regiment

GEERING

Percy

Middlesex

GEERING

Rezin

Middlesex

GOOCH

Arthur

Royal Navy

GOODALL

Wilfred

Royal Field Artillery.

GOSLING

Frank

Royal Engineers

GOSLING

Frederick

Sherwood Foresters

*

GRANT

Ernest

Royal Navy

GRANT

Herbert

Royal Sussex Regiment

*

GRANT

Joseph

Royal Navy

GREENFIELD

John

Royal Sussex Regiment

**

HARDING

Frederick

West Kent Regiment

*

HAYLAND

William

Royal Field Artillery

RIP

HAZELDEN

Albert

Machine Gun Corps

HINKLEY

Hubert

The Queens

HOBDEN

Ernest

Royal Sussex Regiment

HOBDEN

George

Royal Sussex Regiment

HOBDEN

Harold

Machine Gun Corps

HOBDEN

Walter

Royal Sussex Regiment

RIP

HOBDON

William

Canada [Spelt HOBDEN on memorial]

HOCKLEY

Vernon

Royal Garrison Artillery

HOLDING

Charles

R.N.A.R.

HUGGETT

Arthur

A.F.C.

JAMES

Frederick

Royal Field Artillery.

JUPP

Joseph

Suffolk Regiment

KENWARD

George

Royal Field Artillery.

KENWARD

Sydney

Royal Sussex Regiment

KENWARD

Ted

Royal Engineers

KENWARD

William

Royal Engineers

KNIGHT

Jack

Royal Field Artillery.

KNIGHT

Oscar

Royal Navy

KNIGHT

Wallace

Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve

*

RIP

LANDER

Frederick

Royal Sussex Regiment

MARCHANT

James

Royal Horse Artillery

MARCHANT

Peter

M.P.A.F.C.

RIP

MARCHANT

Thomas

Irish

MEETEN

William

Royal Sussex Regiment

***

MELVILLE

Ernest

Royal Navy

MEPHAM

Henry

Middlesex

MICE

Thomas

Royal Sussex Regiment

*

RIP

MILLER

Alfred

Royal Sussex Regiment

*

MONK

William

10th Hussars

MORLEY

Frederick

Royal Engineers

MORLEY

Oliver

Royal Sussex Regiment

**

MORLEY

Wilfred

Royal Sussex Regiment

*

NICHOLSON

Norman

Royal Sussex Regiment

NOAKES

Alfred

M.T.A.S.C.

PATTENDEN

Frederick

15th Hussars

PATTENDEN

Richard

Royal Sussex Regiment

PAUL

Harry

R.S.A.

PAUL

Percy

Royal Engineers

PAUL

Whitfield

Royal Sussex Regiment

PERRIN

George

M.P.A.S.C.

PIPER

Archie

Royal Navy

PIPER

Douglas

London Scottish

RIP

PLUMMER

Albert

Royal Sussex Regiment

PLUMMER

George

A.F.C.

POPE

Charles

Middlesex

POTTER

Robert

Royal Navy

***

POTTER

William

Royal Navy

RAINBIRD

Charles

Yorkshire Regiment

REED

W

Royal Sussex Regiment

REYNOLDS

Alfred

Royal Field Artillery

RICHARDSON

Frank

Royal Sussex Regiment

*

RIGGS

Thomas

R.F.

ROBERTS

Alfred

Royal Navy

ROSS

Albert

RIP

RUSSELL

Alfred

Scots Guards

RUSSELL

Bertram

Royal Field Artillery.

RUSSELL

Charles

Machine Gun Corps

SANDS

Albert

R.S.A.

SANDS

Albert

Royal Sussex Regiment

SANDS

William

Royal Sussex Regiment

*

SAYERS

Albert

Royal Engineers

SCOTCHER

Edward

Royal Navy [not marked as dying on Roll of Honour]

SCOTCHER

Harry

Royal Naval Air Service

SCOTCHER

Herbert

Royal Naval Air Service

SCOTCHER

Thomas

Royal Field Artillery.

*

RIP

SCOTT

John

M.S.P.

SHERWOOD

Alfred

15th Hussars

*

SHERWOOD

Bertie

Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve

SHERWOOD

Frederick

Royal Horse Artillery

RIP

SHERWOOD

Samson

Royal Navy

SHERWOOD

William

Royal Field Artillery.

RIP

SHORT

Frank

Royal Air Force

SHORT

Richard

Royal Sussex Regiment

*

SHORT

Walter

Royal Sussex Regiment

**

SHORT

William

Middlesex

SKINNER

Frederick

L.C.

RIP

SMITH

Charles

Royal Sussex Regiment

SMITH

Ernest S

London

SMITH

Frederick

Slm. L. I.

SMITH

George

A.O.C.

SMITH

Herbert S

Canada

SMITH

Samuel

Royal Sussex Regiment

*

SMITH

William S

Royal Navy

RIP

STAPLEHURST

Harry

Royal Field Artillery.

STAPLEHURST

Percy

M.B.R.

RIP

STAPLESHURST

Reginald

Royal Sussex Regiment

STEVENS

Albert

R.S. Fusilier

RIP

STEVENS

Charles

Royal Sussex Regiment

STEVENS

Frederick

Royal Sussex Regiment

*

STEVENS

Richard

Royal Sussex Regiment

STEVENS

Samuel

Royal Sussex Regiment

*

STREDWICK

Alfred

Royal Navy

RIP

SYGROVE

Charles

Royal Sussex Regiment

SYMES

Charles

TAYLOR

Albert

Royal Sussex Regiment

TAYLOR

Cecil

Royal Sussex Regiment

TAYLOR

Frederick

Royal Sussex Regiment

THOMPSON

Ernest

Royal Garrison Artillery

THORNTON

Walter

A.F.C.

THORPE

Arthur

A.V.C.

RIP

THORPE

Frank

Royal Navy

VAUGHN

Robert

Machine Gun Corps

VINALL

Stanley

Royal Flying Corps

VINALL

Victor

Royal Flying Corps

WATSON

Gilbert

A.O.C.

WATSON

Hugh

Machine Gun Corps

WHITE

Berkeley

Royal Field Artillery

WICKENS

Latter

Royal Engineers

WILLIAMS

Algernon

Royal Field Artillery.

WILLIAMS

Montie

Royal Sussex Regiment

WILMSHURST

John

Royal Air Force

WILMSHURST

Wallace P

Royal Naval Air Service

WOOD

Harry

Royal Navy

WOOD

Walter

Sh. L.I.

WOODS

Arthur

Scots R.

WRIGHT

Ernest

Royal Sussex Regiment

WRIGHT

Robert

Royal Sussex Regiment

YATES

Cecil

Royal Navy

YATES

Ralph

A.V.C.

Last updated 13 November, 2007

Friends of the War Memorials
War Memorials Trust
Main page
Commonweath War Graves Commission
Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Copyright © Roll-of-Honour.com 2002
Email: rollofhonour@ntlworld.com

See our on-line bookstore
Visit our bookstore