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BIRDHAM WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 - Roll of Honour with detailed information
Compiled and copyright © Richard Pledger 2008

There is a memorial plaque in the school hall Birdham Primary School listing 27 former students who died in the Great War 1914 – 1919. Several of the names listed are also recorded on memorials at local churches. The names are split into two sections, the Royal Navy and the Army.

Photograph to follow
Photographs Copyright © Richard Pledger

IN PROUD AND LOVING MEMORY OF
THE TWENTY - SEVEN FORMER SCHOLARS
OF BIRDHAM SCHOOL WHO FELL IN THE
GREAT WAR 1914-1919

Royal Navy  
ARNELL Ernest [Herbert]
Stoker 1st Class 309506, H.M.S. Bulwark, Royal Navy. Killed by an explosion aboard his ship 26 November 1914. Born 8 February 1886 at Nordton, Sussex. Husband of Ellen Rebecca Arnell (nee Jordan), of 25 Barmos Road, Kingston, Portsmouth (married 1910). Before enlisting he was employed as a Carter. Enlisted 4 January 1906 for 12 years. Height 5 feet 6 inches, light brown hair, grey eyes, fresh complexion. In the 1911 census he was listed as married, aged 25, born Nord, Chichester, religious denomination Church of England. No known grave. Commemorated on Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Southsea. Panel 4.
BEALE Benjamin
Leading Stoker 282127 HMS "Queen Mary", Royal Navy. Lost with the Battlecruiser at the Battle of Jutland 31st May 1916. Aged 40. Born 1 January 1877 in Birdham, Sussex. Son of George (the late) & Harriett Beale of Birdham. In the 1891 census he was aged 15, an agricultural labourer, born Birdham, resident with his widowed mother, Harriett, at Holts Place, Birdham, Westhampnett, Sussex. No known grave. Commemorated on Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Southsea. Panel 16. See also Birdham Village Memorial
CANNING E
No further ifnormation currently available
KEWELL Herbert [John]
[Transcribed as KEWEL from memorial] Ships Cook 347643/PO, H.M.S. “Queen Mary, Royal Navy. Lost when the Battlecruiser blew up during the Battle of Jutland 31st May 1916. Born 15 March 1889 in Chichester, Sussex. before enlisting he was a gardener. Enlisted 19 March 1907 for 12 years, height 5 feet 6¾ inches, brown hair, blue eyes, fresh complexion. No known grave. Commemorated on Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Southsea. Panel 21. See also West Wittering Memorial
LEE R
TBC. No further ifnormation currently available
MILLS R
No further ifnormation currently available
ROBINSON Abraham [Burchell]
Stoker 1st Class K/14971, HMS "Aboukir", Royal Navy. Lost with the armoured cruiser when she was torpedoed off the Dutch coast by U9 22nd September 1914. Aged 24. Born 27 October 1889 in Birdham. Son of Henry & Emily Eliza Robinson of Rose Cottage, Court Lane, Birdham. Agricultural Laboourer before enlisting. Enlisted 13 May 1912 for 12 years. Height 5 feet 5 inches, chst 37 inches, brown hair, grey eyes, fresh complexion. In the 1901 census he was aged 11, born Birdham, resident with his parents, Henry and Emily, in Court Lane Village, Birdham, Westhampnett, Sussex. Brother of Thomas William Robinson (below). In the 1891 census he was aged 1, born Bircham, resident with his parents, Henry and Emily, in Church Road, Birdham, Westhampnett, Sussex. No known grave. Commemorated on Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Southsea. Panel 4. See also Birdham Village Memorial
ROBINSON Thomas [William]
Able Seaman 194399 (RFR/PO/1C/329 Reservist, HMS "Good Hope", Royal Navy. Lost with the Armoured Cruiser during the Battle of Coronel Islands off the coast of Chile 1st November 1914. Aged 33. Born 5 November 1881 in Birdham, Sussex. Son of Henry & Emily Eliza Robinson of Birdham. Brother of Abraham Burchell Robinson (above). In the 1891 census he was aged 9, a scholar, born Bircham, resident with his parents, Henry and Emily, in Church Road, Birdham, Westhampnett, Sussex. No known grave. Commemorated on Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Southsea. See also Birdham Village Memorial
Army  
BALCHIN James
Private 37571, 13th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of Lomndon Regiment). 37th Division. Killed in action 23rd August 1918. Aged 32. Son of Maurice & Anne Balchin of Hammonds Farm Birdham. Husband of Emma Eliza Balchin of "Finches" Birdham. Born and resident in Birdham, enlisted in Chichester. No known grave. Commemorated on Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. See also Birdham Village Memorial
BARNES William
Private G/1700, 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. 1st Division. Killed in action at Loos 25th September 1915. Aged 20. Son of William & Clara Barnes of Rose Cottage, Court Lane, Birdham. Born in Birdham and enlisted in Chichester. No known grave. Commemorated on Loos Memorial, France. See also Birdham Village Memorial
BURNETT William [John]
Lance Corporal 200118, Tank Corps. Formerly G/3740, Royal Sussex Regiment. Killed in action near Amiens 23rd August 1918. Born in Earnley and enlisted in Hastings. No known grave. Commemorated on Vis-en-Artois Memorial, France. MR.16. See also Sidlesham
BETTESWORTH Charles [Henry]
Private 9926, 3rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards. Died 20.10.1916 aged 26 years. Youngest son of William and Elizabeth Jane Bettesworth of "Cookscroft", Earnley, Near Chichester, Sussex. Awarded Military Medal. Buried in St Sever Cemetery extension, Rouen, France. CWGC
CHARLTON Herbert [Henry]
Private G/5529, 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. 1st Division. Died of wounds in military hospital at Wimereux 6th December 1917. Born and enlisted in Horsham. Included on Horsham War Memorial, Connection with Birdham, unknown. Buried in Wimereux Communal Cemetery, France. See also Birdham Village Memorial
HARRIS William [Robert]
Private TF/202953, 8th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. 18th Division. Killed in action 12th October 1917. Aged 21. Son of William & Anne Harris of Lippering, Birdham. Born in Darlington, Durham, enlisted in Chichester, resident in Birdham. No known grave. Commemorated on Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. See also Birdham Village Memorial
HUTCHINGS C
No further ifnormation currently available
POWELL Walter
Private 28371, 13th Battalion, Essex Regiment. 2nd Division. Killed in action 22nd April 1917. Born in Apuldram (or Appledram), Sussex, enlisted in Chichester, resident in Birdham. No known grave. Commemorated on Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. See also Birdham Village Memorial
RAPLEY C
No further ifnormation currently available
ROBINSON Frank
Gunner 80000, "O" Battery, 5th Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery. Died of wounds near Ypres 18 August 1917. Aged 22. Son of Edward & Anne Robinson of "The Firs" Itchenor Gate, Itchenor. Born in West Wittering and enlisted in Portsmouth. Buried in Bleuet Farm Cemetery, Belgium. See also West Itchenor
SHRUBB Albert [Henry]
Private 13003, 14th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment. 39th Division. Died of wounds 30th July 1916. Aged 24. Son of Henry & Ellen Shrubb of Almondington House, Earnley. Born in Earnley and enlisted in Portsmouth. No known grave. Commemorated on Loos Memorial See also Birdham Village Memorial
SHRUBB Frank [James]
Guardsman 14121, 4th Battalion, Coldstream Guards. The Guards Division. Killed in action 8th January 1916. Aged 20. Son of Henry & Ellen Shrubb of Almodington House, Earnley near Birdham. Born in Birdham and enlisted in Chichester. Buried in Rue-Du-Bac-Graveyard, Laventie, France. See also Birdham Village Memorial
STAKER George [Henry]
Gunner 17829, Royal Field Artillery. Killed in action. 8th May 1918. Aged 24. Son of Mr.Staker and Mrs Annie Staker of “Fernside” West Wittering. Born in Chichester and enlisted in Hilsea, Hampshire. Buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium. Plot/Row/Section B. Grave 11. See also West Wittering
STUBBS T
No further ifnormation currently available
TAPNER, MM Arthur
Private G/1701, 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. 1st Division. Died of wounds 21st October 1918. Aged 22. Son of Thomas & Mary Anne Tapner of White Stone, Birdham. Born in Birdham and enlisted in Chichester. Awarded the Military medal (M.M.). Buried in Vadencourt British Cemetery. See also Birdham Village Memorial
TAPNER Charles
Private 9293, 2nd Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment. 28th Division. Killed in action 17th February 1915. Aged 22. Son of Thomas & Mary Tapner of White Stone, Birdham. Born and resident in Birdham, enlisted in Chichester. No known grave. Commemorated on Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium See also Birdham Village Memorial
TERRY Ernest [George]
Private L/10360, 1st Battalion, East Kent Regiment. 6th Division. Killed in action 19th April 1916. Aged 21. Son of George & Mary Jane Terry of Hill Lands Farm, Birdham. Born in Earnley and enlisted in Chichester. Buried in La Brique Military Cemetery No 2., Belgium See also Birdham Village Memorial
TERRY Frederick [Arthur]
Private L/10361, 1st Battalion, East Kent Regiment. 6th Division. Killed in action 8th July 1917. Aged 19. Son of George & Mary Jane Terry of Hill Lands Farm, Birdham. Born in Earnley, enlisted in Chichester, resident Birdham. Buried in Philosophe British Cemetery, Mazingarbe. See also Birdham Village Memorial
TERRY [Herbert] George
Private 48392, 12th BBattalion, East Surrey Regiment. Killed in action 1st October 1918. Aged 19. Born Earnley, Sussex, enlisted Brighton. Son of Harry and Julia Terry, of Tomlin's Cottage, Earnley, Chichester, Sussex. At the time of the census of 1901 the family lived at Marsh Farm in Earnley; Herbert being one year old and, at the time, the youngest in the family. Herbert was soon to become known as George perhaps because his first cousin (once removed) was also named Herbert TERRY and was about the same age and lived nearby in Almodington. The School Log records on 11th September 1906 “Herbert G Terry is forbidden to attend school as four of his family are ill with infectious diseases.” On 27th September it was confirmed that the family had diphtheria. Buried in Hooge Crater Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot XIV. Row K. Grave 14.

GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS THAT
A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS.

Last updated 7 January, 2018

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