Roll of Honour - Sussex - Partridge Green

PARTRIDGE GREEN WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 & 2 - Roll of Honour with detailed information
Compiled and copyright © John Harrison 2010
additional information Adrian Vieler

West Grinstead is about five miles south of Horsham and the parish consists of the villages of West Grinstead, Partridge Green and the surrounding area. There are also War Memorials at Our Lady of Consolation and St Francis Roman Catholic Church, West Grinstead, St George’s Church, West Grinstead and the ‘Old Comrades’ Memorial on the B2135 between West Grinstead and Partridge Green.

The church of St Michael and All Angels was built in the late 19th century following the building a the railway from Shoreham to the Christ’s Hospital near Horsham. The railway station at Partridge Green enabled a small village to flourish several miles from the parish church of St George and it was decided to build a church there too.

There are three memorials to First World War casualties. Two are at Partridge Green and another at St George’s. The one at St George’s is a combined one for both churches. It also includes one extra name to that at St Michael’s.

Above the combined list is the inscription:

‘In Gratitude to the Men of the parish who died in the Great War 1914-1918’

Beneath the list is a further inscription:

‘Their name liveth for evermore’

At Partridge Green is a Cross of Remembrance outside the church and a brass plaque inside. Both contain a list of names. The Cross contains the inscription:-

‘In Grateful Remembrance of the Partridge Green men
who died for their country in the Great War 1914-1918
Their name liveth for evermore’

The plaque inside the church contains the following;-

St Michael’s Church Partridge Green
To the ever-sacred and glorious memory of the following
who have laid down their lives for God, King and Country.

The number of casualties listed varies. The one at St George’s has 27 names, the Cross at St Michael’s has 26 and the plaque inside St Michael’s only 25.

The War Memorial Cross also contains a list for the Second World War

WORLD WAR ONE See below for researched details
BARNETT	J H	1/4 ROYAL SUSSEX	6/11/17
BARNETT	W F	4TH DRAG GUARDS	21/11/18
BENNITT	H P	7 SEAFORTH HIGH	7/10/15
CHILD	W H	7 ROYAL SUSSEX	5/4/18
COMBER	E	21 LONDON	5/7/17
DAVEY	E J	LABOUR CORPS	21/3/18
ELDRIDGE	E C	2 ROYAL SUSSEX	7/8/16
FAIRS	J	1 EAST SURREY	6/7/16
FAIRS	T H	1/4 ROYAL SUSSEX	17/12/17
FRANK	R J H	1/4 ROYAL SUSSEX	6/6/16
HOADLEY	C J	RFC ATT RGA	15/9/17
JENKINS	G	1/8 MIDDLESEX	11/9/16
JOHN	L Mc C	1 LINCS	24/9/16
KENSETT	W B	HOUSEHOLD BN	5/10/17
MILLHAM	A	RFA	24/4/17
MILLHAM	W R K	11 ROYAL SUSSEX	3/4/18
NORMAN	H L	2 ROYAL SUSSEX	25/9/15
PRESTON	A R	160 COY M G CORPS	23/10/18
PULLEN	J H	7 BEDFORDSHIRE	24/4/18
SAYERS	A	1/4 ROYAL SUSSEX	26/3/17
SAYERS	D	8 EAST SURREY	17/11/16
TASKER	A G	2/5 W YORKSHIRE	22/2/19
TASKER	A V	8 BUFFS	20/4/17
THORNS	A P	1/4 ROYAL SUSSEX	10/9/15
WALKER	E G	13 ROYAL SUSSEX	23/3/18
WALKER	W C
WATTS	F J
WORLD WAR TWO See below for researched details
BUDD	F
FINCH	L
GANDER	P
KNIGHT	H
MITCHELL	C W
SAYERS	W
WEAVER	D

1914 - 1918

BARNETT	John Henry	Private TF/200764, 1/4th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment Born about 1897. Son of William and Emily Jane Barnett of Croucher’s Cottage, Partridge Green. Enlisted in Horsham. Died 6th November 1917. Buried in Grave G 49 in Beersheba War Cemetery Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead. Brother of William Barnett (below)
BARNETT	William F	Shoeing Smith D/3091, 4th Dragoon Guards (Royal Irish) Son of William and Emily Jane Barnett of Croucher’s Cottage, Partridge Green. Died 21st November 1918. Buried in Grave I B 19 in Don Communal Cemetery, Annoeullin. This is 7 miles south west of Lille. Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead. He is one of only two members of the regiment buried here and is one of the last regimental casualties of the war. Brother of John Barnett (above)
BENNITT	Harry Pynson	Captain, 7th (Service) Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders Born about 1870 in Northfield, Worcestershire. Son of Pynson Wilmot Bennett and his wife, Mabel, of Pomeroy Lodge, Totnes, Devon and previously of South Road, Harborne, Staffordshire. Husband of Mrs D C Bennitt (later Hodgson) Served in the Somaliland campaign of 1903-4. Later served with the Devon Royal Field Reserve Artillery and then to the General Reserve in 1909. Died of wounds 7th October 1915. Buried in Grave I B 10 in Etaples Military Cemetery. The 1881 and 1901 censuses spell the name ‘Bennett’. Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.
CHILD	William Henry	Lance Corporal G/6244, 7th (Service) Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment Born in Sutton, Surrey, enlisted in Southampton. Killed in action 5th April 1918. Buried in Grave IT J 8 in Bouzincourt Ridge Cemetery, Albert Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.
COMBER	Ernest [Charles]	Rifleman 654411, 21st (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (First Surrey Rifles) Born Marylebone, London. Living in Tooting when he enlisted in Camberwell Died of wounds 5th July 1917. Buried in Grave III D 191 in Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension near Albert. Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.
DAVEY	Edward J	Private Edward J, 18200, The Buffs, attached to the 217th Company, Labour Corps, service number 127003 Born in West Grinstead and living there when he enlisted in Horsham. Killed in action 21st March 1918. Commemorated on Panel 94 of the Pozieres Memorial. Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.
ELDRIDGE	Edward Charles	Private G/9202, 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment Born about 1896 in Godalming, Surrey. Son of Edward and Emma Eldridge of ‘Sunnyside’, Partridge Green. Enlisted in Piccadilly Killed in action 7th August 1916. Buried in Grave IV E 7 in Brewery Orchard Cemetery, two miles south of Armentieres. Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.
FAIRS aka STEMP	James aka John	Private, 32531, 1st Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. Wounded in lower part of back, died in Tournai 16th May 1917. Born 3rd August 1887 as James Stemp in Northchapel, Sussex. Son of Isabel Stemp (latterly Fairs) of Peacocks Cottages, 13 Peacock Row, Partridge Green and brother of Thomas Herbert Fairs (see below). Enlisted in Chichester. Buried in Grave V. E. 13 at Tournai Communal Cemetery (Allied Extension), Belgium. Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.
FAIRS	Thomas Herbert	Private TF/ 200393, 1/4th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment Born about 1894 in West Grinstead. Son of Mr J and Mrs Isobel Fairs of Peacocks Cottages, Partridge Green. Enlisted in Worthing. Died of wounds 17th December 1917. Brother of John/James (above). Buried in Grave O 73 in Cairo War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt. Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.
FRANK	Robert James Brownlow	[Listed as R J H FRANK on memorial] Lieutenant, 1/4th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment Born about 1887. Son of Robert John Frank J.P and his wife, Lucy, of Jolesfield House, Partridge Green. Educated at St Ronans, Worthing and Haileybury College. Joined the battalion in 1912. Served with them at Gallipoli until the battalion was evacuated in January 1916. Died of wounds 6th June 1915. Buried in Grave B 45 in Ismailia War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt. Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead. There is also a brass memorial to him at St Michael’s In ever loving memory of Robert James Brownlow Frank, Lieutenant 4th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment. Third son of Robert John and Lucy Maud Frank, who gave his life for his God, King and Country at Ismailia, Egypt on 6th June 1915 aged 28, having served all through the Suvla Bay operations. ‘Greater love hath no man than this that a man should lay down his life for his friends There is a further memorial to him in St George’s Church, West Grinstead This memorial is placed by his devoted parents, brothers and sisters.
HOADLEY	Claude John	Airman 2nd Class, 44580, Royal Flying Corps attached to 142nd (Durham) Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery Born about 1898. Son of John and Mary Hoadley of ‘Pinland’, Partridge Green. John Hoadley was a farmer Died 15th September 1919. Buried in Grave IV H 8 in Bard Cottage Cemetery. Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead. Probably a wireless operator attached from an artillery observation squadron to pass the details of where the shells fired by the battery were bursting.
JENKINS	George	Private TF/6081, 1/8th (Service) Battalion, Middlesex Regiment Born in Cowfold about 1886. Son of Mrs Jane Jenkins of Partridge Green. Living in Partridge Green when he enlisted in Horsham. Killed in action 11th September 1916. Buried in Grave XX O 2 in Delville Wood Cemetery, Longueval Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.
JOHN	Lennox William McClure	Second Lieutenant 1st Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment Born about 1882. Son of General John (formerly of the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry) and Mrs Edith John. Husband of Mrs Muriel A John) later Gay) of Snape, Wadhurst, East Sussex. Died of wounds 24th September 1916. Buried in Grave IV F 25 in Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L’Abbe. Previously served in a ‘Public Schools’ battalion of the Royal Fusiliers, service number PS/3818 Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.
KENSETT	William Bernard	Trooper 2046, Household Battalion Born about 1916 in Partridge Green. Son of Mr & Mrs Philip Kensett of ‘Oxford House’, Partridge Green. Living in Partridge Green when he enlisted in Horsham. Killed in action 5th October 1917. Commemorated on Panel 3 of the Tyne Cot Memorial. Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.
MILLHAM	Albert	Corporal 14270, 71st Brigade Royal Field Artillery. Born in Henfield. Son of Mr E & Mrs J Millham of 5, Minster Terrace, Partridge Green. Enlisted in Hayward’s Heath. Killed in action 24th April 1917. Buried in Grave III A 19 in Feuchy Chapel British Cemetery, Wancourt. Served in ‘D’ Battery. Awarded the Military Medal for bravery. Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.
MILLHAM	William R K	Private TF/200758, 11th (Service) Battalion, (1st South Down) Royal Sussex Regiment Born about 1898. Son of William and Alice Jane Millham of 2, Firle Cottage, South Street, Partridge Green. Enlisted in Horsham. Killed in action 3rd April 1918. Commemorated on Panel 46 & 47 of the Pozieres Memorial. Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.
NORMAN	Henry Lucas	Private G/1182, 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment Born about 1889 in West Grinstead. Son of Thomas and Ruth Norman of Dean Cottage, Partridge Green. Enlisted in Hove Killed in action on the first day of the Battle of Loos, 25th September 1915. Commemorated on Panel 39 to 73 of the Loos Memorial. Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.
PRESTON	Arthur Robert	Private 49478, 160th Company, Machine Gun Corps Born Aston, Birmingham. Son of Longstaff and Marian Jane Preston. Enlisted in Partridge Green. Died in Egypt 23rd October 1918. Buried in Grave E 52 in Hadra War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt. Also served with the Royal Sussex Regiment, service number 1627. Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.
PULLEN	James Henry	Private 41581, 7th (Service) Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment Born in Willingdon, Sussex. Resident in Partridge Green when he enlisted in Horsham. Killed in action 24th April 1918. Commemorated on Panel 28 & 29 of the Pozieres Memorial Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.
SAYERS	Albert	Private TF/201099, 1/4th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Born in Shermanbury. Enlisted in Horsham. Killed in action 26th March 1917. Married to Cissie Whitington. In the 1891 census he was aged 2, born Shermanbury, Sussex, son of William and Emma Sayers, brother of David (below), resident Barrack Cottage, Shermanbury, Steyning, Sussex. In the 1901 census he was ager 12, born Shermanbury, Sussex, son of Emma Sayers (a widow), brother of David Sayers (below), resident Partridge Green, West Grinstead, Horsham, Sussex. In the 1911 census he was ager 22, born Shermanbury, Sussex, a Labourerer, son of Emma Sayers (a widow), brother of David Sayers (below), resident High Street, Partridge Green, West Grinstead, Horsham, Sussex. Commemorated on Panels 26 & 27 of the Jerusalem Memorial. Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.
SAYERS	David	Private 28169, 8th (Service) Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. Born in Shermanbury. Resident in Partridge Green when he enlisted in Horsham. Killed in action 17th November 1916. In the 1891 census he was aged 6, born Shermanbury, Sussex, a scholar, son of William and Emma Sayers, brother of Albert (above)), resident Barrack Cottage, Shermanbury, Steyning, Sussex. In the 1901 census he was ager 16, born Shermanbury, Sussxe, a Bricklayer Labourer, son of Emma Sayers (a widow), brother of Albert Sayers (above), resident Partridge Green, West Grinstead, Horsham, Sussex. In the 1911 census he was ager 22, born Shermanbury, Sussex, a Brickmaker, son of Emma Sayers (a widow), brother of Albert Sayers (above), resident High Street, Partridge Green, West Grinstead, Horsham, Sussex. Commemorated on Pier and Face 6B & 6C of the Thiepval Memorial on the Somme. Also served in the Royal Sussex Regiment, service number 9177. Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.
		Note: Albert and David Sayers (above) were brothers, sons of William and Emma Sayers; there was a third brother who died not listed on the memorial. Private TF/7318, 1/4th Battalion, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Died in United Kingdom 30 January 1917. Born Shermanbury, enlisted Hove. Buried near the right side of the main path of SHERMANBURY CEMETERY, Sussex. Listed on the Shermanbury War Memorial.
TASKER	Alfred G	Private 238113, 2/5th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’ Own) Born about 1888. Son of Frederick Tasker. Husband of Harriet Maria Tasker of 210, Hollingdean Terrace, Brighton Died 22nd February 1919. Buried in Grave V 85 in Brighton and Preston Cemetery. Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.
TASKER	[Frederick] A Victor	Private, G/18242, 8th (Service) Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) Born in Steyning. Living in Partridge Green when he enlisted in Horsham Died of wounds 20th April 1917. Buried in Grave VI D 40 in Bethune Town Cemetery. Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.
THORNS	Allen Philip	Private TF/2004, 1/4th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment Born at West Grinstead. Enlisted in Horsham Died ‘at sea’ 10th September 1915. Commemorated on Panel 125 of the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey. Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.
WALKER	Ernest George	Private 6457, 1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment Born in Grafton, Wiltshire. Resident in Partridge Green. Enlisted in Collingbourne Wiltshire. A regular soldier or reservist. Killed in action 26th October 1914. Commemorated on Panel 33 & 34 of the Le Touret Memorial. The battalion was in trenches at Neuve Chapelle and had been under shellfire for several days. On the evening of the 26th an enemy attack was beaten off, but with increasing casualties. This continued the following day until they were relieved. From 23rd to 27th October the battalion had suffered 2 officers killed, 5 wounded and 7 missing together with 45 other ranks killed, 45 wounded and 150 missing. Ernest was one of the latter. Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.
WALKER	William Charles	Private 7062, 1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment. Born in 1884 in Easton Royal, Wiltshire. Son of Albert & Amelia Walker and brother of Ernest George Walker (see above entry) Resident in Partridge Green. Enlisted in Woolwich. A regular soldier or reservist. Killed in action 21st September 1914. No known grave. Commemorated on on the La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial, Seine-et- Marne, France. Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.
WATTS	Frederick James	Private DM2/163287, "Y" Siege Park, Royal Army Service Corps. Born in 1882 in Shipley, Sussex. Son of James and Annie Watts and husband of Alice (née Raison) of Jolesfield Cottage, Partridge Green. Died 25th November 1918. Buried in VALENCIENNES (ST. ROCH) COMMUNAL CEMETERY, France. Plot I. Row E. Grave 25. Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.
1939-1945
BUDD	Frederick Richard	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 included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.
FINCH	Leonard Arthur Maurice	Sergeant 1394986, 280 Squadron (Coastal Command), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Missing belived killed when his aircraft, a Vickers Warwick BV290 based in Beccles, Suffolk, was lost over the North Sea during an air sea rescue opeation 8 October 1944, understood that the Warwick he was flying in was shot down at low level by an ME410 from the German Seenotgruppe 80. Aged 22. Born 3 July 1922 in Lewes, Sussex. Son of Arthur James and Daisy Finch, residents of Southwick U.D. Sussex in 1939; husband of Roberta Finch, of Sorn, Ayrshire. No known grave. Commemorated on RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL, Surrey. Panel 229. Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead and also on Shermanbury War Memorial.
GANDER	Peter Edwin	Sergeant, 648878, 229 Squadron, Royal Air Force Born about 1921. Son of Joseph and Anne Lucy Gander of Partridge Green. Died 24th December 1943. Commemorated on Panel 150 of the Runnymede Memorial. Also included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead. 229 Squadron fought in the Battle of Britain, before being transferred to North Africa in 1941 and disbanded in Malta in April 1942. They were reformed there 4 months later and flew Spitfire VC‘s on fighter bomber missions over Sicily while still being based on Malta. In April 1944 the squadron returned to the UK.
KNIGHT	Henry George Thomas	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 included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.
MITCHELL	Claude Walter	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 included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.
SAYERS	William Edwin	Private 6404733, 2nd Battalion, 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 included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.
WEAVER	Douglas Charles	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 included on the Old Comrades Memorial, West Grinstead.

Last updated: 1 December, 2021