PETWORTH SCHOOL WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 2 - Roll of Honour with detailed information
Compiled and copyright © Colin Glendinning 2019

On Tuesday the 29th September 1942 at 10.25am a lone German bomber, approaching from the south over Hoes Farm, aimed its bombs at troops in the grounds of Petworth House. All missed their intended target, falling into the boys’ school near the junction of North Street & Horsham Road. There was no air raid warning and of the 80 children at school that day many were killed and a large number injured. Along with the children the explosions also took the lives of the headmaster, Charles Stevenson and Charlotte Marshall an assistant teacher. There have been mixed publications not only of the intentions of the aircraft crew but also on the identity of the German aircraft responsible. Some stating that it was a Junkers 88 and another that it was a Heinkel 111. Much of this published information has been shown to be incorrect. The memorial is on the east side of the A283 between the junction with the A272 and The Stonemasons Inn standing on the site of the former Petworth Boys School. The memorial taks the form of a metal plaque set in a granite boulder containing the inscription which is flanked by two further plaques containing the names. The Chichester Observer has an article Tuesday 1st October 2019 by Joe Stack commemorating the 77th anniversary Image is Copyright © George Garland, courtesy of West Sussex County Council Library Service Ruins of Petworth Boys' School after the bombing 29th September 1942 Canadian troops of the Toronto Scottish Regiment were encamped in the grounds of Petworth Park. They rushed to the scene and along with rescue services and local people worked to free survivors from the ruins of the school and the laundry. These same troops provided transport in the form of lorries to carry the many coffins in the cortège to the mass grave close to the school. They also provided an escort for each vehicle.. See also World War II Today - Lone bomber hits Petworth School – 32 dead

Extract from West Sussex Gazette - Thursday 26 November 1942, page 2: PETWORTH SCHOOL TRAGEDY After considering about the Petworth School tragedy and a petition from residents for school shelters and a public warning system by siren, the Education Committee had resolved:— That the Authority adhere to their present air raid precautions policy; and that no action be taken ether to provide outside shelters at schools in rural areas or Indoor (Morrison) shelters at any schools or make special arrangements to extend the warning system to schools in areas where there is no public warning system available either by the provision of telephones at schools or bells connected to a source of public warning. The Council confirmed this.

Extract from Hampshire Telegraph - Friday 30 October 1942, page 10: Bombed Petworth Boys Recovering Fourteen boys, injured when a school at Petworth was bombed on September 29, on Wednesday went to a convalescent home in Surrey. The head master, mistress, and 29 of the boys were killed in the raid. Extract from The Times - Thursday 29 October 1942, page 2: PETWORTH SCHOOL BOMBED It may now be revealed that the southern school which was hit by a German bomb on September 29, when the headmaster, a mistress, and 29 boys were killed, was at Petworth, Sussex. Yesterday 14 boys who were injured went to a convalescent home in Surrey.

Photographs Copyright © Colin Glendenning 2019

THIS MEMORIAL MARKS THE SITE
OF THE PETWORTH BOYS SCHOOL
DESTROYED BY ENEMY ACTION
MICHAELMAS 1942
WITH THE TRAGIC LOSS OF TWO
TEACHERS AND TWENTY EIGHT PUPILS

FOREVER REMEMBERED

ADSETT	Alice Kate	Wife of Walter Stanley Adsett, Died in 1960. Born 24th February 1877, resident 307 North Street, Petworth, Petworth R.D., Sussex in 1939 Register.
ADSETT	Walter Stanley	Died 12th April 1943, aged 64. Born 31st March 1878, a Laundryman in 1939 Register. Husband of Alice Kate Adsett of 307, North Street, Petworth, Injured 29 September 1942, at Petworth; died at Royal West Sussex Hospital. Buried in Petworth Horsham Road Cemetery.
AYLING	Alfred Charles	Died 29th September 1942, aged 10. Born 26th February 1932, resident Hathurst Cottages, Petworth, Petworth R.D., Sussex in 1939 Register. Son of Alfred Ayling, of Flathurst, Petworth. Buried in Petworth Horsham Road Cemetery.
BALCHIN	William Maurice	Died 29th September 1942, aged 10. Born 16th May 1932 in 1939 Register. Son of Maurice Balchin, of Limbo Farm, Petworth. Buried in Petworth Horsham Road Cemetery.
BURGESS	Albert	Died 29th September 1942, aged 12. Son of Harry Burgess, of 269B Gunters Bridge, Petworth. Buried in Petworth Horsham Road Cemetery.
BUSHBY	Frederick Charles	Died 29th September 1942, aged 12. Born 2nd September 1932 in 1939 Register. Son of L.A.C. Frederick Charles Bushby, R.A.F., and Irene May Bushby, of 18 Hampers Green, Petworth. Buried in Petworth Horsham Road Cemetery.
CROSS	Bryan Dennis	Died 29th September 1942, aged 11. Born 22 July 1931 in 1939 Register. Son of Oliver Mark and Evelyn Alma Cross, of Soanes Farm, Petworth. Died at Petworth Boys' School. Buried in Petworth Horsham Road Cemetery.
GUMBRELL	Roy	Died 29th September 1942, aged 10. Son of Malcolm and Elsie Violet Gumbrell, of 10 Grove Lane, Petworth. Died at Petworth Boys School. Buried in Petworth Horsham Road Cemetery.
HAMILTON	Edward Cecil	Died 29th September 1942, aged 11. Son of George Alfred and Eleanor Lucy Hamilton, of 21 Hampers Green, Petworth. Died at Petworth Boys' School. Buried in Petworth Horsham Road Cemetery.
HAMILTON	Sydney Ralph	Died 29th September 1942, aged 10. Son of George Alfred and Eleanor Lucy Hamilton, of 21 Hampers Green, Petworth. Died at Petworth Boys' School. Buried in Petworth Horsham Road Cemetery.
HERRINGTON	William George	Died 29th September 1942, aged 7. Born 20th October 1934 in 1939 Register. Son of William James and Ethel Nora Herrington, of 4 Grove Lane, Petworth. Died at Petworth Boys' School. Buried in Petworth Horsham Road Cemetery.
HILLMAN	Charles	Died 29th September 1942, aged 8. Born 9th February 1934 in 1939 Register. Son of Phillip John and Ellen Hillman, of 21 Grove Lane, Petworth. Died at Petworth Boys' School. Buried in Petworth Horsham Road Cemetery.
HOLDEN	Donald Eric	Died 29th September 1942, aged 7. Born 4th December 1934 in 1939 Register. Son of Seth and Winifred Lilian Holden, of Saddlers Row, Petworth. Died at Petworth Boys' School.
HUNT	George Charles	Died 29th September 1942, aged 10. Born 26th November 1931 in 1939 Register. Son of Philip James and Lilian Mary Hunt, of 25 Hampers Green, Petworth. Died at Petworth Boys' School. Buried in Petworth Horsham Road Cemetery.
MARSHALL	Charlotte Catherine	Died 29th September 1942, aged 27, born 21st December 1914, of Burton Rough, Petworth. Daughter of Ernest William Marshall, and of the late Lucy Hannah Marshall. In the 1939 Register she was a School Teacher, resident Briar Bank, Duncton, Petworth R.D., Sussex. Died at Petworth Boys' School. Buried in Petworth Horsham Road Cemetery.
MOORE	Brian John	Died 29th September 1942, aged 8. Son of Ivy Bristow (formerly Moore), of 38 Hampers Green, Petworth. In the 1939 Register he was born 27 September 1934, resident Grove Lane, Petworth, Petworth R.D., Sussex. Brother of Mervyn (below). At Petworth Boys' School. Buried in Petworth Horsham Road Cemetery.
MOORE	Mervyn Allan	Died 29th September 1942, aged 10. Son of Gertrude Kathleen Fanny Moore, of 6 Grove Lane, Petworth, and of the late George Henry Moore. In the 1939 Register he was born 30 October 1931, resident Grove Lane, Petworth, Petworth R.D., Sussex. Brother of Brian (above). Died at Petworth Boys' School. Buried in Petworth Horsham Road Cemetery.
MOREY	John Bertram	Died 29th September 1942, aged 7. Son of Frederick Albert Morey (H.M. Forces) and Ivy Elizabeth Morey, of The Square, Petworth at Petworth Boys' School. Buried in Petworth Horsham Road Cemetery.
MOSS	David Charles	Died 29th September 1942, aged 9. Son of Wilfred Victor and Phyllis May Moss, of 328A Grove Street, Petworth. Died at Petworth Boys' School. Buried in Petworth Horsham Road Cemetery.
PENFOLD	Peter	Died 29th September 1942, aged 10. Son of Arthur Jack and E. M. Penfold, of 26 Station Road, Petworth. Died at Petworth Boys' School. Buried in Petworth Horsham Road Cemetery.
PENFOLD	Ronald	Died 29th September 1942, aged 12. Son of Arthur Jack and E. M. Penfold, of 26 Station Road, Petworth. Died at Petworth Boys' School. Buried in Petworth Horsham Road Cemetery.
RICHARDS	Dennis Albert	Died 30th September 1942, aged 8. Injured 29th September 1942 at Petworth Boys' School and died at St. Richard's Hospital. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles John Richards, of 18 Council Cottages, Grove Lane, Petworth.
SHANE	Robert James	Died 29th September 1942, aged 8. Born 10th May 1934 in the 1939 Register. Son of John Joseph Shane (H.M. Forces) and Daisy Ada Shane of 17 Hampers Green. Died at Petworth Boys' School. Buried in Petworth Horsham Road Cemetery.
SIMMONDS	Allen Robert	Died 29th September 1942, aged 9. Born 11th December 1932. Son of Archibald Albert Ford Simmonds (H.M. Forces) and Violet Doris Simmonds, of Shotterland, Ebernoe, Petworth; brother of Donald R Simmonds. Died at Petworth Boys' School. Buried in Petworth Horsham Road Cemetery.
SPEED	Ronald Hubert	Died 29th September 1942, aged 8. Born 17th January 1934 in 1939 Register. Son of Hubert William Speed (H.M. Forces) and Cora Speed, of 348 Middle Street, Petworth. Died at Petworth Boys' School.
STANDING	Dennis John	Died 29th September 1942, aged 11. Born 10th March 1931 in the 1939 Register. Son of Samuel John and Clara Standing, of 276M Northend Cotts, North Street, Petworth. At Petworth Boys' School. Buried in Petworth Horsham Road Cemetery.
STEVENSON	Charles	Died 29th September 1942, aged 56. A.G.P., M.R.S.T. Born 19th July 1886, Schoolmaster (Head) resident 292A North Street, Petworth, Petworth R.D., Sussex, according to the 1939 Register. Husband of Elizabeth G. (nee Barber) Stevenson, of School House, North Street, Petworth, married October to December Quarter 1940 in Midhurst Registration District, Sussex. Died at Petworth Boys' School. Buried in Petworth Horsham Road Cemetery.
STONER	Richard Charles Arthur	Died 29th September 1942, aged 11. Born 26th June 1931 in 1939 Register. Son of Sgt. Richard Arthur Stoner, R.A.F. and Doris E. Stoner, of 20 Hampers Green (aka Hampers Common), Petworth. Died at Petworth Boys' School. Buried in Petworth Horsham Road
STRUDWICK	Brian Charles	Died 29th September 1942, aged 8. Born 7th August 1934 in 1939 Register. Son of Alfred Charles and Hilda Margaret Strudwick, of 3 South Grove, Petworth. Died at Petworth Boys' School. Buried in Petworth Horsham Road Cemetery
TAYLOR	Keith Richard	Died 29th September 1942, aged 9. Son of Frederick George and Kathleen Anne Taylor, of Park Road, Petworth. Died at Petworth Boys' School. Buried in Petworth Horsham Road Cemetery.
THAYRE	Paul William Robin	Died 29th September 1942, aged 9. Son of George William and A. B. Thayre, of North Street, Petworth. Died at Petworth Boys' School. Buried in Petworth Horsham Road Cemetery.
DEATH DUE TO THE BOMBING, DIED LATER
CARVER	Charles John	Died 3rd October 1942, aged 10. Born in Midhurst 7th July 1932. Son of Charles Ernest and Mary Magdalene Carver, of 393 Waterworks Cottages, Petworth. Injured 29th September 1942, at Petworth Boys' School; died at St. Richard's Hospital. Death registered by Chichester Municipal Borough. Buried 6th October 1942 in Lodsworth Cemetery, Sussex. Commemorated on the Civilian War Dead Roll of Honour, located near St. George's Chapel in Westminster Abbey, London.
STREETER	Eva	Died 29th September 1942, aged 61. of Laundry Cottage, North Street, Petworth. Daughter of Joseph and Jane Betchley, of Horsham; widow of Harry George Streeter. Died at Laundry Cottage.

Last updated 8 September, 2023