Roll of Honour - Sussex

Ministry of Defence

Lest We Forget

The Royal British Legion

RYE HARBOUR WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 - Roll of Honour with detailed information
Compiled and copyright © Chris Comber 2007

Rye Harbour war memorials are to be found at the church of Holy Spirit. Both are for World War 1 and contain the same fifteen names. The first memorial is to be found within the Lych Gate leading to the church and contains three panels showing the names of those who served and one panle showing the names of those who fell. The second is within the church and takes the form of a plaque containing the names of those who died in World War 1. There is also an individual plaque to one man listed on the list of those who died.

Plaque within church:

IN HONOURED MEMORY OF
THE MEN OF THIS PARISH
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES
FOR THEIR COUNTRY IN
THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 1918

"THESE DIED IN WAR THAT WE AT PEACE MIGHT LIVE"

Board inside the lych gate:

THE FOLLOWING GAVE THEIR LIVES
FOR THEIR KING AND COUNTRY
IN THE GREAT WR 1914 - 1918

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

AERS	Frank Ernest	Able Seaman 142921, HMS “India”, Royal Navy. Lost when the Armed Merchant Cruiser was torpedoed by a submarine off Norway 8th August 1915. Aged 43. Husband of Mrs Edith Aers of 9, Frith Road, Dover, Kent. Buried in Narvick Cemetery Norway.
BAYLEY	Thomas William	Private G/84, 6th Battalion, East Kent Regiment 12th. Division. Died of wounds 16th October 1915. Born in Rye and enlisted in Folkestone, Kent. Buried in Lillers Communal Cemetery
BURR	James	No further information currently available
CAISTER	Leonard John	Private 39071, 2nd Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment. 4th Division. Killed in action near Bethune 24th June 1918. Aged 19. Son of Walter & Henrietta Jane Caister of Main Road, Rye Harbour. Enlisted in Hastings. Buried in Gonnehem British Cemetery . Also commeorated within the Church of Holy Spirit. THE MEMORY OF THE JUST IS BLESSED. IN SACRED MEMORY OF LEONARD JOHN CAISTER OF THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON'S REGIMENT SIX YEARS CHORISTER OF THIS CHURCH KILLED IN FRANCE SUNDAY JUNE 23RD 1918 AGED 19 YEARS IT SHALL BE WELL WITH THEM THAT FEAR GOD
DICKERSON	William John	[Listed as John William on CWGC] Private 39071, 9th. Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment 24th. Division. Died in base hospital at Etaples 26th June 1918. Aged 27. Son of Frederick & Maria Dickerson of Rye Harbour. Husband of Mrs M. Dickerson of 1, South Road, Newhaven. Born Rye Harbour and enlisted in Newhaven. Included on Newhaven War Memorial. Buried in Etaples Military Cemetery
DOWNEY	Harry George Albert	Rifleman A/204114, 13th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps. 37th Division. Killed in action 25th August 1918. Aged 19. Son of William & Elizabeth Downey of Tram Road, Rye Harbour. Born in Rye and enlisted in Hastings. Buried in Morey Abbey Military Cemetery, Morey.
MARSHALL	Robert	Private TF/1851, 1/5th. Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. 1st Division. Died of enteric fever in base hospital at Etaples 10th October 1915. Aged 20. Son of Arthur & Emma Jane Marshall of 44, Grove Road, Ore, Hastings. Born in Broomhill and enlisted in Rye. Buried in Etaples Military Cemetery
MARTIN	Leonard	No further information currently available
MESHER	James Walter	Gunner 32291, 122nd Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Killed in action near Ypres 8th May 1915. Aged 25. Son of James & Martha Annie Messer of The Reading Room, Rye Harbour. Born in Rye Harbour and enlisted in Rye. Commemorated on The Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium
MURRANT	Alfred Cyril	Sergeant PO/15654, 1st Royal Marine Light Infantry Battalion, 63rd Royal Naval Division. Killed in action at Beaumont Hamel 13th November 1916. Aged 27. Husband of Violet Winifred Murrant of 3, Gorse Terrace, Sidlesham Common. Son of Mr & Mrs Murrant of “Ekowe” Swanmore, Bishops Waltham, Hampshire. Sidlesham War Memorial. Buried in Y Ravine Cemetery, Beaumont Hamel
NOAKES	James Henry	Corporal G. 677 7th. Battalion The East Kent Regiment 18th.Division. Killed in action near Ypres 10.10.17. Aged 21 Born in Winchelsea and enlisted in Dover. Next of kin Lydd, Kent. Lydd War Memorial. Buried in Cement House Cemetery, Belgium
SOUTHERDEN	Frederick	Driver 130280, “D” Battery, 63rd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Killed in action 1st December 1917. Aged 33, Second son of Mr & Mrs Frederick Southerden of Jury’s Gap, Rye. Husband of Mrs Alice Southerden of 52, Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone, Kent. Buried in Peronne Communal Cemetery Extension
SAUNDERS	Harold	Private SD/2120, 11th. Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment 39th. Division. Killed in action near Mailly Maillet Wood 30th August 1916. Aged 18. Son of Frederick & Elizabeth Saunders of Inkerman Cottages, Rye Harbour. Born in Icklesham and enlisted in Hastings. Buried in Engelbelmer Communal Cemetery Extension
WATSON	Harold Edwin	Private 18391, 1/5th Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment .11th Division. Killed in action at Arras 1st May 1917. Aged 20. Son of Robert Dennis & Martha Watson of “The Haven” Camber Sands. Born in Rye and enlisted in Hastings. Formerly with The Royal Artillery. Brother of Henry Watson. Commemorated on The Arras Memorial
WATSON	Henry	Lance Corporal TF/320045, 16th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. 74th Division. Killed in action at Ephey 16th September 1918. Aged 24. Son of Robert Dennis & Martha Watson of “The Haven” Rye Harbour. Husband of Mrs H. Watson of 2, Judge Place, Rye. Born in Icklesham and enlisted in March, Cambridgeshire. Brother of H.E. Watson. (17th Battalion in SDGW Part 40) Buried in Peronne Communal Cemetery Extension.

Last updated 3 September, 2007

War Memorials Trust