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FLETCHING WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 & 2 - Roll of Honour with detailed information
Compiled and copyright © Chris Comber & Geoff Isted 2008

This is a small historic village mainly because Simon De Montfort buried some of his comrades in the chancel on his way back from the Battle of Lewes in 1264. The Fletching War Memorial is to be found in the corner of St Mary & St Andrew’s Parish Churchyard facing the High Street. The memorial takes the form of a stone block wall surmounted by three stepped base plinth, shaft and Latin cross of stone where the Cross is set into the church wall; there is a sword of sacrifice on front face of the cross. There are thirty names listed for World War 1 and eight for World War 2. Further details for World War 2 are to be found in the Church provided by Fletching Royal British Legion.

Photographs Copyright © Chris Comber 2008

IN PROUD AND GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THE
BRAVE MEN OF THIS PARISH WHO GAVE THIER LIVES
IN THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM

TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN PROUD AND
AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THIS PARISH
WHO HAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR

THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE.

BISH

Percy

Private G/6681, 9th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. 24th Division. Killed in action at Messines Ridge 11 July 1916. Aged 23. Son of Mrs Sarah Howick (formerly Bish) of Catteshall Lane, Godalming, Surrey formerly of Wonersh in Surrey. Born in Wonersh and enlisted in Brighton. Commemorated on The Menin Gate Memorial Ypres, Belgium.

BROOKS

Sydney Arthur

Private. SD/1632, 12th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. 39th Division. Killed in action on the Rue De Bois 30 June 1916. Aged 18. Son of Jared and Frances Brooks of Fletching. Born in Fletching and enlisted in Brighton. Commemorated on the Loos Memorial

CURTEIS

Lancelot

Second Lieutenant, 8th Battalion, Border Regiment. 25th Division. Killed in action on the Somme 3 July 1916. Aged 23. Son of Robert Mascall and Florence Curteis of "Fernhurst" Uckfield. Born in Fletching. Educated at Parkside, Worcester Park and Radley College. Commemorated on The Thiepval Memorial.

DAY

William George

Lance Corporal L/10315, 9th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. 24th Division. Killed in action near Ypres 15 May 1916. Aged 19. Son of John Thomas and Sally Day of 20, New Road Ridgewood, Uckfield. Born in Fyzabhad, India and enlisted in Chichester. Included on the Memorial in St Margarets Church Buxted, Newick Memorial and Newick School Memorial Book. Buried in Ration Farm Annex, Belgium.

ELLIS

John

Private 5368, 11th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers 18th Division. Killed in action near Ypres 10 August 1917. Aged 34. Son of Henry and Mary Ann (nee Parris) Ellis; husband of Florence Eveling (nee Welch) Ellis of 2, Stonecroft Cottages, Piltdown (Forence was the sister of Percy David Welch who also gave his life and is listed on thsi memorial). Born in Chelwood Gate and enlisted in Uckfield. Commemorated on The Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium

ELPHICK

Dennis Arthur

Private 28324, 7th Battalion, Border Regiment. 17th Division. Killed in action near Arras 19 April 1917. Aged 19. Son of George and Ellen Elphick of Cherry Tree Cottages, Newick. Born in Fletching and enlisted in Chichester. Buried in Faubourg D’Amiens Cemetery Arras.

FITZPATRICK

Gabriel Roy

Captain, 1st Battalion, Welsh Regiment. 1st Division. Killed in action on the Marne 14 September 1914. Aged 29. Son of Frederick William and Amelia Fitzpatrick of Cromwell Road, Highgate, London. Husband of Mrs Mabel Strey Fitzpatrick of Clinton Lodge, Fletching. Born in Chelsea. Commemorated on The Ferte Sous Jouarre Memorial

GLADMAN

Edward

Driver 57968, 104th Battery, Royal Field Artillery Killed in action near Ypres 31 October 1914. Aged 25. Son of Frederick and Clara Gladman of Mosses Cottage, Fletching formerly of Catsfield. Born in Croydon and enlisted in Eastbourne. Commemorated on The Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium.

GLADMAN

Thomas Frederick

Private TF/203328, 2/5th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. 61st Division. Died of wounds 3 December 1917. Aged 23. Son of Frederick and Clara Gladman of Mosses Cottage, Fletching. Formerly of Catsfield. Born in Bexhill. Buried in Caudry British Cemetery

GROVER

Harry Cecil

Private 34557 1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers 3rd Division. Died of wounds suffered near Arras 6 May 1917. Aged 20. Son of Alfred and Emma Grover of Fletching. Born in Fletching and enlisted in Brighton. Buried in Duisans British Cemetery, Etrun.

GROVER

Richard Albert

Private 10726, 1st Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. 5th Division. Died at home after the war 27 November 1918. Aged 28. Son of Alfred and Emma Grover of Fletching. Born in Fletching. Buried in St. Mary and St. Andrew’s Burial Ground, Fletching.

HARDING

Henry (Harry)

Private G/4383, 1st Battalion, Royal West Surrey Regiment. 1st Division. Killed in action 1 November 1915. Aged 29. Son of Mr and Mrs George Harding of "Spratts Cottage," Fletching. Husband of Mrs A Harding (remarried) of 12, Mint Cottages, Banstead, Surrey. Enlisted in Guildford. Born Hamsey. Buried in Cambrin Churchyard Extension.

HARDING

Frederick (Fred)

Son of George Harding of "Spratts Cottage" Fletching. Born in Fletching. 1896. No further information currently available.

HOOD

Oswald

Second Lieutenant 11th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. 39th Division. Killed in action during the attack on Beaucourt Ridge 3 September 1916. Aged 31. Son of The Rev.Edwin and Mrs Eleanor Hood of Fletching Vicarage, later of 12. College Terrace, Brighton. Born in Brixham, Devonshire. Buried in Englebelmer Communal Cemetery

KENWARD

Robert

Second Lieutenant, 7th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. 12th Division. ("A" Company) Killed in action during the attack on Ovillers 7 July 1916. Aged 21. Son of Robert and Ellen Kenward of Barkham Manor, Piltdown. Born in Fletching Educated at Hurstpierpoint College. Hurstpierpoint Memorial Chapel. Commemorated on The Thiepval Memorial

KING

Matthew Roland

Private 86645, 145th Company, Labour Corps. Formerly with The Suffolk Regiment. Died at base hospital at Rouen 1 July 1918. Aged 19. Son of Frank and Alice King of Fletching. Born in Piltdown and enlisted in Uckfield. Buried in St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen

MITCHELL

Jesse

Private TF/202506, 1/4th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. 53rd Division. Killed in action at the third battle of Gaza 6 November 1917. Aged 28. Son of Thomas and Louisa Mitchell of Splaynes Green, Fletching. Born in Fletching and enlisted in Uckfield. Buried in Beersheeba War Cemetery, Palestine.

MOORE

George Alfred

Private 41851, 26th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers 41st Division. Died of wounds (grave lost) near Messines Ridge 7 June 1917. Aged 35. Son of Annie Moore of Crawley. Born in Fletching and enlisted in Horsham. Commemorated on The Menin Gate Memorial Ypres, Belgium

MORLING

Thomas Brown

Lance Corporal SD/1078, 11th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. 39th Division. Died of pneumonia at home 11 May 1916. Aged 21. Son of Mr and Mrs George Morling of "The Homestead," Horney Common, Maresfield. Born in Nutley (according to 1901 census) and enlisted in Uckfield. Buried in St. Mary and St. Andrews Burial Ground Fletching.

NEALE

Ernest

Sergeant, Royal Air Force. Died at home 22 May 1920. Aged 35. Son of James and Esther Neale sometime of Whites Cottages, Fletching. Born in Fletching. Buried in St Mary and St Andrew Burial Ground Fletching

NEWNHAM

John William

Private TF/243068, 11th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment. 35th Division. Died of wounds 21 March 1918. Aged 29. Son of Mr and Mrs Newnham of Fletching. Born in Piltdown and enlisted in Chichester. Buried in Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension.

PAGE

George

Private S/2018, 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. 1st Division. Killed in action at Cuinchy 29 January 1915. Aged 22. Son of John Amos and Emily Page of 18, Richmond Hill, Brighton. Nephew of George Pagdham of Fletching. Born in Portslade and enlisted in Brighton. Commemorated on The Le Touret Memorial

POLLARD

Raymond Edward

Private. 34558, 8th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry 26th Division. Salonikan Front. Killed in action in Macedonia 28 July 1917. Aged 19. Son of Edward and Mary Jane Pollard of Commerce House, Fletching. Born in Billingshurst and enlisted in Maresfield. Buried in Mikra British Cemetery, Kalamaria, Greece.

REED

William

Private SD/4938, 12th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. 39th Division. Wounded during the attack on the Rue De Bois on the 30 June 1916 and died of wounds in Casualty Clearing Station 1 July 1916. Aged 29. Son of James and Julia Reed of Fletching. Husband of Mrs Alice Reed of North Bank Cottages, Bank Passage, Steyning. Born in Fletching and enlisted in Hove. Buried in Merville Communal Cemetery.

STAPLEHURST

Charles

Private 37254, 1/4th Battalion, Essex Regiment. 54th Division. Killed in action near Gaza 3 November 1917. Aged 40. Son of Frank and Katherine Staplehurst of Coghan’s Farm, Piltdown. Born in Fletching and enlisted in Paddington, London. Former ASC. Buried in Gaza War Cemetery, Palestine.

STAPLEHURST

Frederick Thomas

223697. Died of pulmonary tuberculosis on 5th March 1921 at home, in Crowborough. Son of Anne Staplehurst formerly of Maresfield. Born in Fletching. No record with CWGC.

STAPLEHURST

George (Joe)

Private. G. 3580 7th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. 12th Division. Died of wounds 6 August 1916. Aged 23. Son of Ross and Louisa Staplehurst of "Rose Cottage" Piltdown. Employee of Sheffield Park. Born in Fletching and enlisted in Uckfield. Resident of Honeysuckle Cottages, Piltdown. Buried in Varennes Military Cemetery

WELCH

Percy David

Private 61757 23rd Battalion (1st Sportsman’s), Royal Fusiliers. 2nd Division. Killed in action at Arras 3 May 1917. Aged 34. Born in Nutley and enlisted in Uckfield. Son of James and Harriett Welch. Carter. Formerly G/13572 Royal Sussex. Commemorated on the Arras Memorial

WELFARE

Henry 'Harry'

Private TF/350583, 15th Battalion, Essex Regiment. 59th Division. Died at home 9 July 1917. Aged 37. Son of Mr and Mrs Welfare of Fletching. Husband of Winifred Welfare. Born in Fletching. Buried in St. Mary and St. Andrew’s Burial Ground, Fletching

WINCHESTER

Robert

Private TF/2651, 1/5th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. 1st Division. Died of wounds in military hospital in Bethune 9 April 1915. Aged 22. Brother of Mrs F. Richardson of 68, Longstone Road, Eastbourne. Employed by Mr R. Kenward of Barkham Manor, Piltdown. Born in Eastbourne and enlisted in Uckfield. Buried in Bethune Town Cemetery

1939 – THE WORLD WAR - 1945

BLACK

Duncan

Bombardier, 2 Airlanding Anti Tank Battery, Royal Artillery. Drowned when the ship he was on was mined in the Mediterranean 10 September 1943. Aged 32. Son of Duncan and Georgina Black. Husband of Lilian Jesse Black of Furners Green. Regular Artilleryman. Commemorated on Cassino Memorial, Italy

ERWIN

John Francis Henry

Flying Officer, 115 Squadron (Lancaster 11), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve operating from Little Snoring, Norfolk. Killed when his aircraft crashed at Sutton Vallance on 11 August 1943. Husband of Mrs J.F.Erwin of Fletching High Street. Buried in Maidstone Cemetery, Kent

GUNN

Richard Francis

Sergeant (Flight Engineer), 51 Bomber Squadron (Halifax 111), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Lost on operations over Germany 22 March 1945. Aged 19. Son of Frank and Blanche Emma Gunn of South Common. His parents owned, at one point, Knabb Farm, Fletching before they moved to South Common Chailey. Buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. (Not included on main Memorial)

HOBBS

Ronald Arthur

Leading Telegraphist, HM Submarne "Snapper", Royal Navy. Lost with the submarine when she was sunk in the Bay of Biscay on her way home from the Mediterranean 12 February 1941. Aged 19. Son of Mr and Mrs Arthur Hobbs of St. Marks Cottage, Fletching High Street. Commemorated on The Chatham Naval Memorial

HORSCROFT

James William

Stoker 1st Class, HMS "Grenville", Royal Navy. One of 77 men lost when the Flotilla Leader was mined in the Thames Estuary 19 January 1940. Aged 31. Son of John and Alice Horscroft. Husband of Margery Maud Kate Horscroft of Highurstwood. Reservist with 12 years service. Formerly employed by Sheffield Park Sawmills. Commemorated on The Portsmouth Naval Memorial

HUSSEY

Walter Seymour

Leading Stoker Royal Navy HM Submarine "Thistle" Lost when the Submarine was sunk by a torpedo fired from U-4 off Norway 10 April 1940. Son of Alfred and Winifred Hussey of Rowlands Castle, Hampshire. Commemorated on The Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Southsea.

KERR

David Dunkinfield

Gunner 38th Battery 13th Light A.A. Regiment. Royal Artillery. Killed in action in North Africa 15 May 1941. Aged 23. Son of David and Ada Kerr of Barkham Manor, Piltdown, and later Hawkhurst in Kent. Commemorated on The Alamein Memorial

MARTIN

Victor Richard Roy

Private (Armourer), Royal Army Ordnance Corps. Killed in an accident in the United Kingdom 12 January 1941. Aged 19. Son of Richard and Nellie Martin of "Culloden" Fletching High Street. Buried in Fletching Burial Ground

TYRRELL

Frederick

Guardsman, 3rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards, Killed in action in Italy 25 September 1943. Aged 35. Son of Harry and Beatrice Tyrrell. Husband of Molly Tyrrell of Ripley, Surrey. Commemorated on the Cassino Memorial

Last updated 19 March, 2009

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