BLACKMAN

Frederick J

Private Frederick J Blackman of the Royal Sussex Regiment is buried in the St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen. Private Blackman had been wounded and sent to one of the fifteen military hospitals in Rouen. He died on the 2nd September 1918. Frederick was born at the Prince of Wales Hotel, Littlehampton, one of two brothers. He died when he was 18.

BLACKMAN

Maurice [Henry]

Private G/4615, 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Killed in action 9th May 1915 in the infamous Battle of Aubers Ridge (Neuve Chapelle). Born Cold Waltham, enlisted Chichester. No known grave. Commemorated on LE TOURET MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 20 and 21. Born in Thakeham, Sussex in September 1891.

Note: The Battle of Aubers Ridge (Neuve Chapelle) was one of the worst – an unmitigated disaster. It started at 04.06 on 9th May and ended after 20.00 hrs by which time the Royal Sussex Regiment had lost 551, in the first wave and 202 men in the second, the greatest number sacrificed in this futile battle.

DAVIS

Douglas [Stalman]

Lieutenant, Honourable Artillery Company (Territorial Force), ADC to IGC, L of C. Died of pneumonia 27th January 1919. Aged 27. Son of Major and Mrs. A. I. Davis, of Pagham. Douglas was born in Surrey but one of his sisters was born in Bognor. In 1914 a Sergeant in the HAC. He was the ADC to IGC, L of C. His family lived at Little Wellbourne, Church Lane and Richmond, Surrey. Three other brothers were involved in the war, Arthur Hubert was a doctor, Reginald a vet and Leslie an engineer – they returned safely. Buried in ARQUATA SCRIVIA COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, Italy. Plot I Row C Grave 14.

DELL

Reginald [Charles]

Private TF/200569, 4th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Killed in action in Egypt 26th March 1917. Enlisted Horsham. Aged 20. Son of Charles Henry and Matilda Dell, Aldwick Place, Bognor. Lied about his age when he enlisted. Commemorated on JERUSALEM MEMORIAL, Israel. Panels 26 and 27.

GRIFFIN

Charles

Private G/19917, 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Died of wounds 14th March 1917. Aged 19. He was the son of Charles and Fanny Griffin of Nyetimber and had been born at Salthams, Sussex [SDGW states he was born at Mandam (sic)], enlisted Eastbourne. His father was a farm worker (horses). Charles is buried at the BRAY MILITARY CEMETERY, Somme, France. Plot II. Row F. Grave 47.

HALE

George [James]

Lance Corporal G/980, 7th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Killed in action 24th June 1918. Aged 24. Born Pagham, enlisted Chichester. Son of James and Ellen Hale, of Pagham, Bognor. They lived in Nyetimber and his father was a farm labourer. He was born in 1896. Volunteered in August/September 1914. Buried in HARPONVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, Somme, France. Row D Grave 8.

HARTMANN

[Charles] Carl Herbert

Lieutenant, 5th Battalion (Territorial), Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Killed in action 2nd July 1918. Aged 31. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Augustus Hartmann, of 14, Kensington Square, London. Born Blackheath. His father and uncle had emigrated from Bremen to London in the 1870s to become very successful merchants. Augustus had retired by the age of 43. His connection with Pagham is that between 1910-1912 Augustus built a holiday home on land between The Grange and Waters Edge. It was mock Tudor and probably large. It was demolished sometime before 1963. The three windows in the North Transept of St. Thomas a’Becket church are dedicated to his memory. Buried in BOUZINCOURT RIDGE CEMETERY, ALBERT, Somme, France. Plot II Row F Grave 3.

HOLDEN

Alfred

Ordinary Seaman J/51186, HMS “Mary Rose” (7th) which had been launched in 1915 and had been part of the 12th Destroyer Flotilla at the Battle of Jutland, May 1916. The “Mary Rose” was sunk on 17th October 1917 while escorting a convoy of 12 Merchant ships. She was part of an escort with HMS “Strongbow” and two armed trawlers which overcome by the German cruisers “Brummer” and “Bremse”. Two officers and eight men were saved. The sinking occurred 65 miles east of Lerwick. Alfred’s seven brothers, John, Osman, Albert, William Charles, Jesse and Joseph all served in the 1st World War. He is buried in the cemetery at FREDRIKSTAD MILITARY CEMETERY, Norway. Plot I. Row A. Grave 7.

JANMAN

Albert [George]

Lance Corporal G/1522, "C" Company, 7th Battalion, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Killed in action 27th September 1916 (listed as 5th October 1916 on SDGW). Aged 29. Born Pagham, enlisted Tonbridge, Kent. Son of Mr. Thomas V. and Mrs. Mary Janman, of The Manor House, Aldwick (BarrackLane), Bognor, Sussex. One of eight sons and four daughters (12 children). His father was a farm worker. No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 11 C.

KEATES

Ernest

Private L/9956, 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Killed in action14th September 1914 at Vendresse. Aged 20. Born Pagham, enlisted Chichester. Son of Mrs & Mrs Keates of Copy Hold Cottage, Lagness. No known grave. Commemorated on LA FERTE-SOUS-JOUARRE MEMORIAL, Seine-et-Marne, France.

Observer Letter 1914

“He was reported to be among those who gave their lives on 30th September and Private Hartland of C Company of the 2nd Bat who was severely wounded says Keates was killed by a bursting shell which wrought such havoc that it up rooted a tree near to where Keates and Hartland were standing.”

KEATES

William Russell

Private SD/2724, 11th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Killed in action 21st October 1916. Aged 22. Born Bersted, enlisted Chichester. Son of William George Keates of Rose Green, Pagham. There is no known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Face 7C.

MATHEWS

John Lawrence

Lieutenant, 7th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment attached to Divisional Signals, Royal Engineers. He was brought to the nearby Casualty Clearing Station where he died on 29th December 1917. Born 1897. Buried in the AIRE COMMUNAL CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France. Plot I. Row G. Grave 15.

He went to Holyrood School, Victoria Drive, Bognor where a fellow pupil was Norman Fellowes Prynne, son of architect of St. Wilfrid’s and nephew of Edward Prynne, designer of the memorial windows dated 1918 which are in the South Transept of St. Thomas a’Becket Church.

“On 29th December (1917) accidentally killed on active service, John Lawrence Mathews Lt. Royal Sussex Regiment, Special Reserve (temporarily attached RE Signals) dearly loved elder son of Mr & Mrs Henry Noble Mathews, of Aldwick House, Bognor, and grandson of the late William Mathews of Edgbaston, Birmingham in his 21st year”.

MILES

John Edward

Gunner 101220, 225th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Died 1st December 1917. Aged 37. Born and resident Sherbourne, Hampshire, enlisted Whitehall, Middlesex. Son of John and Harriet Miles of The Laundry, Sherborne St. John, Basingstoke, Hants; husband of Annie Elizabeth Miles. His late father had been a brick layers labourer. He had two sisters and one brother. The elder sister was a dressmaker. Buried in ROCQUIGNY-EQUANCOURT ROAD BRITISH CEMETERY, MANANCOURT, Somme, France. Plot VI. Row C. Grave 15.

MISSELBROOK

Frank [Henry]

Private 49307, 6th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment. Died of wounds 2nd September 1918. Aged 19. Born Peckham, Surrey, September/December 1899, enlisted Brighton lying about his age so he could join his elder brother, Stephen, in the Army. One of two brothers (see below) who died in the Great War. His family had lived in Nyetimber with his brother and three sisters. His father was a farm worker (stockman). Buried in HEILLY STATION CEMETERY, MERICOURT-L'ABBE, Somme, France. Plot VII. Row B. Grave 38.

MISSELBROOK

Stephen

Private G/7240, 7th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Killed in action 18th September 1918. Aged 29. Born Pagham, enlisted Bognor. One of two brothers (see above) who died in the Great War. His family had lived in Nyetimber with his brother and three sisters. His father was a farm worker (stockman). Buried in EPEHY WOOD FARM CEMETERY, EPEHY, Somme, France. Plot II. Row A. Grave 17.

NORRIS

Alfred [C]

Private G/15954, 13th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Killed in action 21st October 1916. Aged 40. Born Pagham, 1876, enlisted Chichester. He had been an agricultural labourer who lived at Nyetimber with his aged widowed father, George (mother Sarah Farow), and brothers Arthur, Frank, sister Anne. It is thought that he died with William Russell Keates (above). There is no known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Face 7C.

PATTEN

James

Private G/1471, 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Killed in action 9th May 1915, almost certainly at Aubers Ridge. Aged 32. Born Compton, Somerset, enlisted Chichester. Son of the late William and Lavinia Patten. In 1901 he was working as a carter in Up Marden, lodging with his brother Joseph. Both parents had died. No known grave. Commmeorated on LE TOURET MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 21.

STONER

Frederick [Charles Richard]

Lance Corporal 220720, 1st Battalion, Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment). Killed in action 8th October 1918. Aged 19. Born and resident Bognor, enlisted Chichester. Son of Charles (railway worker) and Ellen Stoner and was born in South Bersted. Formerly 170846, Hertfordshire Yeomanry. Buried in FORENVILLE MILITARY CEMETERY, Nord, France. PLot/Row/Section D. Grave 8.

WALLER

Leonard [Henry]

Private G/29491, 1st Battalion, Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment. Killed in action 7th November 1918. Aged 19. Born Box Grove, enlisted Chichester, resident Pagham. Son of Thomas (farm foreman) and Caroline Ada Waller (Pagham) of Sefter Cottage Pagham. He had two brothers and a sister. Buried in DOURLERS COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, Nord, France. Plot I. Row D. Grave 16.

WILLIAMS

Albert [Edward]

Lance Corporal G/3224, 4th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment). Killed in action 18th July 1916. Aged 30. Born Pagham, enlisted Barnet. Volunteered 1914 had joined Royal Fusiliers by January 1915. Son of Mrs. Mary Ann Williams, of 1, Kennilworth Rd., Bognor, Sussex. No known grave. In peace time he had been a stockman and in his youth had lived with his parents, brother and three sisters near Aldwick Lodge. Commemorated on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France. Pier and Face 8 C 9 A and 16 A.

Roll of Honour
1939 - 1945

BLACKMAN

Ronald [Ernest]

Signalman 2323414, Royal Corps of Signals, died 14th May 1943 aged 24 Son Ernest and Alice Blackman of West Meon and husband of Hazel Ivy Blackman. Kanchanaburi Cemetery, Thailand. Ref 2F 16. He died as a prisoner of war working on the Burma Siam Railway.

CHRISTIAN

[William] Dennis

Ordinance Artificer 4th Class Royal Navy, P/MX 78524, Died on 30th June, 1942 while attached to HMS Medway aged 21. He was the son of William and Mary Christian of Pagham and is commemorated on the Portsmouth Navel Memorial Panel 69, column 2

CLARKE

Trevor [Hermon]

Flight Lt. RAF 220 Squadron 37960 died on 1st January 1940 aged 30. Son of Hermon J. and Lilian S. Clarke of Bognor Regis. Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial Panel 4

COX

Frank [Edwin]

Chief Officer Merchant Navy SS “Strathallan” died 22nd February 1941 aged 38. Son of E Barten Cox and E Cox, husband of Joan Cox of Lagness. Commemorated Tower Hill Memorial Panel 104

Note: SS Strathallan was a P & O ship (23,772 gross tonnes). She was build by Vickers Armstrong of Barrow and completed in 1938. Designed for the sailing between the United Kingdom Australia she could carry 448 First Class and 563 Tourist Class passengers, a total of 1,011 passengers. She was the sister ship to SS Stratheden. She was officially launched on 23rd September 1937 by the Countess of Cromer, wife of a P & O Director. Her maiden voyage began on 18th March 1938 between London and Brisbane. She was requisitioned by the Ministry of Shipping (later Ministry of War Transport) for service as a troop transport on 4th February 1940. In November 1942 she took part in Operation Torch – the first Algerian landings in the North African campaign. She set sail on 12th December 1942 from the Clyde on her second trip to Algeria, as commodore vessel of a convoy bound for Oran. She was carrying 4,000 British and US troops and 250 Queen Alexandra’s nurses. On 21st December 1942 she was torpedoed by the German submarine U-562 in bright moonlight and fine weather shortly after passing through the Straits of Gibraltar about 75 kilometres (45 miles) off Bougie. She was hit in the engine room on the port side at 2.25 am, only four men were killed in the attack, two engineering officers and two Indian engine-room crew were killed in the explosion. The nurses and 1,000 troops were picked up by the destroyer HMS Verity and another destroyer, HMS Laforey, took Strathallan in tow. With the help of the salvage tug Restive it was hoped that she might reach Oran, but her list increased and the remainder of the troops were taken off by escorting destroyers. At 1.15 pm she caught fire, and as the fire reached her cargo of rockets and ammunition, the rest of the crew were taken off by Restive. On 22nd December 1942 she sank 19 kilometres (12 miles) off Oran at 4 am.

LINCOLN, DSM

William [Golden]

Electrical Artificer First Class RN. HM Submarine “Tigris”. Died 10th March 1943 aged 38. C/MX 47423. He was awarded the DSM and twice Mentioned in Despatches. Son of Charles Frederick and Emily E Lincoln. Husband of Irene V Lincoln of Pagham Commemorated on the Chatham Memorial 72.3. Father of Ann Gristwood, Organist Pagham Church.

Note: HM Submarine "Tigris" (N63) was built at Chatham Dockyard (Chatham, U.K.) . She was laid down 11th May 1938, launched 31st October 1939 and commissioned 20th June 1940. She left Malta on 18th February 1943 to patrol south-west of Naples. She failed to return to Algiers on 10th March 1943 and was declared overdue on that date. HM Submarine Tigris was most likely sunk on 27th February by the German submarine chaser UJ-2210 6 nautical miles south-east of Isola di Capri, Italy. Each year there is an annual Remembrance Service for the submarine and the crew lost at St Nicholas Church, Newbury, Berkshire, on the Sunday nearest the 27th of February. The submarine had been adopted by Newbury during the Second World War.

MEAD

Lawrence Tennant

Captain in the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment. Attached 3rd Queen Alexandra’s Own Gurkha Rifles. 130017. Died 25th October 1943 aged 25. The son of L and Violet Mead of Chichester. Commemorated on the Rangoon Memorial Face 16. This cemetery contains 6,374 commonwealth burials of the 2nd World War, many of whom who died as prisoners of war.

PETERS

George [Charles] Boyce

Flying Officer RAF. 40593. Died 29th September 1940 a member of 79 Squadron aged 27. Son of George Henry Boyce and Marion Peters of Aldwick. Buried in Grave 2252 at Rathnew Cemetery, Republic of Ireland.

PRATT

Dennis

possibly Cedric Dennis Pratt, Able Seaman RN P/JX496442. Died 20th September 1943. Served HMS “Polyanthus” which was one of the famous flower class corvettes. She was sunk when part of the escort for Convoy ONS 18 and ON 202 some distance off Cape Farewell (off Iceland) being struck by a GNAT fired by U952 at 22.36hrs. The CO. Lt. Aitken RNR six other officers and 77 ratings were lost. Commemorated Portsmouth Naval Memorial Panel 75 column 2

SHEPPARD

Darcy Herbert

Corporal Royal Auxiliary Airforce 615 Squadron 819050. Died 25th July, 1945 aged 29. Son of Herbert Charles and Emily Emma Sheppard of Aldwick. Buried St. Thomas a’Becket Pagham.

SMART

Rae [Richard]

Flying Officer RAFVR 117511. Died 26th November 1943. Son of Archibald Gerald and Ivy May Smart of Bognor Regis. Commemorated in Durnbach War Cemetery. 5K16. Contains 2,934 Commonwealth Burials. The great majority being airman shot down over Bavaria, Wurtenburg, Austria, Hessen and Thuringia.

ULLMAN

Robert Alexander

Squadron Leader RAF 42916. Attached 143 Squadron mentioned in dispatches. Died 25th August 1943 aged 22. Son of Victor Robert Ullman and Marie Ullman (nee Sudakoff). Husband of Margaret Vose Ullman (nee Rank**) of Aldwick. Commemorated on Panel 119 of Runnymede Memorial. ** Rank Hovis……..

WENSLEY

Ernest [George]

WO2 (MQMS) T45278 RASC attached to 9th Field Ambulance Brigade. Died 31st May 1940 aged 27. Son of James Anthony and Florence Emily Wensley of Fishbourne, Chichester. Commemorated on Column 132 of Dunkirk Memorial.

WILLETT

Frederick Weedon

Merchant Navy 1st Radio Officer SS “Rose Schiaffino” Died 3rd November 1941 aged 54. The “Rose Schiaffino” was a British built cargo steamer of 3,349 tons, built in 1920. She was torpedoed by U-374 and sunk off Newfoundland when carrying 4,200 tons of iron ore from Wabana to Cardiff. The crew of 41 were lost. Son of Mr & Mrs Frederick W Willett and husband of Emily Edith Willett of Pagham. Commemorated on Panel 88 Tower Hill Memorial

WILLIAMS

Richard [Kelnet]

Lt. Reconnaissance RAC 52nd Regiment 299440 aged 23 died 30th March,, 1945. Mentioned in Despatches. Son of Dudley Kelner Berrisford Williams and Alice Maud Williams of Pagham. Husband of Barbara Elizabeth Williams of Parkstone, Dorest. Buried Reichswald Forest War Cemetery 54.A.18

ASHMAN

Rupert

HMS "Ajax"

BAILEY

Arthur

Royal Garrison Artillery. Pagham Family

BAILEY

George

Petty Officer HM Minesweeper. Pagham Family

BAILEY

Jesse

RSR Pagham Family

BAILEY

Leonard

RSR Pagham Family

BENHAM

Andrew J

Sergeant RSR

BLACKMAN

Jesse

RSR Reg Blackman’s relations not known if still in area

BLACKMAN

Reginald

RSR Reg Blackman’s relations not known if still in area

BOXALL

William

RSR

BURDFIELD

Frederick

RSR

CARTER

Frederick J

Petty Officer HMS "Venerable". Relation lives in Bishop’s Close. Carter lived at Lagness

CLINCH

Fred

RSR Dick Clinch lives in Rose Green

CLINCH

Henry G

LC RSR

CLINCH

Leonard

Rifle Brigade

CLINCH

William

Corporal RSR. Awared the Military Medal (M.M.).

COLES

Fred

East Surrey Regiment

COLES

Walter A

RGA

COLES

Walter

Royal Engineers

COLLINGWOOD

Cuthbert

Chief Gunner RN

de SPON

Landon

Lt RNR Submarines

Du CROS

Sir Arthur (Bart. MP)

Col Ambulance Corps

DAVIS

Arthur J

Major, Royal Defence Corps

DAVIS

Hubert

Captain RAMC

DAVIS

Leslie

Captain RASC MT

DAVIS

Reginald

Captain RAVC

DELL

Albert

RASC MT

DENYER

Charles

Norfolk Regiment local family

DENYER

Frederick

East Surrey Regiment

DENYER

William

Royal Naval Division

EASTMAN

George R T

Lt Surrey QMR Yeomanry

ELLIOTT

Arthur

RASC MT

FINCH

Edward

Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment

FINCH

Fred

RSR

FINCH

Thomas

RASC

FIRMINGER

John

Lt RNVR

FREEMAN

Charles

Sgt. RSR

FREEMAN

James

Middlesex Regiment

GALE

Joseph

RASC

GONNE

V C M

Lt Royal Flying Corps

GREENWAY

Harold

RNVR

GREENWAY

Leonard

Royal Field Artillery

GRIFFIN

Frederick

RSR

HAZELGROVE

William

Middlesex Regiment

HOLDEN

Charles

HMS "Malaya"

HOLDEN

Jesse

HMS "Martial"

HOLDEN

Joseph

HMS "Royalist"

HOLDEN

William

Middlesex Regiment

HORTON

Thomas Charles

Middlesex Regiment

HORTON

Richard W

Civil Service Rifles

HORTON

Thomas

First Class Stoker

HUGHES

Sydney

Captain Sussex Yeomanry

HUMPHREYS

Walter

Sgt Major RSR. Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM).

IDE

Edward

Coxswain RN still in Bognor area

JANMAN

Charles

Petty Officer HMS "Royal Sovereign"

JANMAN

Leonard

HMS Inconstant

JANMAN

Richard

Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment)

KEATES

Charles

Sgt RSR brother of Ernest and married widow of Paige of Bersted. Lived in cottage by Royal Oak

LANE

Frederick R

Royal Fusiliers

LEWIS

George

RSR Joe Lewis lives/lived Mill Park Road

MABEY

Charles

Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment)

MAYHEAD

Percy

Bedfordshire Regiment

McDONALD

Ernest

RANS

MILLEST

George

HMS "Humber"

MOREY

James S H

HMS "Strenuous" Miss Morey lived at Millstone Cottage. Church cleaner for many years

MOREY

Joseph

Wiltshire Regiments

MOREY

Thomas

HMS "Royal Oak"

MORRIS

Charles

NR Coastguard

MORRIS

George

Royal Navy

PAY

Arthur

HMS "Arcadia" Relative of Tommy Pay who lived in Church Lane,

PAY

Fred

Royal Fusiliers

PENNICOTT

Frederick

Royal Fusiliers

PRIOR

Geoffrey

HMS "Zelandia" Mrs Prior’s relatives (former Church Secretary)

PRIOR

Percy

Sgt. RASC MT

PRIOR

Walter

HMS" Birkenhead"

PRIOR

W Richard

2nd Lt RASC

PRIOR

William

Machine Gun Corps Related to Priors above. Live in Canada

ROGERS

Ernest G

LC Royal First Devon Yeomanry

ROGERS

William F

RN

SIMS

Reginald

LC RSR

SNELLING

Roy

HMS "Ben More"

STOCKER

Edgar

Brigade Major 13th Hussars

SUTER

Arthur G R

RFC

TOMSETT

George

RE

TOOZE

Charles

QM Sgt Camel Corps. Installed former church gages lived with sister Daisy in Aldwick Street.

TREAGUS

George

RGA

TRENCHARD

Julien A E

Lt RFA

VOAK

William T

NR Coastguard

WALLER

William

RASC

WHIFFEN

G Goodman

Major ESR

WHIFFEN

Noel H

Lt MGC related to Miss Whiffen Church Sec?)

WHIFFEN

Stanley

Major RASC Parents" lived" at Barn Rocks and had chemical manufacturing company near Price’s Candle Factory London

WHIFFEN

Thomas W

Cpt 14th Hussars

WHITE

Frank

York and Lancaster Regiment

WILLIAMS

George

RNR

WILLIAMS

George

Garrison Reserve

WILLIAMS

Gilbert

Hampshire Regiment

WOOD

Lance

RASC MT

YOUNGMAN

Charles

LC RF