6 September 2018

Please note: this news article is in our archive. Articles were correct at time of publication, but should not be relied on for accuracy after the passage of time.

IN a regular feature on the Town Council website, we will be remembering, on the anniversary of their deaths, the East Grinstead soldiers who died during WWI,  and who are named on the High Street War Memorial.

This month we recall (as recorded on The Roll of Honour website):

John BENNETT

Corporal TF/200189 1/4th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment. 34th Division.

Died of wounds 27. 9.18. Aged 26.

Son of John and Mary Elizabeth Bennett of East Grinstead. Born and enlisted in East Grinstead.

Buried Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium B.11

Thomas Harding BROADLEY

Lieutenant No 62 (F) Squadron The Royal Air Force. (Bristol Fighters).

Killed in action 15. 9.18. Aged 19.

Son of George and Elsie Broadley of Lonsdale House, East Grinstead.

Buried Chili Trench Cemetery, Gavrelle F. 1193

John Thomas CARTER

Private G/78636 2nd Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers. 29th Division.

Died of wounds 5. 9.18.

Born in London and enlisted in Brighton. Next of kin residents of East Grinstead.

Buried Le Grand Beaumart British Cemetery, Steenwerck, Belgium.

Albert William COOMBER

Sergeant L.9162 1st Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment. The Indian Army

Killed in action on attachment in Persia 25.9.18.

Aged 28 Regular.

Son of George and Maria Coomber of 5, Mill Cottages, Dunnings Road, East Grinstead

Born and enlisted in East Grinstead Buried Tehran War Cemetery, Persia (Iran) Asia 82

Thomas James DRAPER

Gunner 95855 Royal Field Artillery 1/36th Division. Ammunition Col.

Died 29. 9.18. Aged 25.

Son of Mr. and Mrs. Draper of 9, Highfield, Forest Row.

Born and enlisted in East Grinstead. Buried Ypres Reservoir Cemetery, Belgium B. 84

J. GILROY

Stoker 1st Class 55462 Royal Navy HMS “Caesar”

Died 28. 9.19.

Buried Haidar Pasha Cemetery Istanbul, Turkey. (Possibility Only)

Arthur Thomas HARMAN

Private TF/505144 2nd Battalion, The Kings Royal Rifle Corps. 1st Division.

Died of wounds 7. 9.18. Aged 40.

Son of Thomas and Ellen Harman of East Grinstead. Born and enlisted in East Grinstead. Formerly with the 5th Londons.

Buried Ligny-St. Flochel British Cemetery, Averdoignt F. 14

Francis James HILLER

Private G/31137 1st Battalion, The Royal West Kent Regiment. 5th Division.

Killed in action 26. 9.18. Aged 18.

Son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Hiller of 43, West Street, East Grinstead. Born in East Grinstead and enlisted in Brighton.

Commemorated on The Vis en Artois Memorial MR. 16.

Sydney George HUGGETT

Second Lieutenant ‘A’ Company 7th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment. 12th Division.

Killed in action at Epehy Wood 18. 9.18. Aged 31.

Son of Sydney and Emma Huggett of London Road, East Grinstead. Husband of Mrs. Bessie Huggett of 120, Tilehurst Road, Reading, Berks.

Buried Epehy Wood Farm Cemetery F. 369

Sidney JOHNSON

Private TF/ 200239 1/4th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment. 34th Division.

Killed in action near Ypres 2. 9.18. Aged 21.

Son of Herbert and Kate Johnson of 11, Green Hedges Avenue, East Grinstead. Born in Lodsworth and enlisted in East Grinstead.

Commemorated on The Tyne Cot Memorial Belgium MR.30

Herbert William KENT

Rifleman 43847 1/13th Battalion, The London Regiment. 56th London Division.

Died of wounds at home 16. 9.18.

Enlisted in Lingfield, Surrey. Formerly with the Royal West Surreys.

Buried Bear Road Cemetery, Brighton.

Charles Henry SLOMAN

Private 4564 2nd Battalion, The Wiltshire Regiment. 19th Division.

Died in captivity in Hamburg, Germany, 26.9.18. Aged 37.

Son of Mr. J.H. and Mrs. Emma Sloman of 18, Council Terrace, East Grinstead. Born in East Grinstead. Enlisted in London.

Buried Hamburg Cemetery, Germany

John Lancelot SMEED

Private A/2685 1st Battalion, The Canadian Infantry 1st Canadian Division.

Killed in action 28. 9.18. Aged 24.

Son of Mr. and Mrs. Smeed of East Grinstead.

Buried Ontario Cemetery, Sains les Marquion F. 481

Thomas Stewart SYMONS, DFC

Captain Royal Air Force.

Killed in action 29. 9.18. Aged 26.

Son of Alfred and Helen Symons of West Tarring near Worthing. Included on the War Memorials of Durrington, West Tarring and Worthing.

Buried Fifteen Ravine British Cemetery, Villers Plouich F. 379