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 WAR 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. 8 August 1915. Age 43.

BAYLEY. Thomas William. Private G/84. 6th Battalion East Kent Regiment. 12th Division. Died of wounds. 16 October 1915. Born in Rye and enlisted in Folkestone, Kent. Buried in Lilliers Communal Cemetery.

BURR. James. No further information available.

CAISTER. Leonard John. Private 39071. 2nd Battalion. Duke of Wellingtons Regiment. 4th Division. Killed in action near Bethune. 24th June 1918. Aged 19. Son of Walter and Henrietta Jane Caister of Main Road Rye Harbour. Elisted in Hastings. Buried in Gonnehem British Cemetery. Also commemorated with the Church of the 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 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 RobertDennis & 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.