MrG Posted 4 February , 2014 Posted 4 February , 2014 In common I suspect with many others we are hoping to produce a record of the men named on our WW1 memorial in time for the 100th anniversary. Two regiments - the Coldstream Guards and the Royal Sussex - feature heavily and I was wondering if there were any experts on these who would lend a hand in answering some of my questions/pointing me in the right direction as I have as yet been unable to find any service records for these men
ralphjd Posted 4 February , 2014 Posted 4 February , 2014 Guards records were not destroyed in the Blitz in 1941, held separately by the respective guards museums. I obtained details of the only CG casualty on our memorial by contacting them, a lovely lady Diane Hennessy-Walsh (many years ago that was). List your men, the members of this forum know everything about anything. Ralph.
Coldstreamer Posted 4 February , 2014 Posted 4 February , 2014 who are you after ? and I am yet to find a Coldstream casualty papers anywhere but the guards archives
MrG Posted 4 February , 2014 Author Posted 4 February , 2014 The two men I am interested in are Pte 7665 Robert Arthur Denyer (1st Btn) and Pte 13292 Alfred Farley (3rd Blt) - both commemorated on the memorial in St Nicholas' Church, Itchingfield in West Sussex. Thanks for any help you can offer and btw where is the Guards Archive?
ralphjd Posted 4 February , 2014 Posted 4 February , 2014 Regimental HQ Wellington Barracks Birdcage Walk London.
Coldstreamer Posted 4 February , 2014 Posted 4 February , 2014 Denyers number indicates Joined Jan/Feb 1908 Farleys number indicates joined 25/26 Oct 1914
MrG Posted 4 February , 2014 Author Posted 4 February , 2014 Interesting. Farley's date is fine but have both Farley and Denyer at home with parents as "gardener" and "Farm Labourer" respectively in 1911 census?
tullybrone Posted 4 February , 2014 Posted 4 February , 2014 Hi, 1911 census taken in April. Usual Guards enlistment was 3 years with the colours and 9 on the reserve so it is probable he would be home in time for the 1911 census. Steve Y
Coldstreamer Posted 4 February , 2014 Posted 4 February , 2014 I would agree this is most likey my roll does have odd exceptions but is 99 % accuarate
Jim Hastings Posted 4 February , 2014 Posted 4 February , 2014 Happy to help with any Royal Sussex men where I can, probably best to list them in battalion if you can, I mainly look at 2nd Bn, know Mandy Hall is looking into 7th, would love to know if anyone looking into 8th or 9th. All the best with your research Jim
MrG Posted 4 February , 2014 Author Posted 4 February , 2014 Thanks for all this help - its fantastic! I guess my Coldstream chap would have just been called back from the reserve at the start of hostilities? Regarding Royal Sussex I have the following Pte 200797Arthur B Clements 1st/4th Btn Pte G/14065 Jesse Miles 2nd Btn Pte L/10405 William Freeman 2nd Btn Pte 3543 Isaac Thomas Loader Gratwicke 3rd/4th Btn L/Cpl G/30 Frederick Charles Hook 7th Btn Pte G/11432 Sidney Moore 7th Btn and Pte 677 Peter Gratwicke 11th BtnAny help much appreciated Merve
Coldstreamer Posted 4 February , 2014 Posted 4 February , 2014 he would have been yes - I have medals to one called back from Australia - took him a while !
Jim Hastings Posted 4 February , 2014 Posted 4 February , 2014 Thanks for all this help - its fantastic! I guess my Coldstream chap would have just been called back from the reserve at the start of hostilities? Regarding Royal Sussex I have the following Pte 200797Arthur B Clements 1st/4th Btn Pte G/14065 Jesse Miles 2nd Btn Pte L/10405 William Freeman 2nd Btn Pte 3543 Isaac Thomas Loader Gratwicke 3rd/4th Btn L/Cpl G/30 Frederick Charles Hook 7th Btn Pte G/11432 Sidney Moore 7th Btn and Pte 677 Peter Gratwicke 11th BtnAny help much appreciated Merve Hi Merve, No worries, I'll look into the 2nd Bn and 11th Bn lads for you in next couple of days, and can tell you Hook was one of the first recruits to 7th Bn and Gratwicke one of the first to Lowthers Lambs (11th/12th/13th Sussex) Afraid I have little knowledge on 4th Bn, Nick Ward knows them best I think but he has not been on the forum of late. I'll do my best though to help as much as poss Be in touch soonest Jim
Jim Hastings Posted 5 February , 2014 Posted 5 February , 2014 Merve, Pte G/14065 Jesse Miles 2nd Btn joined the Royal Sussex in late August/early September 1916. He was killed on 18th September 1918 in the assault on Vandencourt, as part of the '100 Days' offensive after Amiens on 8th August that led to the defeat of Imperial Germany. There is a comprehensive write up of the attack if of use to you in the war diary, happy to help if you need. Will be in touch about Freeman shortly All the best, Jim
Jim Hastings Posted 5 February , 2014 Posted 5 February , 2014 Merve, Pte L/10405 William Edward Freeman 2nd Btn joined the Royal Sussex Regiment on 7th August 1914 on Regular terms of service, deployed to France on 20th October 1915 and was killed in action on 8th December 1916, just after the Bn had moved from High Wood to the Flers Line support trench, manned by A and D Coy from the 7th Dec. The war diary entry for the 8th tells us that "our artillery was very active. The enemy replied with searching fire. 'D' company suffered four casualties and 1 Lewis Gun damaged by shellfire". There are no other 2nd Bn deaths for the 8th, although both L/10426 L/Cpl William Roberts and G/6349 Pte Harry Lambert Die of Wounds the following day (although Lambert is listed on CWGC as a member of A Coy), although that is not to say from wounds received on the 8th. The available evidence suggests that Freeman was one of the four casualties D Coy suffered, the other three being wounded or died of wounds later (possibly L/Cpl Roberts). Hope this helps Jim
mandy hall Posted 5 February , 2014 Posted 5 February , 2014 Frederick Charles Hook has a service record on ancestry. Mandy
MrG Posted 6 February , 2014 Author Posted 6 February , 2014 Thanks everyone - I'm beginning to put some flesh on these old bones now Merve
Jim Hastings Posted 12 February , 2014 Posted 12 February , 2014 Sorry for delay in getting back to you re: SD/677 Pte Peter Gratwicke He was an original member of Lowther's Lambs (the Southdowns Bns of the Royal Sussex) and would have joined on/just after 7th September 1914. The 11th Royal Sussex (1st Southdown Bn) was part of 116th Bde of 39th Div and deployed to F&F on 4th March 1916. 11th Bn was in support, but not engaged other than carrying parties, in the Battle of Boar's Head 30th June 1916, when the sister Bns, 12th and 13th suffered greatly. Gratwicke was the only Bn member to be killed on 25th July 1916, when the 11th Sussex were in trenches at Festubert, having taken over at 0100hrs that morning. According to the WD, German snipers were active during the day, although their machine guns were quiet, and at 1800hrs German artillery opened up on their positions in retaliation to a British artillery bombardment at 1500hrs. A 5 man patrol was made into no mans land that evening. There are no reports of casualties, so Gratwicke may have been killed by a sniper or during the 1800hrs bombardment, or maybe on the patrol. Interestingly, SD/675 is also a Gratwicke, an Albert, also of 11th Sussex and from Horsham area, who was killed 2nd June 1916 and SD/676 is a Frederick Gratwicke, who died with the 7th Bn at Arras in 1917. Cheers Jim
MrG Posted 13 February , 2014 Author Posted 13 February , 2014 Thanks again Jim - Frederick and Albert were brothers and cousins of Peter. The other Gratwicke in my WM list - Isaac - was also a cousin. At least 7 other Gratwicke cousins - all from the same small area of West Sussex - also served....but that's a story for another time Merve
Guest Posted 17 February , 2018 Posted 17 February , 2018 Who were the other cousins do you know? I'm Isaac Thomas Loder Gratwicke's granddaughter
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