Army
H E Osborne
Rank: Trooper
Regiment: Hampshire Yeomanry (Carabiniers)
Mother: Mrs Osborne
Address: 60 Vicarge Road, Hastings
Other Info: Formerly in St Leonards Amateur Football team.
Published: March 1915
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Navy
P E Grisbrook
Rank: Petty Officer
Ship: HMS Royal Arthur
Father: Mr E Grisbrook
Address: West Hill, Hastings
Wife: Mrs Grisbrook
Home Address: Southwick Coastguard Station
Other Info: Youngest of six sons all at the Front.
Published: March 1915
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Army
E Dyer
Rank: Sapper
Regiment: Australian Engineers, Australian Imperial Force
Father: Mr S Dyer
Address: 3 Priory Mews, Hastings
Other Info: Took part in the fighting in Egypt and was mentioned in dispatches. The news clipping reads “Lance Corporal Ernest Dyer, Australian Engineers who has been awarded the DCM for conspicuous bravery in carrying his wounded comrades in safety under fire at Kabra Tepe, Gallipoli. He is a Hastings lad, but left this town for Australia in 1909. He enlisted in August 1914 from Broken Hill, New South Wales, where he was inspector of gas lighting. He is now in hospital, suffering from the effects of concussion. He was totally blind for eight days, but is recovering, and expects to be sent to England shortly to recuperate, and to meet his parents.”
Ernest’s enlistment papers can be read here.
Published: March 1915 & September 1915
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Army
Bert Garrow
Rank: Driver
Regiment: Overseas Contingent, Loyal Canadians, Canadian Expeditionary Force
Sister: Mrs Branson
Address: Golden Cross Hotel, Hastings
Other Info: Formerly in St Leonards Amateur Football team.
Published: March 1915
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Army
Stuart Hanlon
Rank: Private
Regiment: 5th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment
Mother: Mrs O’Hanlon
Brothers: William John Patrick Hanlon, Albert James Hanlon, Cyril Rupert Henry Hanlon, Percy John Hanlon, Raymond Wilfred Elthbert Hanlon
Address: 55 Priory Road, Hastings
Other Info: Youngest of six sons all at the Front. His father served in the 58th Northamptonshire Regiment and went to the Zulu War of 1879, and fought at the Battle of Ulundi.
Wounded twice. In hospital in France.
Published: December 1914, March 1915 & December 1916
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Army
James J Playford
Rank: Private
Regiment: ‘B’ Company Royal East Kent Regiment (The Buffs)
Brother: Harry Playford
Sister: Mrs C Paine
Address: Hastings
Other Info: At the Front. Son of the Corporation employee whose funeral took place recently in Hastings. Additional name information from the Lives of the First World War website.
James Playford wrote to the Hastings & St Leonards Observer and his letter was published on 16th January 1915. It reads: “Just a few lines to let you know that I and the other Hastings boys in this Regiment are all A1 at present. We have just come out of the trenches for a few day’s rest. In the trenches there are three of four feet of mud, and you can be sure what it is like when trudging about in that. It reminds me, when I see the boys with their banjos (shovels) making the trenches clear, of the children sand castle building at Hastings.
We have done 11 weeks out of the four months in the trenches besides tracking, so you see we have had our share, and expect to go again in a week. We have had plenty of bad weather – about eleven inches of rain – but what does Tommy care? All we say is that the others have got the same to put up with, just like us.
We spent Christmas in the trenches, and enjoyed ourselves the best we could. Our bill of fare consisted of a Belgian stew, made of bully beef and potatoes and biscuits all put together, and then we had the Christmas pudding, which was sent by the ‘Daily News’ as well as a few extras by our friends, so we made the best of it.
We are expecting Kitchener’s Army to come out in the spring, and then I daresay we shall get in the final for the ‘Berlin Cup’ as we keep getting through different rounds. I see by the ‘Pictorial Advertiser’ that you are publishing the photos of men serving their country. Beside myself there are two of my brothers serving.”
Published: January 1915, March 1915, October 1915 & February 1917
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Navy
Henry Martin
Rank: Seaman
Regiment: Royal Naval Reserve
Ship: HMS Bayano
Parents: Mrs T D Martin
Address: Trafalger Cottages, Tackleway, Hastings
Other Info: According to CWGC, Henry died on 11th March when HMS Bayano was torpedoed by German submarine U27. He was among 195 officers and sailors lost. Edward is remembered at Portsmouth Naval Memorial on panel 10.
*The paper states ‘Harry Martin’ which differs to the name listed on CWGC.
Published: March 1915
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Army
Fred Parkinson Holliday
Rank: Sapper / 2nd Lieutenant
Regiment: 2nd Field Company, Canadian Engineers & Royal Flying Corps
Father: Mr T B Holliday (Formerly Tramways Manager at Hastings)
Wife: Mary Kathleen Ford
Address: Formerly of Hastings, now at the Front.
Published: March 1915 & April 1916
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Army
William Charles Arscott
Rank: Private
Regiment: Royal East Kent Regiment (The Buffs)
Parents: Mr George & Charlotte Arscott
Brother: Victor Charles Arscott
Address: Castle Shades, Hastings / The Mitre, High Street, Hastings
Other Info: Reported missing, but now reported killed. According to CWGC, William died aged 28 on 18th November 1916. He is remembered at Stump Road Cemetery, Grandcourt, grave reference A.52.
Published: March 1915, January 1917 & September 1917
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Army
Mr Winchester
Rank: Sergeant
Regiment: Southdown Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment
Sent by: Miss V Winchester
Address: Vaenor, Laton Road, Hastings
Published: March 1915
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