Army
Michael Pankhurst
Rank: Private
Regiment: 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment
Mother: Mrs Pankhurst
Brothers: T Pankhurst & J Pankhurst
Brother in Law: J Lee
Address: 47 Percy Road, Ore
Other Info: Wounded at the Battle of Aisne
Published: September 1914 & March 1915
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Army
W Jones
Rank: Private
Regiment: E Company, Royal Sussex Regiment
Address: 94 Manor Road, Hastings
Other Info: Wounded in the left arm, which subsequently needed to be amputated. Recovering in hospital at Chatham.
An article published in the Hastings & St Leonards Observer on 14th November 1914 says: “A young Hastinger, Private W Jones, 2nd Royal Sussex Regiment, of 94 Manor Road, has had the misfortune to lose his hand in the Battle of the Aisne.
‘We had been in the firing line about two hours, and it was getting a bit warm, and one of the German officers showed his handkerchief on a sword for surrender.’ said he. ‘We took their rifles and ammunition from them, when the German Artillery opened up on us. Of course, everybody scattered. A piece of shell caught my rifle and another piece struck my hand. I was a bit dazed and did not know at first that I was wounded.’ Luckily, a comrade bandaged his hand and arm, and he got back to the village hospital.
This was on the 15th September, close to a village called Vailly. Private Jones had been in action once before on the 10th. Vailly is about 3 1/2 miles from the Aisne.
Private Jones described how the Germans would sometimes leave their trenches and run behind haystacks for cover. He shares the opinion of many that the mass formation of the Germans is largely due to the fear that their officers would not otherwise have control of the men, and that too many would surrender. ‘Our Artillery have done good work, and so have our Lancers.’ The cavalry appeared to have been very unselfish on occasion when they would get off their horses and let infantry ride if they were tired out.
‘They are very kind-hearted people’ said he, speaking of the French. ‘They will give you anything’.
Private Jones’ hand and wrist were amputated on the boat, during his voyage back, as it was feared that mortification would set in. Since coming back to England he spent some time as his colonel’s place, at Teston, near Wateringbury.
Published: September 1914
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Army
William Eli Burt Barham
Rank: Private
Regiment: 3rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards
Parents: Mr Edward & Maud Barham
Brother: H Barham
Address: 5 St Mary’s Road, Hastings
Other Info: Died from a scalp wound received in action on August 26th 1914.
According to the CWGC, William died aged 20 and is buried at the Guise (La Desolation) French National Cemetery, grave reference; Allied Sect 1154.
An article published in the Hastings & St Leonards Observer on 3rd October 1914 reads: “Mount Pleasant School has reason to be proud of one of its Old Boys, Private William Eli Burt Barham, best know as ‘Burt’, whose promising career has come to an untimely end whilst fighting in the Coldstream Guards.
Private Barham won a scholarship at Mount Pleasant School, and was popular there and as a footballer for the Junior Conservatives. He was the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Edward Henry Barham, 5 Manor Road, Hastings. He joined the Coldstream Guards at the age of 19, on the 19th January last, and his scholarly ability gained him the post of clerk to the Battalion.
He was of fine physique, and stood 6 feet high. In the action in which he sustained the fatal scalp wound from a shell, he was in the hottest part of the fight when less that 200 Coldstreams were opposed by 3,000 Germans. He succumbed on reaching the hospital at the base to which he had been taken.
Through the efforts of Mr W. Evans, his old Schoolmaster, and the accidental meeting with a wounded Coldstream who has since been staying at Bexhill, his parents have ascertained that their son was buried with full military honours, including the three volleys and the ‘Last Post’ in a separate grave, at a place just over the frontier from Belgium, in a French department of the Nord.
Over the grave is a cross made from cigarette boxes. When one of his comrades passed the grave he found that it had been covered with flowers by the French women, sine of whom he saw kneeling by the graveside.
Mr and Mrs Barham have received many letters of sympathy. It may be recalled that their son played his last football match for his old Club at Ore Valley on the Wednesday before he joined his Regiment”.
Published: September 1914 & October 1914
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Navy
A Ballard
Rank: Chief Yeoman of Signals
Ship: HMS Highflyer
Address: 4 Croft Road, Hastings
Other Info: HMS Highflyer sank the German armed liner Kaiser Wilhelm Der Grosse on August 27th 1914. A Ballard has served 25 years in the Navy and eight years in the Reserve and was called up for active service on August 3rd.
Published: September 1914
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Army
Jack Geer
Rank: Driver
Regiment: 5th Sussex, Royal Field Artillery
Parents: Mr J Geer & Mrs Geer
Address: 56 All Saints Street, Hastings
Published: January 1915 & April 1915
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Army
F H Heasman
Rank: Corporal
Regiment: 2nd HC Field Company, Royal Engineers
Father: Mr J Heasman
Address: 130d Queens Road, Hastings
Other Info: At the Front
Published: January 1915
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Army
W Murray
Rank: Private
Regiment: National Reserves, 2nd, Royal Sussex Regiment
Photo sent in by: Mrs Murray
Address: 89 Beaconsfield Road, Hastings
Published: January 1915
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Navy
Arthur Oak
Rank: 1st Class Petty Officer
Ship: HMS Venerable
Other Info: An old Hastings boy
Published: January 1915
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Army
Walter Couchman
Rank: Private / Sergeant
Regiment: 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment
Parents: Mr Walter & Mrs Sarah Couchman
Brother: Victor Ernest Couchman
Address: 35 Horntye Road, Bohemia, Hastings
Other Info: At the Front. Killed in action on 1st May 1916. Awarded the DCM in March 1916 for conspicuous bravery gallantry and devotion to duty throughout the campaign. According to CWGC, Walter is remembered at Maroc British Cemetery, Greney, grave reference I.A.16.
Published: January 1915
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Army
Victor Ernest Couchman
Rank: Private
Regiment: 6th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Mother: Mrs Couchman
Brother: Walter Couchman
Address: 35 Horntye Road, Bohemia, Hastings
Other Info: In the Transport Section
Published: January 1915
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