May 1916 Archives - Page 13 of 13

Army

Ward, W

24th January 20161st March 2019
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W Ward

Rank: Sergeant

Regiment: 2nd Home Counties Brigade, 5th Sussex Service Battery, Royal Field Artillery

Sent in by: Mrs Ward

Mother: Mrs Ward

Brothers: William Henry Ward & A Ward

Brothers-in-Law: Albert Edward Dengate & G Ray

Address: 14 South Water Road, St Leonards

Mother’s Address: 2 Undercliffe Terrace, St Leonards

Other Info: Also served in South Africa

Published: November 1914 & May 1916

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Army

Stunt, A

1st January 20165th July 2018
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Archibald A Stunt

Rank: Lance Corporal / Sergeant

Regiment: 8th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment

Mother: Mrs F Foster

Brothers: H Stunt & F Foster

Cousin: A Foster

Address: Chapel Cottages, Westfield

Other Info: Additional name information from the Lives of the First World War website. The text from ‘A Close Escape’ reads: The picture shows a tattered and torn knapsack. It was reduced to this conditional by a shell, which blew it off the back of Corporal A Stunt of the 8th Royal Sussex Pioneers as he was leaving the trenches about October 30th. He was not injured. The knapsack is now in the possession of Miss A Davis, 77 St Thomas’ Road, Hastings by whom it was brough to us to be photographed.

Awarded the Military Medal on 31st July 1917 for gallant conduct and devotion to duty in the field. He has been wounded twice, and has seen over two years active service.

Published: October 1914, January 1916, May 1916 & November 1917

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Navy

Gower, Harry George

29th December 201524th March 2019
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Harry George Gower

Rank: Seaman

Wife: Mrs Gower

Brother: William Gower

Brothers-in-Law: George William Goble, Alfred Albert Goble & Amos Goble

Address: 39 Paynton Road, Silverhill

Other Info: Was in the Heligoland Bight Engagement

Published: October 1914, May 1916 & September 1917

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Army

Taylor, Edgar Manfield

10th December 20151st May 2020
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Edgar Manfield Taylor

Rank: Private

Regiment: 5th Somerset Light Infantry

Parents: Mr & Mrs R Taylor

Brother: Mr Taylor

Address: 32 Vale Road, St Leonards

Other Info: Worked for Parrs Bank in Hastings. About to leave for India.

The text of the article reads: “We received the above portraits on Friday, and with them the following letter:- “Guernsey”, Vale Road, St Leonards. Dear Sir, I enclose two photographs if you care to publish them in this week’s Pictorial, one of myself and one of my brother, who is in a football jersey, is a Private in the 2nd Dorset Regiment, and has been taken prisoner with General Townshend’s Force in Kut-el-Amara. He went through all the campaign, and was wounded at Christmas fighting near Baghdad. No news has been heard from him since December, although we believe he is quite safe. He was in Parr’s Bank, Hastings in 1912, and then left for their Bournemouth Branch, and was in the local YMCA football team. The other photograph is of myself, and tomorrow I am leaving to join my Regiment, the London Scottish, so hope to fill his place now he is handicapped for the duration of the war. I am only 18, am also at Parr’s Bank, Hastings.”

The text in ‘Prisoner of War’ from September 1916 reads “Private Taylor was in the Somerset Light Infantry and was wounded in Kut on 30^th December 1915, and taken prisoner with the rest of the British Army. He is now at Yozgad. He has been able to write to his parents. On 12^th July he said: “In perfect health, don’t worry. Allowed four lines. So are you. Do send two packets of pipe ‘bacca’ weekly, also woollen socks, a shirt, pants, liver and kidney pills. Newspapers forbidden.” On 20^th July he wrote again: “longing to be home”. In a further communication he says: “Yozgad in mountains. Warm in summer. Very cold in winter – snow. In perfect health. Always thinking of you all. “ In a further postcard Private Taylor got the better of the Turkish Censor by addressing his communication to “Mrs Taylor, Dowewin, 32 Vale Road, etc. He concludes by asking “How is Uncle Frits getting on? Heard he had an accident at the seaside”. The photograph was taken when Private Taylor was in India previous to going to Kut.”

Published: October 1914, May 1916 & September 1916

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Army

Hoadley, William Lewis

9th December 201521st April 2024
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William Lewis Hoadley

Rank: Lance Corporal

Regiment: 7th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment

Parents: PC William & Mrs Hagar Hoadley

Address: 24a Milward Road, Hastings

Other Info: According to CWGC, William died aged 19 on 19th October 1915. William is buried at Bethune Town Cemetery, grave reference IV.F.55.

A correspondent found William Hoadley’s soldier’s Bible in a French shop in 2023. They have tried to find a home for it in museums, to no avail. Images of the Bible are below.

On 6th November 1915, the Hastings Observer reported that: “Police-Constable Hoadley of 65a Milward Road has sustained a said bereavement in the death of his only son, William Lewis, whilst on active service.

He was a Lance-Corporal in the 7th Royal Sussex Regiment, and 19 years of age and died as the result of his wounds received at Loos. In his boyhood days the Lance-Corporal was a member of the Holy Trinity Choir and the Boy’s Brigade. Later he joined the Scouts. Three days after the outbreak of war he enlisted and went to the Front between five and six months ago. Since then he has had many exciting experiences.

Hoadley served three year’s apprenticeship to the grocery trade, and at the time of his enlistment held a good situation at a Hastings shop. He was a good swimmer, and won prizes as a school boy at the Hastings Baths, and he was also one of the successful competitors at the swimming carnival promoted by Mr du Cros, and carried out at Shornden Reservoir. Together with Police Constable Craske, Hoadley was clever in making high dives at the Baths.

It is worthy of note that up to date members of the Hastings Police Force have had three sones killed and two wounded at the Front.”

Published: September 1914 & May 1916

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Army

Couchman, Walter

6th December 20159th May 2017
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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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