Army
Drummer Lane
Rank: Private
Regiment: 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment
Address: 34 Horntye Road, St Leonards
Other Info: At the Front
Published: September 1914
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Army
E E Elphic
Rank: Private
Regiment: 9th Battalion (Lowthers), Royal Sussex Regiment
Address: Pevensey
Published: September 1914
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Army
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
P F Holliwell
Rank: Bandsman
Regiment: 5th Royal Sussex Regiment
Address: 9 Lennox Street, Halton, Hastings
Published: September 1914
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Army
William John Elliot
Rank: Private
Regiment: 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment
Parents: Mr John Robert and Catherine Mrs (Kate) E Elliott (Nee Bolingbroke)
Parents-in-Law: Mr James William & Mrs Eunice Beney
Brothers-in-Law: James George Beney, Ernest Beney, Percy Beney, Arthur Beney, Frederick George Paine & George Holder
Wife: Mrs Eunice Elliot
Address: Old London Road, Ore
Other Info: Wounded.
An article published in the Hastings & St Leonards Observer dated 3rd October 1914 reads: “Private William Elliott, of the Royal Sussex, whose relatives are at Carlisle Villas, Hastings, has been shot in the knee, and is at present at Cambridge.
Private Elliott was about 12 yards away from Captain Slater when that popular officer was killed, and he was wounded in the same battle.
In a letter from the hospital at Trinity College, Cambridge, he says: “I am getting on a well as possible but am still very weak yet, after the terrible times I have been through. God only knows how I came through such an ordeal. A fortnight ago today I never thought I should get back to dear old England again.
I have got some awful news to tell you when I do meet you again, about those brutal Germans but, thank God, I have the pleasure, the honour, of killing at least ten of them with my dear old rifle. It did please me to see the drop dead shot by us British boys.”
Mr Elliott’s knee has been very painful, but is better. It will, however, be some little time before he is able to return to Hastings. In his previous letters he described is experiences in the field, and how often being picked up he and his wounded comrades were brought away from the front in trains that ‘nearly shook them to pieces’ which was unavoidable but very painful in their wounded state.
Mr Elliott is a reservist, who served three years with the Colours. He has only been away eight weeks.
Published: September 1914 & January 1915
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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
David Cleverly
Rank: Signalman
Regiment: 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment
Parents: Mr & Mrs Cleverly Mitchell
Brothers: William W Cleverly & John Cleverly
Address: 56 Percy Road, Ore
Other Info: Wounded at the Battle of Mons
Published: September 1914 & May 1915
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Army
Leonard Slater
Rank: Captain
Regiment: (formerly) 5th (CP) Batt, Royal Sussex Regiment
Other Info: Reported killed whilst serving with the Expeditionary Force.
According to CWGC Leonard Slater died on 14th September 1914 aged 38. He is remembered at grave reference I.C.12 at Vendresse British Cemetery
Published: September 1914
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Army
A E Thomas
Rank: Private
Regiment: 7th Royal Sussex
Mother: Mrs R A Thomas
Address: 33 Southwater Road, St Leonards
Other Info: Age 17. Wounded and in hospital in Bradford.
Published: January 1915
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