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This website fully supports the plans for the National War Memorial at Dover Western Heights. Click on their logo to visit their website to find out more. or visit their facebook page for the latest news on the project.

	World War I (1914-1918) Casualties List. Combining details for the names on the memorial cross & in the church, plus others. [Sources: include family tree research, National Archives  [PRO]online records www.nationalarchives.gov.uk [The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website database www.cwgc.org] The War Memorial Cross is for Elmsted and Hastingleigh parishes combined. The Roll of Honour is for Hastingleigh parish primarily.
	Click on the Poppy next to the name to reveal their biographic details : Sergeant - Frederick William BANBURY   Private - Harry Percy BURCHETT   Private - William Stanley BUSHELL   Lance Sergeant - Allen Thomas CROUCHER   Corporal - Alfred Henry ELSE   Private - George Henry HAYWARD   Private - Stephen HOPKINS   Sapper Pioneer - Frederick Thomas KENNETT   2nd Lieutenant - Herbert LLOYD   Private - Burton Henry LUCAS   Private - William NORRIS   Gunner - Arthur William PLUNKETT   Private - William Frederick READ   Lance Corporal - John SHRUBSOLE   2nd Lieutenant - Frank William TAPPENDEN   Private - Albert Frank THORNBY   Private - Henry George THORNBY   Sergeant - Thomas WARD     *John Mepsted, step-nephew of Harry Percy Birchett, and who spent his childhood resident at The Bowl Inn, was killed in India 1917 and is commemorated on the Bekesbourne War Memorial.
WW II (1939-1945) Casualty List Private - George Frederick BARTLETT   Lance Corporal - Reginald Charles WRAIGHT   Air Gunner Sgt - Alfred Walter David HOVER   [Alfred W D Hover is not on the war memorial or church plaque] Gunner - Albert William NORRINGTON   [Albert Norrington is not on the war memorial or church plaque] 2nd Lieutenant - Patrick Finlay ROBINS   [Patrick Robins is not on the war memorial or church plaque]

WW1 Roll of Honour - a list of the men who served in the Great War, that were connected with the village:                              [some of the names listed are in addition to the men listed on the Hastingleigh Church's  Official Roll of Honour.]                  NK = Rank Not Known - it is possible they served in the Navy or RFC/RAF - I have only checked what remains of army records so far.              (Some names are too common and it is not yet possible to identify which records apply to the men on this list.)

[NK]  George William Baker    (Click for Details) [Gunner]  Alfred Edward Begent     (Click for Details) [Private]  Benjamin Thomas Begent    (Click for Details) [Private]  William George Begent    (Click for Details) [Private]  Wyndham Henry Begent    (Click for Details) [Private]  Christopher Clifford Seagrave Benskin    (Click for Details)    [NB: CCSB is not named on the church Roll of Honour.] [Private]  Walter William Edward Boulding    (Click for Details) [Sergeant]  Charles Frederick Burchett    (Click for Details)    [NB: FCB is not named on the church Roll of Honour.] [Private]  Harry Burt    (Click for Details) [Private]  George Frank Bushell    (Click for Details) [Private]  William Richard Cook    (Click for Details) [Groom]  William George Coombes    (Click for Details)    [NB: WGC is not named on the church Roll of Honour.] [NK]  George Herbert Curd Jnr.    (Click for Details) [Private]  George Herbert Curd Snr.    (Click for Details) [Driver]  Cecil Harry Deal    (Click for Details) [Driver]  Lewis Percy Deal    (Click for Details) [Private]  Bertie George Hayward    (Click for Details) [Private]  Edwin Hayward    (Click for Details) [Private]  Frank Hayward    (Click for Details)    [NB: FH is not named on the church Roll of Honour.] [Private]  Herbert Thomas Hayward    (Click for Details) [Private]  William Hayward    (Click for Details) [Private]  William Frank Hayward    (Click for Details)    [NB: WFH is not named on the church Roll of Honour.] [Sergeant]  William Naylor Horrox    (Click for Details) [RN Stoker Petty Officer]  Frank Howland  (Click for Details)   [NB: FH is not named on the church Roll of Honour.] [Corporal]  Owen Theodore Janes    (Click for Details) [Sergeant]  Robert Kerr    (Click for Details) [NK]  Frederick George Laws    (Click for Details) [Private]  James George Lindridge    (Click for Details) [NK]  John Gwynne Lloyd    (Click for Details) [NK]  Frederick James Marsh    (Click for Details) [Guardsman]  Robert William Marsh    (Click for Details) [NK]  Albert Mills    (Click for Details) [Private]  Arthur Mills    (Click for Details)                [2nd Lieutenant]  John Edward Mills    (Click for Details) [Corporal]  Philip William Mills    (Click for Details) [Private]  William James Morgan    (Click for Details)    [NB: WJM is not named on the church Roll of Honour.] [Lieutenant]  Francis Hector Theodore Nayler   (Click for Details)    [NB: FHTN is not named on the church Roll of Honour.] [Gunner]  William Henry Neame    (Click for Details) [Bombadier]  Shirley Arthur Thomas John Norrington    (Click for Details) [NK]  John Edward Norris    (Click for Details) [Lance Corporal]  William Thomas Norris    (Click for Details) [Private]  Charles Edward Packham    (Click for Details) [RAF Sergeant]  William Legh Broughton Palmer    (Click for Details) [Lieutenant Colonel]  William Legh Palmer    (Click for Details) [Private]  Alfred Sidney Prebble    (Click for Details) [Private]  Edward Prebble    (Click for Details) [NK]  Albert George Ross    (Click for Details) [NK]  Alfred Edward Ross    (Click for Details) [Sergeant]  Walter John Ross    (Click for Details) [RAF Mechanic]  William Wyley Rushbrook    (Click for Details) [Private]  Alfred William Southen    (Click for Details) [Lieutenant]  Frederick Albert Taylor    (Click for Details) [Driver]  William Henry Taylor    (Click for Details)    [NB: WHT is not named on the church Roll of Honour.] [NK]  Charles Wallis    (Click for Details) [Shoeing Smith / Driver]  Alfred William Young    (Click for Details) [NK]  James Albert Young    (Click for Details)

Click on the above photograph to enlarge the image. Hastingleigh & Elmsted War Memorial gets a new fence 22 May 2014

Note: The spellings of the names from the Roll of Honour have been corrected on this website to reflect the spellings of the names of the individual's name when registered at birth. The list has been put in surname alphabetical order. There are a few chaps with very little biographical detail, and if you can identify them or help to add to what is recorded here for these men, please contact the website. If possible we would like to add a Roll of Honour for World War Two. If you know the names of any villagers who served in the forces in WW2, please let us know. A list is  being compiled. We will also accept the names of the Womens Land Army ladies who were posted to work in the Parish of Hastingleigh during the war.  A few of the 'Family Connections' in the list of the men who served in WW1 & WW2. Harry Percy Burchett is the uncle of William Frank Hayward and Bertie George Hayward. Also the uncle of Albert William Norrington who was killed in WW2. Shirley Norrington [Roll of Honour] is the brother in law of Harry Percy Burchett, and father of Albert William Norrington. [WW1 & WW2 casualties] William Stanley Bushell is the brother of George Frank Bushell Herbert  Lloyd is the brother of John Gynn (or Gwynn)   Lloyd Alfred William Young  &  James Albert Young are brothers Albert, Alfred & Walter Ross are brothers William Frank Hayward & Bertie George Hayward are brothers Frederick James Marsh is the uncle of Robert William Marsh, and Robert is Bertie George Haywards brother in law. John Edward Mills & Philip William Mills are brothers William Legh Palmer is the father of William Broughton Legh Palmer Edward Prebble & Alfred Stephen Prebble are brothers AND William Frederick Read is their half brother Reginald Charles Wraight (WW2 casualty) is the nephew of the above Prebble brothers Cecil Harry Deal & Lewis Percy Deal are brothers Walter Boulding and William Richard Cook are cousins All 7 Haywards are cousins Likewise the 4 Begents are all also cousins from 3 families There will be numerous other family connections, as the majority of men who went to war, from Hastingleigh village came from families who had lived in the parish or neighbouring parishes for several generations. Earlier Military Deaths: Born Albert William Coombes in Hastingleigh 1878 son of Alfred Coombes and Emma (nee Tappenden), he enlisted in the Buffs in 1897, then after 3 years service, he transferred to the Royal Garrison Artillery on 27th March 1900 at Canterbury. After just 135 days service with the RGA, he died of pneumonia on Sheerness 8th August 1900. At the time of his death, his parents were living at Herne Hill, Kent. For his military service he was known as Alfred William Coombes. He was however named Albert on his birth registration AND his baptism record in the church at Hastingleigh. His death is registered as Alfred William Coombs. He was 22 years old. On an upright headstone in the churchyard is: SERGEANT ARTHUR WILLIAM KIRBY NO.3643 OF THE BUFFS EAST KENT REGIMENT WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION AT THE BATTLE OF DRIEFONTEIN, SOUTH AFRICA MARCH 10TH 1900 BORN AT LITTLECOMBE, HASTINGLEIGH 1869 YOUNGER SON OF JOHN HAMMOND KIRBY OF SALEHURST, ROBERTSBRIDGE --- A SOLDIERS DUTY BIDS HIM SHED HIS BLOOD AND BRAVE ALL DANGERS FOR HIS COUNTRY·S GOOD 28 Apr 1900 Hastings Newspaper Report: Sergeant A. W. Kirby of the 3rd Buffs, was killed in action at the Battle of Driefontein onMarch 10th. This soldier, who was well known in Brighton and Hastings, was the son of genial host of The Bells, Salehurst, Robertsbridge, for whom much sympathy is felt on his bereavement. Mr John Kirby has received the following letter from Captain Dyne, Officer Commanding 'C' Company 3rd Buffs:- Bloemfontein March 16th- Dear Mr. Kirby, I regret to have to write and tell you the sad news of the death of your son. On the 10th inst, at Driefontein, in attacking, he was hit in the head, leg and groin. We tied him up, but his case seemed hopeless from the first, and he expired during the night. I have his watch, which I will send to you as soon as I can register it home; and there will be some pay to come, and I have 16shilings 6d, that was found on him. In due time, perhaps some months, you will be informed about this by the War Office, and they will send you the money. I very much regret his death. He was a very intelligent man and a good soldier; he is much regretted by all his comrades.- Yours truly F. Bradley Dyne Captain, The Buffs OC 'C' Company. It is the intention of Mr J. Kirby to erect a tombstone to his son's memory in Hastingleigh Cemetery. Sergeant Kirby's memorial card bears the words "A Soldiers duty bids him shed his blood. And brave all dangers for his country's good" Inside Hastingleigh church: Graham George James Sankey 1879-1902, [brother in law of Frederick Kenyon Rooke who also has a memorial stained glass window in the church.] The largest stained glass window above the main altar: TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND TO THE DEARLY LOVED MEMORY OF LIEUT° GRAHAM G.J.SANKEY 35TH SIKHS, YOUNGER SON OF RICHARD J. SANKEY, OF SOUTH HILL IN THIS PARISH, WHO DIED AT NOWSHERA IN THE PUNJAB, INDIA. SEPT 8TH 1902 AGED 23. THIS WINDOW IS DEDICATED BY HIS SORROWING PARENTS.    also:    IN MEMORY OF    LIEUTENANT G.G.J.SANKEY    XXXV TH SIKHS    WHO DIED AT NOWSHERA PUNJAB INDIA    ON THE 8TH SEPTEMBER 1902    DEEPLY REGRETTED BY ALL RANKS OF HIS REGIMENT     ---    ERECTED BY HIS BROTHER OFFICERS [At Sandhurst there is a further memorial which states that he was killed by his own native servant.] The Guardian Newspaper [01 October 1902 Issue, Page 4.] THE MURDER OF LIEUTENANT SANKEY The details of the murder of Lieutenant Sankey of the 35th Sikhs, near Simla, on September 7, have just reached England. A fellow officer writes:- Lieutenant Sankey had a bearer named Janhi, who was reported by the orderly for continually pilfering small articles. Lieutenant Sankey sent for the police inspector and they decided to give the bearer in charge. Janhi must have been listening, for soon he appeared in the doorway with his master's revolver and shot the Lieutenant in the stomach. The police bolted, and the Lieutenant made an attempt to get at the bearer, who shot him again, this time hitting him in the arm. The orderly ran in to help his master, but immediately received a bullet in the head and dropped down dead. Someone had meanwhile galloped down to the Sikh lines and alarmed the guard. Two companies with fixed bayonets and loaded rifles soon surrounded the bungalow. The bearer refused to come out, and threatened to shoot the first manwho came within range. Three volleys were fired into the bungalow through the doors and windows and the bulngalow was rushed. The bearer was found in the doorway leading to the bathroom. He must have met one of the volleys full in the face, for he had one bullet wound in his forehead, one in the mouth, one in the neck and two or three in the chest. The Sikhs took their dead comrade with them, and the officer was removed to the mess, where an operation was performed, but he died next morning. In his will made just before his death he gave 2000 rupees to the widow of his orderly, whom he described as a brave soldier. Simla Sept 8 [1902]:- Lieutenant Sankey, 35th Sikhs, was shot in his house at Nowshera yesterday by his bearer and died this morning. The bearer also killed a sepoy orderly and was then shot down himself. Further particulars show that the deceased had accused the bearer of theft and the police had just left the bungalow after making an investigation, when the bearer snatched up his master's revolver and shot him in the stomach. He then hid in the bathroom and shot the orderly, Lucka Singh, as the latter ran past the open door of the bathroom to assist Lieutenant Sankey. Medical assistance was obtained and the wounded officer was removed to the mess of the 35th Sikhs opposite the bungalow. In the meanwhile the bungalow was surrounded by sepoys of the 35th, and as the murderer refused to come out and stood on the defensive with his revolver, a volley was fired and the man fell dead, shot in three places.                        Courageous Orderly It now transpired that Lakha Singh the orderly of Lieutenant Sankey made a most courageous attempt to sieze the murderer. When the latter, who it appears deliberately loaded the revolver himself in another room before shooting Lieutenant Sankey, hid in the bathroom, Lakha Singh rushed in unarmed and attempted to close with him and so met his death. Before he died Lieutenant Sankey repeatedly spoke to those attending on him of the orderly's magnificent behaviour, and begged that all the officers of the regiment should be told of it.