BOYS OF THE FOREST THEN AND NOW NUTLEY S SOLDIER SONS IN THE GREAT WAR The following article appeared in The Sussex Express newspaper on May 2nd. 1918. With the article were two photographs, copied from originals taken by Arthur Francis. Although the quality of the photographs is poor I have reproduced them to add to the names given. 1
The text is a faithful copy from the newspaper. The achievements of the men of Nutley and other parts of Ashdown Forest during the war have often been favourably commented upon, but few are aware how the fighting spirit is inculcated in those men from their youth up they have shown the liveliest interest in matters military. About 1900, boys of Nutley formed themselves into a Company of soldiers and under their own officers armed with wooden swords of their own manufacture and with other impedimentia of the battle arena, for years made mimic warfare their chief recreation. Eventually with increasing age their enthusiasm carried them to such lengths that the battles excitement got the better of discretion and blood flowed. It was then that the juvenile soldiers had to disband. But this was not before one of their number, Albert Francis with the idea of increasing efficiency wrote to the late Earl Roberts on January 18th. 1908, asking him to accept two photographs of the Company. He said, Albert Francis We are not big enough to be regular soldiers yet, but we drill at school. There are 28 in our Company and I am the head one, Walter Kenward is Colonel, Tom Freeland Captain and Frank Mitchell Lieutenant. We want a gun but are too poor to buy one, so I thought I would write to you to ask if you could help me. Father says you are very good to your boys, and have been a good man to your soldiers. I hope to be a real soldier some day and hope I shall be a good one. We have several men who have been good soldiers. Sergeant Carr and Spencer Streeter were both in the Boer War. I must conclude, hoping you will be able to help us. As you may imagine this missive did not draw the reply that was hoped for, but the following kindly message was received from the recipient through his Secretary. I am directed by Field Marshall Lord Roberts to thank you for your letter and the two photographs which accompanied it. Lord Roberts is very glad to hear you are learning drill at school but thinks you are hardly old enough to have a real gun yet. The photographs which we reproduce are copies of those referred to in these letters, and it will be very interesting to many to see that the greater number of these boys have followed their instinct. In the days of Napolean it was suggested by a noble lord that Sussex should send a regiment and that it would be a good thing to put men of Ashdown Forest in the front line as they were full of fighting spirit. Things have not altered in that respect since then. Many of them have occupied the front line and have done justice to the fine reputation of the men and forest. Many will recognise the boys of their youth in the pictures, some of them we have not been able to identify, but as far as we can learn the others are as follows 1. Thomas Adams- - - - - worker. 3. Frank Robinson farming. 2. Will Wickham Royal Marines. 4. Herbert Ridley discharged on account of wounds. 2
5. - - - - Ridley commended 11. T. Freeland Royal Marines. 6. Sid - - Ridley Royal Navy. 16. T. Holmes Canadian Contingent. 8. W. Kenward tank driver. 18. R. Penfold wounded. 9. - - - - Penfold farming. 19. F. Mitchell in the M.G.C. discharged on account of wounds. 10. M. E. Thomas Kings Royal Rifles. 20. C. Wheatley Royal Sussex Second Group. 1. George Sayers wounded and 11. Jack Kenward R.A.M.C. one of three brothers serving. 2. Jesse Tyler killed. 12. George Gander Australian Contingent 3. Tom Appleby farming. 15. Jack Thorpe seven years in India. 4. E. Funnell Contemptibles. 16. Bert Fox commended for bravery in the field. 5. S. Mitchell Contemptibles. 17. Tom Weller Drill Sergeant. 6. Rex Turner the youngest of five brothers 18. Will Sayers South Staffordshire who each have won a commission. Regiment. 7. Bert Russell. 19. Tom Marchant engaged in dairy work. 9. Bert Mitchell discharged through 20. Owen Wickham one of three shellshock. brothers is a prisoner of war. 10. Jack Gander eight years service in India, or Charles Whitewood, Inspector of shells. 2. Will Wickham Royal Marines. First Group William was the third son of Albert and Annie Wickham of Mount Pleasant, He had four brothers, Albert, serving in the Royal Sussex Regiment, Levi, also a Royal Marine, and Frank and Charlie, too young to fight. William was wounded in 1918 and sent home to recover, but died of his wounds and is buried in Nutley Churchyard. 3
Albert Wickham, the eldest son and brother of William was wounded in 1916 and sent back to England. He had gun shot wounds to one shoulder and a bullet left in one lung. Albert Wickham and daughter, Doris.. 7. Bert Francis three times rejected. Alfred Albert Francis, aged 19 in 1914 was the younger son of Arthur Francis, Nutley Photographer. His elder brother, Harry, three years his senior was rejected twice in 1914 before joining the Royal Sussex Regiment. He later became a Royal Fusilier and was reported missing in 1917 along with his officer and several men. 8. W. Kenward Tank driver. W. A. Kenward was the son of Mr. and Mrs. G. Kenward of High Street, 11. T. Freeland Royal Marines. Tom Freeland was the eldest son of Thomas and Mary Freeland of Three Gables Stores, He had brothers, Richard and Percy, and worked in the family grocery store before the war. 19. Tom Marchant engaged in dairy work. Thomas was the eldest son of Thomas and Fanny Marchant of Little Claylands Farm, Second son, William Neville served in the King s Rifle Corps and was killed in August 1918. 20. C. Wheatley Royal Sussex. Charles Wheatley was the second son of Henry and Ann Wheatley of The Hall Cottage, His elder brother, William, Nutley s postman was also in the Royal Sussex Regiment. William joined up in March 1915 and was reported wounded on 4 th. August 1916. He was sent to Rugby Hospital to recover. 4 William Wheatley
Second Group 1. George Sayers wounded and one of three brothers serving. George Sayers was the second son of Charles and Harriett Sayers of Elm Cottage, His elder brother, William served with the South Staffordshire Regiment. George Sayers Arthur Sayers William Sayers His younger brother, Arthur Barnet Sayers enlisted in to the Royal Sussex Regiment and was killed on October 14 th. 1916, aged 25. He is buried in Euston Road Cemetery, Colingcamps, France.. 2. Jesse Tyler, killed. Jesse enlisted in to the Royal Sussex Regiment in 1915. He was wounded in 1916 and sent back to England to recover. In 1917 he was sent back to the front and was killed on November 2 nd. 1917, aged 27. A shell had burst where he and a comrade were, and they had been buried alive. No remains were found. He is commemorated on Tyne Cot Memorial. Jesse Tyler His brothers, William, George and Jacob were serving overseas. 3. Tom Appleby farming. Thomas was the fourth son of Isaac and Elizabeth Appleby of Streatfield Farm. Fords Green. His brother Ernest fought in the Boer War and then emigrated to Canada in 1909. He served in the Canadian Army Military Police and was killed in a chemical explosion in 1918. 5
9. Bert Mitchell discharged through shellshock. The Sussex Express newspaper reported on June 23 rd. 1916 that Private Albert Mitchell, grandson of Mrs. R. Mitchell of Fords Green, Nutley, had been hospitalised in London with shellshock. He had been in France for two months. Private Fred Mitchell of the 23 rd. Middlesex Regiment, Private John Mitchell of the Royal Sussex Regiment and Private Frank Mitchell of the Royal Sussex Regiment are all are fighting in France. 11. Jack Kenward. R.A.M.C. S. Kenward Sergeant who won the D.C.M. The Sussex Express newspaper reported on June 29 th. 1917 the award of the Distinguished Service Medal to the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. G. Kenward of His brothers, V.J. Kenward, R.A.M.C. and W. A. Kenward, driver are both at the front. 18. Will Sayers, South Staffordshire Regiment. William Sayers was the eldest son of Charles and Harriett Sayers, of Elm Cottage, He enlisted early in the war and was shot in the head, trying to take out a machine gun post in 1918. Prior to the war he was a postman in Nutley, which he continued for a total of fifty one years. 20. Owen Wickham, one of three brothers is a prisoner of war. Owen was the second son of Jesse and Harriett Wickham, of Forest Bank, Clockhouse Lane. His elder brother was Albert who was wounded in the war, and his younger brother, Arthur also served. Mollie Smith 2014 6