Remembering Worthing’s fallen

Captain Francis Molyneux Yorke Nepean

Somerset Light Infantry 7th Battalion

Died September 16, 1915, aged 47

Francis Nepean was born on March 31, 1868, in Westminster, London and baptised in Westminster Abbey on April 27 of that year.

He was the son of Colonel Herbert Augustus Tierney Nepean, of the Indian Army, and his first wife Alice, née Bayley. Francis was educated at Dulwich College and later served with the rank of Lance Corporal in the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry.

By 1911 he had left the Army and was boarding at 28 The Parks, Minehead, Somerset, and working as an estate agent’s clerk. Francis enlisted with the Somerset Light Infantry 7th Battalion and landed in Boulogne on July 24, 1915.

He was killed in the trenches near Fleurbaix, and is buried in the Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery and remembered on the Heene Church memorial.

His father, who lived at Charlwood, Lansdowne Road, Worthing (now 24 Lansdowne Road), applied for his son’s medals on August 23, 1920.

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TF/243 Company Quartermaster Sergeant Henry Jeremiah Westlake

Royal Sussex Regiment 1/4th Battalion

Died September 16, 1915

Henry was born in Croydon in 1876, the son of Charles and Harriett.

He married Eliza in 1898 at Worthing and they first lived in Gordon Road and later moved to 90 Becket Road.

Henry was great sportsman and played for Worthing Football Club, seven of whose players died in the war. His occupation was a house painter.

At some time before the war Henry had served in the Army and when he signed up for the Territorial service in 1914 he was promoted to Sergeant.

The 1/4th Battalion left Devonport on July 17, 1915, and arrived at Suvla Bay (Gallipoli) on August 8.

Henry caught pneumonia and was transferred to Alexandria Hospital, Egypt, where he died. He is buried in the Alexandria (Chatby) Military Cemetery. He left a widow and three children.

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351 Private Charles William Boniface

Royal Sussex Regiment 2nd Battalion

Died September 25, 1915, aged 37

Charles was born in 1878 at Poling, near Arundel, to Stephen, a farm carter, and Harriett.

The family moved around various places in Surrey and Sussex as Stephen followed his farm work.

By 1891 the family was living at 11 Broadwater Street, Worthing.

In 1901 Charles is listed as an able seaman serving at HMS Victory in Portsmouth. Charles served for ten years in the Royal Navy and was also in the Naval Reserve for five years.

After leaving the Navy he worked as a gardener at Sion Convent, in Crescent Road.

On September 4, 1914, he joined the 2nd Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment.

He was killed in action on August 25, 1915.

Amy and their son Frederick, born in 1906, were living at Jubilee Terrace, Penfold Road (now number 31).

Charles has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos memorial.

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S/637 Lance Corporal Tom Childs

Royal Sussex Regiment 2nd Battalion

Died September 25, 1915, aged 26

Tom Childs was born in Woking, Surrey, in 1891 to parents Thomas, a farm labourer, and his wife Kate, née Trussler.

By 1911 Tom had arrived in Worthing and was working as a market gardener.

He was lodging with the McMahon family at 4 Decoy Terrace, Ham Road (now 268 Dominion Road).

In December 1911 Tom married Florence Emily Cooper and they made their home at 67 Howard Street. A son and daughter were born to them in 1912 and 1913.

At the start of the War, Tom enlisted at Brighton with the Royal Sussex Regiment and went to France with the British Expeditionary Force.

On September 25, 1915, his battalion was in action near Loos. At least 14 men from Worthing, including Tom, lost their lives on that day.

Tom Childs has no known grave and is remembered on the War memorial at Loos and on West Tarring War memorial.

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G/3939 Private Edward Chowne

Royal Sussex Regiment 2nd Battalion

Died September 25, 1915

Edward Chowne was born and grew up in Henfield.

His father, Nicholas, known by his unusual second christian name of Spelzar, was a bricklayer by trade, and his mother, Louisa, née Tupper, came from Salvington.

Edward had three brothers, two of which were twins, and one sister. The family lived for many years at Mount Pleasant, in the Nepp Town area of Henfield. On leaving school, Edward found employment as a bricklayer like his father.

In 1911, aged 30, he was still unmarried and living at home with his parents in Henfield.

In 1914 Edward enlisted in Horsham with the Royal Sussex Regiment.

He was in action with his regiment near Loos on September 25, 1915.

Edward was killed in what became known as the battle of Loos and has no known grave.

He is commemorated on the Loos War memorial at Pas de Calais and on Henfield Parish Church War memorial.

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L/10497 Private William John Thomas Coles

Royal Sussex Regiment 2nd Battalion

Died September 25, 1915

William Coles was born in 1897 in Kensington, London.

His parents, George and Catherine, née Congdon, were both born in Devonshire.

George was employed as a dairyman’s assistant and they lived at 22 Shaftsbury Terrace, Kensington.

In 1903 Catherine died aged 44. The following year George Cole married Eva Elizabeth Gush in Kensington and a daughter was born to them in 1908.

Sometime between 1911 and 1914 the Coles family came to live in Worthing. They settled at 60 Cranworth Road where George had a general store.

At the start of the war, William enlisted at Worthing into the Royal Sussex Regiment and went to France.

His battalion was in action near Loos on September 25, 1915, and he was killed along with a great many others in an attack on the German trenches.

He has no known grave and is remembered on the memorial at Loos.

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G/1365 Private James Richard Duffield

Royal Sussex Regiment 2nd Battalion ‘C’ Company

Died September 25, 1915, aged 23

James Duffield was born in West Tarring in 1892 and baptised at West Tarring Church on July 10 of that year.

He was the eldest son of James Duffield, a bricklayer, and his wife Mary.

He had a younger brother and sister and the family lived at Ashleigh, 10 St Dunstan’s Road, West Tarring.

James and his brother, Oscar, attended Elm Grove School. On leaving school, James worked as a gardener.

James joined the Royal Sussex Regiment at Worthing on September 3, 1914.

He was killed in action during the Battle of Loos on September 25, 1915.