Lest We Forget:
Living memorials to honour Hamsey’s fallen.
The names carved into Hamsey’s war memorial are more than just history—they are the stories of sons, brothers, and friends who once walked these same lanes, worked in our fields, and called this parish home. From the Great War to the Second World War, these men answered the call to serve, and their sacrifice shaped the future we now live in.
In the First World War, Hamsey sent 120 men to fight. Thirteen never returned. The Second World War called on Hamsey’s sons once more. Over 60 men and women from the parish served, and seven men never returned. Now, nearly a century after the last shots rang out on VE Day, we honour them not only in stone but in life.
The great oak trees that have stood for decades down Hamsey Lane will be named in dedication for each of these fallen men. As these twenty trees stand firm, they will serve as guardians of our land, shielding it from the ever-growing threat of development. These oaks, rooted in the same earth these men once walked, will continue to protect the parish they once called home.
This article is inspired by the meticulous research and dedication of Susan Rowland, whose book Lest We Forget: A Tribute to the Men on Hamsey Parish War Memorial ensures that their stories are never lost. Copies of the book can be found in local libraries and historical archives.
Robert C. W. Ashdown: Born in 1917, Robert was the youngest son of Jesse and Elizabeth Ashdown. He grew up at Brickyard Cottage, Resting Oak Hill, where his father worked at Hamsey Brickyard. He attended Hamsey School and later worked for the Coombe Estate before joining his brother at the brickyard. Enlisting in 1940, he became a Bren Gun Carrier driver in the 5th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. He was killed in action on 29 October 1942 during the Battle of El Alamein when his unit came under heavy shelling near the Quattara road. He is buried in the Military Cemetery at El Alamein.
Albert Ernest Banfield: Born on 7 March 1897 in Hankham, near Eastbourne, Albert had ties to Hamsey Parish through his mother, Sarah, who later moved to Offham. He enlisted at Eastbourne and served as Private SD/67 in the 11th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. In autumn 1917, his battalion fought near Ypres, Belgium, aiming to capture high ground around Passchendaele. During an attack on 20 September, he was fatally wounded. He died on 24 September, likely from injuries sustained in a battle where mustard gas was first used by the Germans. Albert is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium.
Robert Gordon Brooks: Born in 1923, Robert lived at Wellington Cottages, Cooksbridge, where his father worked at Chatfield’s Timberyard. He attended Hamsey school, played cricket, and later worked at the timberyard himself. Joining the Royal Air Force, he trained as a pilot but fell ill with rheumatic fever. He died at Newton Abbot Hospital, Devon, on 10 May 1943. His body was brought home by train, and timberyard workers carried him to his family home. He was laid to rest at Hamsey Church on 14 May 1943.
Captain Arthur Craven Charrington: Born on 17 May 1882 in Marden Ash, Essex, Arthur was part of the Charrington brewery family. His connection to Hamsey Parish came through his mother, Isabella, who later moved to Offham House. He attended Eton, joined the King’s Royal Rifle Militia in 1902, and transferred to the 1st (Royal) Dragoons in 1903. He served in India and was an accomplished horseman. At the outbreak of World War I, he was deployed to France. On 20 October 1914, he was killed by shrapnel near Westroosebeke, Belgium. He is buried in Ypres Town Cemetery and commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial.
Arthur Collins: Born in Hamsey in 1888, Arthur was connected to the parish through his family in Cooksbridge. He served as a Corporal (Cpl 48280) in the 62nd Battery, 367th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Before the war, he was stationed in India, where he likely contracted malaria. When war broke out in 1914, his unit returned to England and encamped at Shoreham, enduring harsh winter conditions. He died of malaria at Brighton General Hospital on 27 January 1915, aged 27. He is buried in Brighton Borough Cemetery, near the First War Memorial, in grave number ZIE 25.
Percy J. Dadswell: An only child from Hamsey Parish, Percy grew up on Resting Oak Hill, where his father worked as a carter at Winterlands Farm. He attended Hamsey School and
later worked as a baker’s boy in Lewes, where he met his fiancée, Elsie Davey. Called up in 1940, he served with the Cheshire Regiment before transferring to the 2nd Northumberland Fusiliers. During the Italian campaign, he was killed in action on 19 February 1944 near the Gustav Line at just 20 years old. He is buried at Minturno Military Cemetery in Italy.
Frederick William Heasman: Born in 1896, Frederick lived at Forge Cottage, Cooksbridge, with his widowed mother and sister. He worked as a gardener for Lord Monk Bretton at Conyboro before enlisting as a Gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery. Serving for three years in France and Flanders, he survived the war but contracted influenza during the postwar epidemic. He was admitted to the 55th General Hospital at Wimereux on 16 November 1918 and died on 25 November, just weeks after the war ended. He is buried at
Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille.
Arthur J. Hyde: A resident of Hamsey Parish, Arthur served as a Gunner in the Royal Artillery before transferring to the 1st Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment. He landed on Sword Beach during the D-Day invasion on 6 June 1944. On 24 June, amidst heavy enemy fire, his battalion was forced to withdraw. He was wounded and died later that day at a casualty clearing station—just eighteen days after arriving in France. He is buried
at La Deliverande British Cemetery.
Charles Richard Gerald Mitchell: Born in 1885, Charles was the younger brother of
Lieutenant Ronald Mitchell. His connection to Hamsey parish came through his mother, Mary Mitchell, who lived at Hamsey House. He served in the 6th Dragoon Guards and participated in repelling the German Spring Offensive (Operation Michael) in 1918. On 1 April 1918, he was killed in action near Hourges while his regiment attempted to capture a wood. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozières Memorial.
Lieutenant Ronald Walter Mitchell: Born in 1878 and the son of Eton housemaster
R.A.H. Mitchell, Ronald later moved to Hamsey House, connecting him to the parish. During World War I, he served in the 10th Battalion (Buffs) East Kent Yeomanry. He participated in the Gaza-Jerusalem campaign and was severely wounded on 6 November 1917 at the battle of Tel esh Sheria. Despite having one leg amputated, he died from his injuries on 19 November 1917, likely due to gangrene. He is buried at Port Said War Memorial Cemetery in Egypt.
Edmund Gordon Payne: Born in 1894 to Frederick and Caroline Martha Payne, Edmund had strong ties to Hamsey, with his father being the licensee of the Rainbow Inn and later a gamekeeper for the Coombe Estate. At the outbreak of World War I, he was already serving in the Royal Navy. He initially served aboard HMS Amethyst, participating in the first naval action of the war in the North Sea. Later, he transferred to HMS Opel, which was lost in a storm off Scapa Flow on 12 January 1918, with all 80 crew members perishing. Edmund is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial and his mother’s tombstone at Hamsey Church.
Francis Pelling: Born in 1893, Francis grew up in Offham, where his father worked as an estate carpenter for the Shiffner family at Coombe Place. He attended Hamsey school before moving to Sevenoaks for work. At the outbreak of World War I, he enlisted in the Royal West Kent Regiment, serving in India and Mesopotamia. During the British advance toward Mosul, he was killed in action on 28 October 1918 at the Battle of Sharqat. Fatally wounded while attempting to bandage himself, he is buried in Baghdad North Gate Cemetery, Iraq.
Finden Sandells: Born in 1881 in Boscombe, Hampshire, Finden later lived at New House, Hamsey. He was married to Annie, with two children, William and Marjorie, both baptized in Offham. Enlisting at 34 into the 13th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (the Sportsman’s Battalion), Finden fought in the Battle of the Somme in 1916. He survived months of brutal fighting until 16 November 1916, when he was killed during the Battle of the Ancre near Beaucourt, facing fierce German resistance. He has no known grave but is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France alongside thousands of fallen comrades.
Walter Sandells: A soldier from Hamsey Parish, Walter served in the Royal Field Artillery during World War I with the 4th Trench Mortar Battery. Stationed at Monchy-le-Preux in
January 1918, he held the front line amid a stalemate, engaging in daily exchanges of fire with the enemy. He died of wounds on 29 January 1918, likely from injuries sustained during an attack on 22 January when a gun pit was hit by German fire. He lived at New House, Hamsey, and was the younger brother of Finden Sandells, who died in 1916.
Sir Henry Burrows Shiffner, Baronet, OBE: Born in 1903, Henry was too young to serve in World War I but later pursued a military career. Commissioned as a Regular Gunner Officer in 1922, he served as Aide-de-Camp to the Governor of Uganda in 1926. He married Elizabeth Gowers in 1929 and had a son, David. During World War II, Henry commanded 203 Field Battery, 51st Regiment, Royal Artillery. He was killed in action on 22 November 1941 during the Battle of Sidi Rezegh. Both he and his brother, Sir John Shiffner, are commemorated on the Hamsey War Memorial (at St Peter’s), leaving a lasting legacy in the parish’s history.
Sir John Bridger Shiffner, Baronet: Born in 1899 into the Shiffner family of Coombe Place, Hamsey, John was the son of Sir Henry Shiffner, 5th Baronet. He attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. During the final months of World War I, he fought in the Allied offensive in northern France. On 23/24 September 1918, he was killed in action near Gricourt, struck by shrapnel during his first battle. Just 19 years old, his body was found 100 yards ahead of his unit.
Sergeant Arthur Skerrett: Arthur served in the 7th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment during World War I. Though his exact connection to Hamsey parish is unclear, he is
commemorated on the Hamsey War Memorial and mentioned in the Sussex Express on 1 November 1918, though his name was misspelled as “Skerrit.” As one of the battalion’s original Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs), he fought in the Battle of the Craters at Hohenzollern in early 1916. On 7 April 1916, he was wounded during a mine detonation and died of his injuries on 14 April. He is buried in Lillers Communal Cemetery, France.
George William Smith: Known as “Will,” George was born in Nutley in 1898 and later moved to Offham. He attended school in Offham and Cooksbridge before working at
Woollard’s Nursery. Despite being underage, he enlisted in the army, joining C Company, 16th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. In December 1917, his battalion advanced on Ram
Allah. He was killed in action on 30th December and buried in the church precincts there.
Arthur James Staplehurst: Known locally as “Jack” or “Jacko,” Arthur was the son of Fred and Kate Staplehurst of Council Cottages, Cooksbridge. He worked for EW Bunney & Sons, Florists, in Barcombe and was a keen footballer and involved in the local scout movement. During World War II, he served with the 49th Battery, 48th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery, and was sent to defend Kalidjati Airfield on Java. On 1 March 1942, he was killed during a Japanese surprise attack, though his official death date is recorded as 21 February. He is buried at Jakarta (Ancol) Netherlands Field of Honour.
Robert H. Wingrove: Born in 1924, Robert moved to Offham in 1933 when his father worked at Coombe Estate and later Hamsey Rectory. He attended Hamsey school and became a gardener in Plumpton before enlisting in the Royal Navy in 1942. Keen to serve on submarines, he became an ASDIC operator on HMS Thorough, having previously served on HMS Thresher. He died on 19 October 1944 while on duty. His body was returned home, and he was laid to rest in Hamsey Churchyard on 24 October 1944.
The thirteen men from Hamsey Parish who died in the First World War were:
Albert Banfield – Killed in the Battle of Passchendaele
Arthur Collins – Corporal, Royal Field Artillery, died of malaria
Arthur Craven Charrington – Captain, 1st (Royal) Dragoons, first parish soldier to die
Frederick Heasman – Gunner, Royal Garrison Artillery, died of influenza
Charles Mitchell – Lieutenant, 6th Dragoon Guards
Ronald Mitchell – Lieutenant, 10th Battalion (Buffs) East Kent Yeomanry
Edmund Payne – Seaman, Royal Navy, lost at sea in a violent storm
Francis Pelling – Carpenter’s son, died weeks before the war’s end
Finden Sandells – Private, 13th Battalion Royal Fusiliers
Walter Sandells – Served in the Royal Field Artillery, killed in France
John Shiffner – Son of Eleanor, Lady Shiffner, died at just 19 years old
Arthur Skerrett – Sergeant, 7th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment
George Smith – Killed in action during the advance on Ramallah
The seven men from Hamsey Parish who lost their lives in the Second World War were:
Robert Ashdown – Died during the Battle of El Alamein; his family lived at Brickyard Cottage on Resting Oak Hill
Robert Brooks – Joined the RAF to train as a pilot but died of illness before seeing action; lived in Wellington Cottages, Cooksbridge
Percy Dadswell – An only child, killed in action in Italy; his family lived on Resting Oak Hill
Arthur Hyde – Fought in the D-Day landings but was killed 18 days later in France
Sir Henry Shiffner – Killed in action in Egypt, from the Shiffner family of Coombe Place
Arthur Staplehurst – Lost his life defending an airfield on the island of Java
Robert Wingrove – Served in the Royal Navy and died of illness in England; buried in Hamsey churchyard