Medal information Card shows 2nd Lieut. Kenneth Coldwin BRIGHT had previously served as G/701 Cpl & L/Sjt The Royal Sussex Regiment

Husband of Lilian Brook, of 36, Essex Rd., Kemp Town, Brighton.
Born Withington, Sussex.
Enlisted Chichester

Son of Mr. and Mrs. Burchell, of 45, Wordsworth St., Hove.

Husband of A. L. Butcher, of Battle of Trafalgar Hotel, Portslade.
Born Hove

1st July 1915 – D.C.M Citation No 8881 A/C.S.M B.N. Butcher
“For conspicuous gallantry on the 29th January,1915 at Cuinchy. During an attack on the Keep, he, while under heavy machine-gun fure, bombed the enemy, and was largely instrumental in defeating the attack. He has, on many occasions throughout the campaign rendered valuable service and has invariably shown great courage, resource, and devotion to duty.”

27th September 1916 – M.C. Citation No. 8881 C.S.M Bernard Norris Butcher
“For conspicuous and consistent gallantry and good work. On one occasion, after all his officers had become casualties, he kept his company together, so that it rendered fine service later in the day. On another, when the battalion had suffered severely, his energy and cheery pluck were invaluable.”

Son of Henry and Grace Colbourne, of 12, Raphael Rd., Hove.

Born Hove
Son of Charles and Jane George; husband of Ellen George, of 102, Coleridge St., Hove.

Son of Harry and Alice Ockenden; husband of Daisy Ockenden, of 24, Lennox Rd., Hove.
Born Hove

Son of Albert and Cicely Jane Phillips, of 22, Stoneham Rd., Hove.

Son of Frank Victor Richardson and Emily Caroline Richardson, of 15, Cambridge Rd., Hove.

19th June 1917 M.C. Citation
“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Although severely wounded he continued to lead his men forward in the face of very heavy hostile fire. He was again wounded.”

Victor Richardson (right) is seen here photographed with close friends Edward Brittain (left) and Roland Leighton possibly whilst with the OTC at Uppingham School, Uppingham, Rutland.

Edward Brittain was the brother of VAD Vera Brittain (author of “Testament of Youth” and several other books). Vera met Leighton in 1914, they fell in love, and became engaged. Leighton had been expected home on leave just after Christmas 1915. He died on 23rd December of gunshot wounds to the stomach, received during a night-time wire inspection a day earlier. He was 20 years of age.

Vera Brittain wrote about the loss of Leighton, in a moving account, probably typical of the feelings of so many young women of her generation.

When war broke out the Brittain family had been living in Buxton and Edward sought a commission in the county regiment. He joined the Sherwood Foresters in France, was wounded on the first day of the Somme, and awarded the MC. Edward Brittain was killed on June 15th 1918, aged 22.

Attempts are presently being made to have the grave restored.

War time correspondence between Vera Brittain, Edward, Roland, Victor, and a fourth chum Geoffrey Thurlow, are published as:

Letters From A Lost Generation – First World War Letters of Vera Brittain and Four Friends
M BOSTRIDGE AND A BISHOP
ISBN: 0-316-64664-4 Hardback 427 pp £18.99
Published by Little, Brown.

Our Thanks to Terry Worledge for the photographs of Victor Richardson’s grave.

Born Deal,Kent
Enlisted Brighton

Son of Mrs. H. Shepperd, of 22, Church Lane, Ashington, Pulborough, Sussex.
Born Storrington, Surrey (?)
Enlisted Brighton

Son of Edward George and M. K. Stevens, of 145, Sackville Rd., Hove, Brighton.

This stone shows Harry Stevens as Royal Sussex Regiment, attached Royal Warwickshire Regiment.

Volunteer Long Service Medal. Son of Benjaman and Helena Wakefield, of Hove; husband of Mary A. Wakefield, of 87, Montgomery St., Hove.

Son of William and Elizabeth Washer, of 26, Cowper St., Hove, Sussex.

According to this stone L/Cpl Washer was buried at Bouzincourt N. W. of Albert

Born Hove
Enlisted Brighton

Son of Harry William and Alice Harrison.