Plea to families

Next year sees the first of many centenaries relating to the Great War, 1914-18, and West Sussex Library Service has initiated the Great War Project, which will bring together research and publications highlighting events in the lives of West Sussex people, on the Home Front and in the forces, during this conflict.

As a volunteer on this project, I am particularly interested in the lives of the five men whose names appear on the recently discovered hand-written roll of honour in St Mary Magdalene Church in Tortington.

Their names also appear on the Arundel war memorial and several had family connections in Arundel, North Stoke, Climping and as far afield as Steyning.

I hope to make as full as possible an account of their lives and military careers, but also the impact of their loss, individually and collectively, on their families and on the communities from which they came.

Privates William French, Frederick Mant, brothers Ernest and Frank Nicholson and Corporal Charles Upperton all gave their lives for their country. If there are any relatives of these men reading this who would like to share either family photographs or family memories I would be grateful if they could get in touch with me.

They can contact me at [email protected] or by post at Great War Project, Worthing Area Office, Worthing Library, Richmond Road, Worthing, BN11 1HD.

John Henderson

Tortington Lane

Tortington