South Saxon

Life as it was lived 50 years ago in a small village near Rye as seen by R. D. Symons of Silton, Sasks., Canada I grew up in hearing of the slow, country speech of the people of Sussex.

Only occasionally have I heard it over the past fifty and more years, for most of the English immigrants to the prairies come from the industrial areas of the Midlands and North of England. Continue reading South Saxon

Remembrance In The Park

Lest we forget’ Remembrance Sunday, November 8th 2015

Ion Castro was in Hastings’ beautiful Alexandra Park with his camera.

Continue reading Remembrance In The Park

The Great Sacrifice of a Rye Family

November is the month we remember those that fell in two World Wars and other Wars and Conflicts

The Great Sacrifice of a Rye Family

By Roland Jempson

In the June 2003 edition of Rye’s Own. There was an article entitled “The Tiltman’s of Rye”, about the sacrifice of nine members of the “Tiltman” family, by Jo’ Kirkham, also a Further article by Eric Streeton about a Memorial Plaque for Walter Thomas Tiltman. All this prompted me to find out more about my families relations that I had vaguely heard of in my childhood. Continue reading The Great Sacrifice of a Rye Family

Billeting of Troops WW1

By Brian Lawes

Early in the War billeting troops was a contentious issue in Hastings. In a survey of rate payers it showed that of the replies received, only 2,024 ratepayers were in favour of the billeting of troops, six against, and six were neutral. Continue reading Billeting of Troops WW1

Anzac Day

SOLDIERS FROM SUSSEX AT GALLIPOLI

The 100th Anniversary

By Richard Holdsworth

While Australian and New Zealand troops (ANZACS) are usually associated with the bravery and deaths suffered at Gallipoli, troops from the county of Sussex also fought and died in this terrible and, ultimately, fruitless campaign during WWl. Continue reading Anzac Day

Between the Zeppelin and the Doodle Bug

 By Arthur Woodgate

On 16 October 1917, I was taken to the Lion Street School and settled in a class taught by a Miss Jordon. Miss Longley was the Headmistress and with a long wooden corridor she could be heard coming with loud creaks all over our infant school. Continue reading Between the Zeppelin and the Doodle Bug

Rye Old Scholars

MANY RYE OLD SCHOLARS MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN WORLD WAR 1.

 By John Breeds.

I’m sure that readers will remember the two boards commemorating Rye Old Scholars who died as a result of fighting during WWI.The one on the left, from Rye Grammar School, has 24 names on it and the rather grander one, below right, from Rye County School has 97 names. This seems a huge number of young men lost from such a small town. Continue reading Rye Old Scholars

War & Peace – Herman

By Maggie George

I had intended baking a new Herman-the-German Friendship cake yesterday. As many of you will know, I frequently make these delicious cakes and they have become a firm favourite amongst my friends and family, especially the grandchildren who love to help me, stirring the mixture and scraping out the bowl afterwards. Continue reading War & Peace – Herman

Hastings a Front Line Town

 

By Nathan Dylan Goodwin

The people of Hastings could not have anticipated the scale of death and destruction, which would span almost six, long years in the borough’s history when the country went to war in 1939, a war which left in its wake 154 civilians dead and more than 14,000 properties damaged or destroyed. Continue reading Hastings a Front Line Town

Hastings & The Great War

By Tony May

With 2014 being the 100th anniversary of the beginning of The First World War and having recently watched the ‘The Great War’ boxed-set on DVD, I felt compelled to write something about civilized mans lowest moment in history. Continue reading Hastings & The Great War