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.
I had already inherited a Remembrance Plaque for my Father’s younger Brother from my Grandparents, Arthur Ernest Jempson (born 1869 at Wish Street, Rye) and Caroline Elizabeth Jempson (nee Terry born 1871 at Brede). My Grandfather I believe made a Black Wooden Surround for it, and I remember it being hung in their front room at 225 Battle Road, they also lived at one time at “Battery Gardens” Rye (now South Undercliffe).
So I asked a friend of mine to look it and other up on the Commo nwe a l t h War Graves Commission, website. This is it if any one else is interested. www.org/swginternet/ certi f icate.aspxvasualty.
Here is what I found, first my Fat her s y ounger brother who was 168846 Gunner Wi l l i am Henr y Jempson “D” Battery, 152nd Brigade Royal Field Artillery died 13 April 1918 age 22, and is buried at Le Grand Hasard Mi l i tary Cemetery Mor – beque. Plot 3 Row B grave no. 10. Son of Mr A.E. and Mrs C.E. Jempson of 225 Battle Road Hastings.
He is commemorated on both the Rye and Hastings War Memorials and at the memorial plaque in the entrance to the Rye memorial Hospital at the top of Rye Hill (Now the Rye Care Centre).
Also I found 3 of my Fathers cousins 2 in 1914-18 war and one in the 1939-45 war, they are SD/3611 Lance Corporal Charles Stapley Jempson 13th Battalion Royal Sussex Page Twenty-Six November is the month we remember those that fell in two World Wars and other Wars and Conflicts Regiment died 30 June 1916 age 22 and is buried at Cabaret – Rouge, British Cemetery Souchez, Grave reference VII G4, son of Charles Videon (born 1866 at the Greyhound Inn Rye) and Flora B Jempson (nee Stapley)of 75 Bat t l e Road Hastings. He is c o m m e m o – rated on Hastings War Memorial and in St Matthews Church Silverhill Hastings. Also SD/2717 Private Bertham Jempson 13th Battallion Royal Sussex Regiment died 30 June 1916 c o m m e m o – rated on the Loos Memorial Panel 69 to 73. Also the Son of Charles Videon and Flora Jempson. Also commemorated on Hastings War Memorial and in St Matthews Church, Silverhill, Hastings.
Also in the second World War (1939-1945)
The 3rd cousin of my Fathers he was 1436360 leading aircraftman David Ernest William Jempson of the 2922 squadron FAFVR who died the 30 June 1943 in North Africa aged 21 of Harry (born 1872 at the Greyhound Inn Rye) and Louisa (Formerly Marwicke) Jempson buried at Tripoli War Cemetery N. Africa. He is commemorated on Hastings War Memorial.
My Mother also lost a Brother and a Brother – in – Law in the 1914 – 18 War.
The Brother was 241325 Private Charles Frederick Leney of the Labour Corps Middlesex Regiment, the late 6614th died 1 November 1918 Guildford Hospital Surrey, aged 27 and is buried at Guildgord (Stoke) old cemetery, he was the son of Mr William and Mrs E.J. Leney of Sundridge Sevenoaks Kent.
The Brother – in – law was Cecil Harold Mordaunt – Rivington, 677115 Gunner, C Battery 275th Brigade Royal Field Artillery who died on 11 January 1919 aged 27 and is buried at Halle Communal Cemetery Belguim. He was the husband of my Mothers Sister Rosa Leney of Sundridge Sevenoaks Kent.
Both are commemorated on the War Memorial in Sundridge Churchyard, all of these are also commemorated in Perpetuity by the Commonwealth War Graves commission.
Cecil Harold Mordaunt – Rivington. with his fiance. They were later married but he was wounded in the last days of the War and died on 11 January 1919.
Private Charles Frederick Leney. Middlesex Regiment.
DO YOU KNOW THESE MEN?
We know the date, we know the event, but except for Jim Foster (top left), Jim Sargent (centre top),Les Hatter (third from left sitting) and Ernest Bannister (front) the rest are a mystery.
They were all Rye men and took part in the 10 Mile Race run by the Rye Cycling Club (later to become Rye & District Wheelers) on 2 April 1926. There is no record of times but in the smaller picture there is a record of the first three, so we know that Ernest Bannister was the winner. It would be nice to put names to the faces and perhaps even times for their rides are lurking about in someone’s attic, the race record book for 1925-36 is missing from those that are available to the Wheelers. All the prewar minute books are in the “Rye’s Own” Archive but these do not give race results.
First Published in “Cinque Ports” November 2015
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