JANUARY 1918

Belgian Refugees

There were still Belgian refugees in the village in 1918 as the school log book notes that two Belgian children had been admitted, although their names were not given.

Died of illness

It was reported that George Edward Ransom had died of illness. He had been born near Battle, East Sussex in 1875 and had enlisted in the Lancers and served in India and South Africa between 1895 and 1902. In 1902 he left the army and the 1911 census shows him  working as a gardener and living at Rapsley Lodge with his wife and niece. On the outbreak of war in 1914 he re-joined the Lancers, but was discharged in 1916 due to sickness and died in hospital in Epsom on the 26th January, aged 43.

Missing in Action

Nearly a whole year after he was reported missing, The Surrey Times reported “Mr and Mrs Walker of Ockley Road, Ewhurst have received news that their son Sgt. Lionel Walker, Royal Fusiliers who had been reported missing since Feb 17th 1917 must now be presumed to have been killed on that date. He was 22 years of age” He had been involved in an attack at Miraumont on the River Ancre. The attack had taken place in slippery, icy conditions and the men had been pushed back by the German counter attack. He had joined the Royal Fusiliers at the beginning of the War and fought on the Somme in 1916.