Hove Cemetery

Vernon de Courcy McCarthy (1877-1923)

Born in Houndsditch, Middlesex, Vernon seems to have entered the Armed Forces in 1903 after having previously worked as a pawnbroker. Seemingly, this was first in a Territorial Volunteer Battalion, but, with the outbreak of the First World War, he was either called up early or volunteered and served in the Royal Naval Reserve “Howe” Battalion. Howe Battalion and the other seven Battalions of the Royal Naval Division served at Anzac Cove and Cape Helles in the Battle of Gallipoli. The stresses of one of the most brutal battles of the whole war took its toll, and he was admitted to hospital at Kasr-el-Aini in Egypt and diagnosed with Shellshock. He was discharged and sent home aboard the Hunslett. After the war he married, but it seems that he remained unemployed, dying at his home in Steyning, Sussex at the age of 46.
Restored by Steve Davies, with research by Paul Cox

William Edward Marsland (1838-1920)

Born in Heaton Norris, Cheshire as the third son of John Marsland, William was educated at Charterhouse School in Godalming, Surrey, before being commissioned as a Cornet in the King’s Dragoon Guards in 1857. He served in China during the Second Opium War, including the Battle at Sinho, the capture of the Forts at Taku and the advance to Peking, and was accordingly awarded the China Medal with two clasps. He was transferred to the 5th Dragoon Guards in April 1863, where he served as a Captain until his promotion to Major in October 1871. He then was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in January 1877 and commanded the regiment until 1882. He retired in 1887, was promoted to Major General in 1912 and served as the 5th Dragoon Guards’ Colonel from then until 1920, when he passed away. He evidently lived the majority of his retirement in Hove, and donated the Great West Window to All Saints Church, Hove in memory of King Edward VII.
Restored by Steve Davies, with research by Paul Cox

Alexander Cleeve (1865-1888)

Alexander’s father, Stewart Alexander Cleeve, was a Major in the 13th Infantry, but his son instead opted to enter the Navy at the age of 14, initially serving at the Britannia Home Station 1879-1880, before transferring to the Northumberland Squadron in 1880-81, where he spent some time in Gibraltar. Between 1881 and 1885, he served in Australia aboard HMS Nelson, and short stints on HMS Achilles, HMS Iron Duke and HMS Excellent in 1885. Despite failing some exams on his first attempt in 1886, he passed them a few months later, including a special course on torpedoes. His drawing skills were also notable, his Sketch of Port Moresby, New Guinea, appearing in the Illustrated London News 25th September 1886. His final posting was aboard HMS Goshawk between January 1887 and September 1888. Whilst the Goshawk was off the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa, he was taken ill and conveyed home to England, but died at his father’s house in Brighton aged 23.
Restored by Steve Davies, with research by Paul Cox

Edward Webb (1836-1887)

Edward Webb was born to Richard and Mary Webb in Cape Colony, South Africa. They returned to England and, after being educated at South Bersted Academy Bognor, he joined the Army in 1856. Two years later, he purchased an Ensign’s position in the 58th Regiment of Foot, becoming a Lieutenant in the same regiment after two years’ service. After his marriage in 1862, Edward went on to serve in the New Zealand Campaign between 1864 and 1867. In March 1868, he obtained a Captaincy by purchase in the Military Train. In 1870, he was placed in charge of the Transport Branch of the Army Service Corps. He served in the Kaffir War of 1877-78 and was made a Companion of the Bath for his exertions in the Zulu War in ensuring that supplies reached the advancing troops. He retired from the Army in 1880. After 1884 he worked as a Senior Commissariat Officer in Brighton and died 31st October 1887 after catching a chill, which brought several other complications.
Restored by Steve Davies, with research by Paul Cox

Martin Landfried (1834-1902)

Martin Leonard Landfried was born in Gibraltar and, at the age of 14, enlisted in the Army in Dublin. After a few years at the Royal Hibernian Military School, he joined the 17th Lancers as a Trumpeter, following his father who was bandmaster of the King’s Royal Rifles. He fought in the Crimean War, seeing action with the 17th Lancers at Sebastopol, Alma and, during the famous Charge of the Light Brigade, at Balaclava. He claimed later that he had sounded the charge that sent the Light Brigade on its way, although others disputed this. Later accounts claimed he was injured during the charge and had his horse shot out from under him. He retired in 1865 at the rank of Trumpet Major, staying near Brighton where he had been stationed. He joined the 1st Sussex Royal Garrison Artillery (Volunteers), primarily in their band, working during the day at Hallington’s Drapery, many employees of which were also in the Volunteers. He was well known for his playing locally and in August 1900 was invited to London to see Thomas Edison and his new sound-recording machine. Martin recorded the charge he has sounded for the Light Brigade in the Crimean War. He continued to play on many occasions, including at the funerals of many Crimean veterans. He died in 1902 and his funeral was attended by a crowd of over 1000, including some Crimean veterans.
Restored by Steve Davies, with research by Paul Cox

Job Hounsell (1848-1894)

Born in the village of Buckland Ripers in Dorset, the son of George Hounsell, an agricultural labourer, and his wife Ann. After some time working as a groom, at the age of 19 he joined the 60th Regiment Royal Rifles in April 1868. After training, he was sent to Canada, before returning to England by the end of the year, and then posted to India, arriving on New Year’s Day 1870. He served in Afghanistan in 1880, where he saw action at Ahmed Khel and Kandahar, and later served in Gibraltar and South Africa. He had been promoted to Corporal in 1880, Sergeant in 1882 and then Sergeant Major in 1885. He finally retired on 4th July 1893. He died in London in June 1894, less than six months after marrying his wife Kate.
Restored by Steve Davies, with research by Paul Cox

John MacDonald MacDonald (1819-1894)

Born in 1819 to Dr. William Henderson and his wife Alexia MacDonald, John was originally baptised as a Henderson, later choosing to adopt his mother’s maiden name, although he was sometimes known as MacDonald-Henderson. He travelled to Australia, arriving in Sydney on 21st August 1838, joined the Army as an Ensign in 1845 and in 1851 published a book about his experiences: “Excursions and Adventures in New South Wales; with Pictures of Squatting and of Life in the Bush; an Account of the Climate, Productions, and Natural History of the Colony, and of the Manners and Customs of the Natives, with Advice to Emigrants". It is here that he claimed to be serving in the Ceylon Rifle Regiment as a Lieutenant. He was promoted to Captain in 1853, having married his wife Sara the year before. He served for some years in the 78th Highlanders, as well as the 21st Royal Scots Fusiliers. By 1891, he and his wife were living in Brighton and he died on 5th February 1894.
Restored by Steve Davies, with research by Paul Cox

William Laird Clowes (1856-1905)

Born in 1856 in Hampstead, he was educated at Aldenham School and studied Law at King’s College London and Lincoln’s Inn. He worked as a lawyer until 1879, when he left to become a journalist. His first job was with the Army and Navy Gazette, in particular, acquiring knowledge about the Royal Navy. He wrote under the pseudonym Nauticus in several newspapers, focusing on the Royal Navy’s manoeuvres in home waters, becoming a recognised authority on Naval tactics and technology. He also wrote fiction, having published Meroe in 1876 and The Captain of the Mary Rose in 1894, the latter describing a fictional, modern naval conflict between Britain and France. He also had an interest in the USA, travelling there several times and writing several works, many focusing on race relations. From 1897, he gave up his journalistic career to focus on Naval History, writing The Royal Navy, A History from the Earliest times to 1900, which was well-received and remains a standard reference text to this day. For his services to journalism and Naval history, he was knighted in 1902 by King Edward VII as part of the Coronation honours. He was also presented with the gold medal of the United States Naval Institute and became a fellow of King’s College, London. He died in August 1905 at his home in St. Leonards, being survived by his wife, Ethel, and their son, Geoffrey.
Restored by Steve Davies, with research by Paul Cox

Haughton Montague James Feilden (1842-1903)

Haughton Feilden was born as the third son of Sir William Henry Feilden, second baronet of Feniscowlee. After being educated at Cheltenham College and Trobey House, he attended the Royal Military Academy in Woolwich in 1860, joining the Royal Artillery three years later. After serving in Ireland between 1867-72, he was promoted to Captain in 1873. He was posted to Gibraltar in 1877-1881, serving as Brigade-Major. He was promoted to Major in 1882 and then to Lieutenant Colonel in 1889. He was an Instructor at the Artillery College, serving there for a number of years before his retirement in 1894. Despite his long career, he never saw War Service. He died at his home on Holland Road, Hove, after falling down the stairs and fracturing his skull. He was survived by his wife, Bessie, who he had married in 1881.
Restored by Steve Davies

William Henry White (1825-1902)
William was the second son of Thomas White, a member of the Indian Civil Service, and entered the world in Bewdley, Worcestershire. In 1847, he joined the Madras Army, and served in the Burmese War (1852-53) with the 26th and 49th Madras Native Infantry, seeing action at Martaban, the pursuit of 26th May 1852, and the actions on the nights of July 17th and 18th and between 29th July and 18th August.

He returned for a time to London, where he married his wife Harriette in August 1854 and retuned to India during the Mutiny, where he commanded the British Resident’s escort at Hyderabad between (1858-60). He retied in 1878 as a Lieutenant-Colonel, with the honorary rank of Colonel. He and his wife retired at first to London and eventually to 41 Albany Villas, Hove where they remained until William’s death on 21st November 1902.
Restored by Steve Davies, with research by Paul Cox

Francis William Seafield Grant (1842-1912)

Francis was born on 13th December in Barbados as the eldest son of J.G. Grant C.M.G. He obtained a commission by purchase in the 2nd West India Regiment as an Ensign in July 1865 and achieved the rank of commander in November 1866. Between May 1869 and July the following year he was Aide-de-camp to the Governor of the Bahamas and was Fort Adjutant at Sierra Leone between August 1870 and 1872. He was pronoted to Captain in March 1873 and served with the 2nd West India Regiment during the Third Ashanti War (1873-74), where he was wounded in the left leg by a bullet. The conduct of his detachment was mentioned in despatches. Between April and Septmber 1874 he was Aide-de-Camp to the Governor of the West Africa Settlements. The following year he returned to England, where he married Annie Steele in London in July. He transferred to the 96th regiment in November 1875, the 32nd Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry in September 1879 and eventually the Oxfordshire Light Infantry in January 1886, where he served in the depot until 13th December 1890 when he retired. He lived in Hove, but died on 13th October 1912 at Lonsdale Mansions, Tunbridge Wells where he had travelled for his health.
Restored by Steve Davies, with research by Paul Cox

Christopher James Godby (1826-1904)

Christopher was born in Bengal, India on 19th November 1826 to Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Godby C.B. of the Bengal Infantry and Frances Barbara Renan, daughter of Brigadier Jacob Van Renan of the East India Company. The young Christopher joined the East India Company’s army on 22nd August 1843 after a recommendation to Major General Sir Jeremiah Bryant by his Grandmother, as well as passing the necessary tests and medical examinations. Three years later, he served in the First Anglo-Sikh War, between the British East India Company and the Sikh Kingdom of the Punjab, seeing action at the Battle of Aliwal, The Passage of Sutlej and the Surrender of Fort Phillour. He also saw action at the Battles of Ramnager and Chillianwala during the Second Anglo-Sikh War. Christopher was badly wounded at Chillianwala. With the end of the Second Anglo-Sikh War, Christopher spent three years between 1853 and 1856 as an officer in the 36th Regiment Bengal Native Infantry in the newly conquered North-West Frontier.

After this he travelled to Britain for a time, where he married Millicent Harriet Percival in Bathampton, Somerset on 26th November 1857. In 1881, he returned to India and took part in the Masoud Waziri Expedition, in which he was mentioned in despatches. He retired on 1st July 1882 with full pay and the honorary rank of Major General. By 1891 he and his wife were living in Kensington but by 1901 had moved to Littleham near Exmouth, Devon where they lived with their niece and three servants. He died on 10th December 1904 in Hove, survived by his wife.
Restored by Steve Davies, with research by Paul Cox

Richard Chicheley Thornton (1847-1910)

Richard was born in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh in India to Edward Parry Thornton C.B. and his wife, Louisa. His father served in the Bengal Civil Service and, after he retired in 1861, the family returned to Britain, settling in Brighton. Richard went to Harrow School in 1861, where he played in the school football team. He left Harrow in 1865 and two years later he purchased an Ensign’s commission in the 21st (Royal Scots Fusiliers) Regiment of Foot, shortly afterwards transferring to the 77th (East Middlesex) Regiment of Foot. By the time of the 1871 census, he had purchased a Lieutenant’s commission in the 77th Regiment and resided at Clarence Barracks, in Portsmouth. He served for a time in Ireland with the 77th and was eventually promoted to Captain in February 1879. In 1881, the 77th amalgamated with the 57th Regiment of Foot to form the Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment). Richard remained with the regiment and by 1888 had been promoted to Major. In that same year, he married Henrietta Nash, some 23 years his junior. Their daughter was born in January 1892, and Richard retired in the December. By 1901, they lived in Hove and in 1904, Richard received a promotion to Lieutenant-Colonel on the pay books. He died at the age of 62 in 1910.

Restored by Steve Davies, with research by Paul Cox