Benjamin Tingley was born at Chailey in early 1897, his birth recorded at Lewes in the March quarter of that year. He appears on the 1901 census as a four year old living at North Common, Chailey.  The household comprised, Moses Tingley (head, aged 33, working as a boot maker), his wife Mary Ann Tingley (aged 31) and their five children: Esther Tingley (aged seven), Ruth Tingley (aged five), Benjamin, William George Tingley (aged two) and Ebenezer Tingley (aged five months).

 

Chailey Parish Magazine notes in October 1914 that Benjamin Tingley is serving his King and Country.  In October 1915 it notes that he is a gunner serving with the Royal Field Artillery in France.  The National Archives records his army number as 82017 and he appears to have served throughout the war, his name appearing monthly in the parish magazine up to and including July 1919.

 

Benjamin was almost certainly a pre-war regular soldier but probably hadn't joined the Royal Field Artillery very long before Great Britain went to war with Germany.  He arrived in France on 20th January 1915 and was entitled to the 1914-15 Star and the British War and Victory medals.

 

Chailey Parish magazine mentions three other Tingley men who served their King and country during the First World War.  These are his brother William George Tingley, his cousin William Henry Tingley and (possibly) his uncle, also named William Henry Tingley.

 

 

 

Sources and Acknowledgements

 

• 1901 Census of England and Wales
• The National Archives: medal index card
• Chailey Parish Magazine