The Lance-Corporal
C Frampton first mentioned by Chailey Parish Magazine in December 1915 as serving with the Army Service Corps was T4/037853 Lance-Corporal
Charles John Frampton.
He appears on the 1891 census as a 13 year old living at 56
Bevernbridge Cottages in South Chailey. On the 1891 census, the return notes that
this is in the parish of St John's, Lewes. There is no mention of Chailey.
Charles's place of
birth is given as Wimborne, Dorset and the household comprised his father, Edward Frampton (aged 41, working as a brickmaker),
his mother, Mary Frampton (aged 51), his brother William Frampton (aged 11) and his sister Mercy E J Frampton (aged eight). There was also a lodger, Walder Newnham, aged 54, a labourer in a brickyard. Given their location, it seems almost certain that that Walder and Edward Frampton
worked at the brickyard in Chailey.
The family was essentially from Dorset.
Edward was born in Longham, Dorset and the rest of the family members, with the exception of Mercy, were born in Wimborne. Mercy alone was born in Sussex,
at Crawley. Walder Newnham was from Buxted, Sussex.
By the time the 1901 census was taken, Charles was a 23 year
old boarder living at South Common, Chailey. His place of birth is given as “Not
Known” and his occupation appears to be “Groom not domestic”.
Charles attested at Lewes with the Army Service Corps on 30th
November 1914, giving his home address as 11 Chapel Hill, Lewes, Sussex. He was 35 years and 187 days
old and working as a coachman. His next of kin is stated as Mrs Eleanor Rose
Frampton (wife) whom he had married at St John’s Parish Church in Lewes on 27th October 1904. The couple had three children: Frederick George Frampton (born 16th July 1905), Gladys
Margery Frampton (born 17th April 1911) and Arthur James Frampton (born 1st January 1913).
The children were all born in South Chailey (at 54 and 55 Bevernbridge Cottages, which
are situated on what is now the A275)
On the day Charles attested, Captain Selby Ash, sent a memorandum
to his employer, Sidney Best of Chailey. He wrote:
“Charles John Frampton has presented himself for enlistment
as a driver in the Army Service Corps. Could you give him a certificate that
in your opinion he is capable of looking after and driving a pair of horses and of performing the duties required of him in
above Corps.”
Sidney Best replied the following day:
“In reply to your letter for Charles John Frampton,
I can say he is quite capable and experienced driver for a pair, also in all stable duties.”
Charles joined the ASC at Woolwich, London on 11th December 1914. The reason for
the delay between his attestation and joining appears to have been because, at just five feet one and a half inches tall,
he was under height. There is note in Charles’s file which reads, “Exceptionally
good physique although under height, and has good knowledge of horses and driving…” On 8th December 1914, a War Office official responded, “Passed for any action you may consider necessary,
the man is under height.”
Charles remained in England until 23rd March 1915 and was appointed lance-corporal on 25th February
that year. He sailed for France on 24th
March 1915 and appears to have remained there until 10th May 1918. During his time overseas he served with 150 Company, 18th
Divisional Transport
Some of Charles’s surviving paperwork is not easy to
read, however he appears to have been in charge of forage whilst serving with the ASC and was noted as being reliable, intelligent
and sober.
In January 1916, Chailey Parish Magazine noted that Charles
was in France, and continued to record
this fact in all issues up to and including December 1917 after which there is no further information.
Charles was discharged as no longer physically fit for war
service on 5th December 1918, and had previously spent time at the Maudsley Hospital in Denmark Hill, south London,
leaving that establishment on 28th November 1918. Nevertheless, in April 1921,
he joined up again, this time attesting with the 5th Royal Sussex Defence Unit on a 90 Days’ Emergency Service Attestation. He was discharged in July 1921 and his character noted as “very good.”
For his service during the First World War, Charles was awarded
the 1914-15 Star and the British War and Victory Medals.
