Captain William George Cubitt Chichester

Thank you to Lenka Cathersides for the following research.

William George Cubitt Chichester was born on 20^th July 1892 in Dorking to the Reverend Canon Edward Arthur and the Honourable Mrs. Mary Agnes Chichester (nee Cubitt). He was baptised on 10^th August 1892 in Dorking.

At the time of the 1901 Census, the family lived at The Vicarage, Dorking. Edward was Vicar of Dorking and Mary was at home. The household further comprised of their children: Harriet Laura, Arthur O’Neill Cubitt, Mildred Mary and William George Cubitt. The family was looked after by a governess, cook, nurse, parlour maid, housemaid, nursery maid and a kitchen maid. The house had ten rooms.

In 1911, the family were still at the vicarage; the eldest daughter Harriet had moved out. Arthur was at university and William was at boarding school at Wellington College in Berkshire.

He played for Wellington in the Public School Racquets at Queen’s two years. In 1911 he took part in the Racquets Public School’s Challenge Cup. Wellington (Chichester and Bartlett) beat Radley (Parkin and Graham) by four games to two. (1911 London Daily News). He became a Prefect when in the Sixth Form.

On 25^th June 1911 he proceeded to Trinity College, Cambridge, and took his degree just before the outbreak of the war in 1914. (1916 Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser). After the start of the War he volunteered for service.

William enlisted into the 1^st (City of London) Battalion, (Royal Fusiliers) [London Regiment]. He was a Lieutenant. After his commission he went out to Malta. After remaining there some months he went on to Egypt; there he was taken ill and was sent to hospital. His regiment meanwhile went to Sulva Bay, where he subsequently joined them, and took part in the evacuation, and later at the evacuation of Helles. (1916 Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser). William disembarked on 1^st November 1915 in France. He obtained his captaincy in the same year.

Just before the officer’s death, Captain Chichester’s Quartermaster, wrote: “We went out as a wiring party, Sergeant Watson in charge. We carried on for about half an hour. Suddenly the Germans opened with machine guns, and rifles. Watson immediately sent his party back, and went into the trench to the assistance of Oaklard, who had been hit. Whilst doing so Watson was hit. Captain Chichester came along, heard what was happening, and immediately went out and dragged Oaklard into the trench. Then he went back to Watson, and afterwards came back for a stretcher, and with Mc Kenzie carried Watson into the trench. Three journeys he made, and though the machine guns had slackened somewhat it was a jolly fine thing to do, and we all think the world of him.” (1916 Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser)

William was killed at High Wood in the Battle of the Somme on 15th September 1916 while leading his company to attack.

He was exhumed and reburied at the Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longwall in France. His grave reference is WVI. E. 37

He received the British War and Victory Medals and the 1915 Star. He was also mentioned in dispatches, and was awarded the Croix de Chevalier of the Legion of Honour.

William’s father Edward Arthur Chichester, received £1069, 15s and 9d in the Probate.

At the time of Captain’s Chichester death his residence was stated to be The Vicarage in Dorking.

In 1918 mosaic tablets in the chapel of the Dorking Parish Church were erected in memory of Captain Chichester. (1918 Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser).

He is also remembered on the Trinity College Memorial in Cambridge.

William’s parents later lived at Ashley in Dorking.

Chichester Family History

William’s father Edward Arthur Chichester was born on 23^rd February 1849 in Knockantern near Coleraine, Londonderry, Ireland to the Reverend George Vaughan Chichester, born about 1819 in Donegal, Ireland and Harriet Eleanor Lyle, born about 1826 in Derry, Ireland. Harriet was a daughter of Hugh Lyle, Esq. of Knockantern. George and Harriet married on 26^th August 1847 in Coleraine, Ireland. George died on the 19^th of May 1898. Edward was baptised on 26^th March 1849. Edward entered St John’s College on 3^rd October 1868. He became priest of Winchester in 1876 and was canon of Farncombe from 1875 to 1877. He was Vicar of Okewood from 1877 to 1885 and Vicar of Dorking from 1885 to 1921. From 1906 to 1925 he was Hon. Canon of Winchester. Reverend Canon Edward died on 30^th September 1925 in Dorking. At the time of the 1881 Census, Edward was a lodger of James Cranham at White Hall, Ockley, Dorking. At this time Edward was Vicar of Okewood.

William’s mother Mary Agnes Cubitt was born in the 1^st quarter of 1858 in Dorking to Privy Councillor George Cubitt, 1^st Baron of Ashcombe, born on 4^th June 1828 in Clapton, Surrey and Laura Joyce, born about 1827 in Hitcham, Buckinghamshire. Laura’s father was the Reverend James Joyce, Vicar of Dorking. George Cubitt, died on 26^th February 1917 in London. He was a generous benefactor to Dorking. Mary was baptised on 10^th January 1858 at St Mary’s church in Dorking. At the time of the baptism the family lived in Denbies in Dorking.

Edward and Mary married on 23^rd April 1884 at St Barnabas’ church, Ranmore. At the time of their marriage Edward was the Vicar of Okewood and he lived in Ockley. Mary lived in Ranmore.

William had three siblings: Harriet Laura born on 12^th February 1887; Arthur O’Neill born on 14^th July 1899 and Mildred Mary born on 17^th December 1890, all in Dorking.

Born	Dorking, Surrey
Son of	Rev. Canon Edward Arthur and Mary Agnes Cubitt
Regiment	1st London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers)
Number	4644
Date of Death	15th September 1916
Place of Death	Somme, France
Cause of Death	Killed in Action
Age	24
Cemetery	Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval, Somme, France