Private 27185 John Sydney Hoath, of the 2nd Battalion Suffolk Regiment, was the son of John and Elizabeth Hoath.

The 1901 census records him living with his grandparents, Streaters, at 2 Stonehouse Cottages, Buxted. James Streater, aged 73 at Rotherfield, was an “ordinary farm worker”, Harriet Streater, aged 71, has no occupation listed and was born at Rotherfield, as was John Hoath, senior, aged 42, who was also an “ordinary agricultural labourer”; wife Elizabeth, aged 26, was born at Fletching. Children recorded, both born at Buxted, were John, aged 4, and Jesse Charles, aged1.

In 1911, the family were living on their own at Stonehall Cottages. John, aged 52, was now a roadman, Elizabeth, aged 36. John Sydney was aged 14, Jesse Charles, was aged 11, and, new to the family, Alice Harriet, was aged 6. John enlisted at Chichester.

John was killed in action on the 11th of May 1917, aged 20, and is buried at Feuchy Chapel British Cemetery, Wancourt. 

He is remembered in High Hurstwood churchyard, Sussex on the headstone of grandparents Harriet, who died on the 6th of August, 1908, aged 72, and John, who died on the 31st of March, 1918, aged 81.

[The headstone also mentions another grandson, Rifleman 99400 Charles Edward Ernest Brown of the 1/5th Battalion Kings (Liverpool Regiment); died on the 22nd of October 1918, at 21 Casualty Clearing Station, of wounds received in action at Lille the previous day, and is buried at Estaires Communal Cemetery the last part of the headstone transcription reads "….who gave their young lives in France for loyalty freedom and victory, inscribed by their loving parents JEH and EAB”]