Sergeant, Acting Warrant Officer, 9744, Lancelot Leopold Watson, 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment was born at High Hurstwood, where he was baptised on the 30th of November, 1894, the son of Lambert and Harriet Watson of Carrot’s Farm, High Hurstwood.

The 1911 census records that he was a labourer living with his brother, 22 year old Leslie Watson, a gardener, at the home of their elder brother, 30 year old Bertram, also a farm labourer. Bertram’s wife, Alice, aged 25, was born in London and the couple had been married for two years and had one child, two year old Thelma. Apart from Alice, the family were all born at Buxted.

Lancelot enlisted into the 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment at Uckfield on the 15th August 1911. Upon enlistment, he was employed as a labourer and was serving in the 5th (Cinque Ports) Battalion, (Territorial Force), Royal Sussex Regiment. His medical record states that he was 5ft 6ins tall. He was awarded a Good Conduct Badge on the 15th August 1913. His conduct was confirmed on the 5th January 1914 when he was described in his record as “an intelligent willing man, steady and clean….” Later in his service he did receive two severe reprimands, which seem to be aberrations.

He disembarked in France on the 12th of August 1914. On the 29th, he was appointed Temporary Captain, Acting C.S.M 18th March, 1915; reverted to Temporary Sergeant on the 15th of September and promoted to full Sergeant on the 26th of January 1916 and, at some date, to Acting Warrant Officer.

On the 17th of August, 1916, a very misty day, the battalion was in positions on the Somme, near the village of Fricourt when a German counter attack developed using flame throwers and hand grenades, accompanied by a fierce and heavy bombardment. 2nd Lieutenant Wright, the sole remaining officer and a small number of men held on to the trench in the face of the attack, until relieved by the 1st Northampton.

Thirty men of the 2nd Battalion were killed and amongst the many wounded was Lancelot Watson, who received gunshot wounds to his head, right arm, right buttock and bladder. He was evacuated back to the UK and admitted to the Victoria Hospital, Netley where he passed away on the 6th of September 1916.

Under the headline “Young Sergeant Buried at Hurstwood”, The Sussex Agricultural Express for Friday 15 September 1916, records that…..

'We regret to announce the death from wounds of Sergeant Lancelot Leopold Watson, the 5th son of Mr Lambert Watson, of the Bungalow, Parkhurst, Buxted. He joined the Royal Sussex Regiment 5 years ago, when the battalion was stationed at the Curragh Camp in Ireland. He subsequently came to Woking with the Regiment, and was soon a prominent member of the Regimental cricket and football teams. He went out as a Lance Corporal with the Regiment on the outbreak of war and was present at the famous retreat from Mons. After the Battle of the Marne he was promoted to Corporal in the field for detecting some men and women spies at a farm. His next great day was when they charged the Prussian Guard, and then came the battle of the Brickfields at La Bassee, where the Royal Sussex held the Keep, and where after the battle he was promoted to Sergeant.

He went through the battle of Loos unscathed, although an explosive bullet exploded under him and blew to pieces a button on his coat. He was very seriously wounded in the great push on the 16th of August by a bomb, and received 18 wounds. The doctors gave hope of his recovery, but he passed away at Netley on the 6th of September, at the age of 23, having joined the Army at the age of 18. He was a very promising N.C.O. and held in high esteem by his officers. He was offered a commission about a year ago, but refused it.

His body was brought home to High Hurst Wood and buried with full Military honours, and amid many manifestations of sorrow, on Saturday, the firing party and trumpeter being supplied by the 13th Reserve Cavalry Brigade at Maresfield Park. The coffin was covered with the Union Jack and on it was a sword and helmet, and he was borne to his last resting place by 6 Sergeants. The Rev Thomas Constable officiated, and the Hymn " Fight the good fight " was sung at the graveside, the vicar saying a few touching words about this young hero. Deceased was well known in the district, and a great number of people came to pay him a last respect.'

He is remembered on the Buxted War Memorial. In October 1919, his family received the 1914/15 Star and then, in 1922 received the War Medal and the Victory Medal.