LEATHERHEAD WAR MEMORIALS - WWI

Private Trayton H Small
13 Bn Royal Fusiliers

Town Memorial P8.R2.C1

Taken, Not Given, Liam Sumption, L&DLHS

Pte
Trayton H Small
13th Royal Fusiliers
Bucquoy
Apr 5 1918 [sic]

N.B. cross-reference with Edward George Murton, Royal Fusiliers, erroneously recorded as dying on 7 May 1915.

The Parish magazine issue of June 1918 reported the deaths of Edward George Murton (inserted killed in action on the same day) mortally wounded on 5 April and Trayton Small and Arthur George Dovey. All were serving in the 1st. Bn. Royal Fusiliers [sic].

Happily Arthur George Dovey had survived as a prisoner of war and was eventually repatriated, as reported in the Parish magazine of February 1919. (1)

The May 1915 issue of the Parish magazine lists Trayton Small but does not attribute any regiment or corps. (1)

The regimental records of the Royal Fusiliers give the following details. His rank was Private, his regimental number was 60938 and his membership of the 13th Battalion is confirmed. He had been previously serving in the East Surreys (regimental no. 60938 [sic]). He had been born in Beckenham and enlisted at Leatherhead (Ashtead). However his date of death is given as 4th April. (2)

The Parish magazine also reports 5th April, as inscribed. However the course of events, as reported in the Battalion's War Diary would suggest that the real date was 5th April. [CWGC says 4th April]

On 4th April a patrol from the Fusiliers encountered similar similar German one in 'no mans land' and captured a soldier from a Guard Grenadier Regiment. The Fusiliers next day where to be against the Prussian Guard – the 2nd. Guard Reserve Division, the scene Bucquoy.

On 5th April between 5.30 a.m. and 6.30 a.m. the Germans opened a heavy bombardment. This was soon extended and covered the whole line of trenches and the communication trenches as well. Spasmodic German attacks were made at 8.45 a.m. and repulsed. However a flanking Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers had retreated, the shelling having done awful damage to them. The Lancashire Fusiliers were reorganised by the Colonel of the Royal Fusiliers.

No.1 Company was over-run and its H.Q. 'blown in'. Men were buried, some were extricated, but others were taken prisoner. By 5 p.m. a sunken road held by No.4 Company became untenable.

However though both battalions of Fusiliers had to fall back, the Lancashire Fusiliers were able to counter-attack at 2.15, to cover the Royal Fusiliers who had commenced to reorganise at 2 p.m.

The line was then held, following the loss of the sunken road, and the next day the battalion was able to reorganise. No figures for casualties are given for what must have been a bitter battle. The fact that three men from just a little English town had become casualties suggests that the losses were heavy.

Notes on sources
1. Parish magazines of St Mary and St Nicholas Leatherhead: May 1915, June 1918 and February 1919.
2. Soldiers Who Died in the Great War (Royal Fusiliers) - Royal Fusiliers Museum, HM Tower of London.
3. File WO95–2538 War Diary of 13th Bn.Royal Fusiliers -  Public Record Office, Richmond, Kew.

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Further research

Private
SMALL, TRAYTON
Service Number 60938
Died 04/04/1918
13th Bn. Royal Fusiliers
Commemorated at ARRAS MEMORIAL
Location: Pas de Calais, France
Cemetery/memorial reference: Bay 3.

He has no known grave.

Surrey Advertiser
Wednesday 19 June 1918

KILLED IN ACTION
Mrs. Small, of 4, Albany Park Cottages. Kingston-road, Leatheread, has received news of the death in action of her second son, Trayton Henry Small, at the age 26. Deceased, according to an extract from letter sent home by his officer, was "assisting to defend the line, and was cheerfully doing his best to exterminate the Boche, who had become suddenly strongly reinforced. We opened terrific fire, and resolved hang on to the last, but the fatal result was that your son received his death wound without a moan or a sound. It was a quick and glorious death for brave soldier.”

Deceased was born in Beckenham, but had lived in Ashtead and Leatherhead for ten years. For five years he was a groom with Mr. Gordon Clark, and served later with Mr. Prentis of Ashtead. For five years before the outbreak of hostilities he was in the East Surrey Territorials, and was mobilised in August, 1914. At the time of his death he was attached to the 13th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers, and had seen 18 months’ service in France.

Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser
Saturday 28 December

1918 ROLL OF HONOUR.
THE YEAR’S RECORD OF THE BRAVE FALLEN.
JUNE
SMALL, PTE. TRAYTON HENRY, Royal Fusiliers, second son of Mrs. Small, 4 Albany Park Cottages, Kingston-road, Leatherhead.

His life

He was born in 1891, Beckenham, Kent and baptised on 28 November 1891 at St. Michael's, Beckenham, Kent. In the 1911 Census he was described as a Groom. He was named after his father's brother.

His father was William Small, baptised 13 October 1850, Clayton, Sussex. He was a son of Thomas Small born about 1826, an Agricultural Labourer from Hurst, Sussex and Harriett Small born about 1836, from Twineham, Sussex. He was a Laundryman later in life.

His mother was Anna Jane Parfitt born about 1857, from Walton on the Hill, Surrey, daughter of  Thomas Parfelt. She was a Laundry Worker later in life.

William was a widower when he and Anna were married on 10 May 1883 at St Mary the Virgin, Shalford, Surrey. The Register reads:

Parish Church of Shalford May 10 1883
William Small, Coachman, Widower, resident Shalford: Father Thomas Small, Labourer
Anna Jane Parfitt, Spinster, resident Dover: Father Thomas Parfitt, Labourer

Trayton's siblings were Thomas William, George, Emma, William, Nellie, Agnes, Harriett F.

Trayton lived at:
1901 Census: not found yet
1911 Census: 5 Progress Villas, Gladstone Rd Ashtead, Surrey

It appears he was single when he died.

After the war

The press report mentions his mother but not his father. Nor was his father present in Trayton's 1911 Census record.

According to the Electoral Registers his mother continued living at 4 Albany Park Cottages, Leatherhead until 1922 and then from 1923 to 1925 was at 147 Kingston Road, Leatherhead.

Trayton Small is also remembered on these memorials
Leatherhead Town Memorial
Leatherhead RBL Roll of Honour, Leatherhead Parish Church
Ladies War Shrine, Leatherhead Parish Church
Leatherhead Company, Church Lads Brigade Tryptich, All Saints Church
Surrey in the Great War

the website editor would like to add further information on this casualty
e.g. a photo of him, and of any recollections within his family

last updated 25 Nov 20