G/4760. Private Jasper Botting

7th. (Service) Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, British Expeditionary Force. Born in Worth, Nr. Crawley, Sussex. A Gardener by Trade. Enlisted in Brighton, Sussex on 7th. December 1914, joining “A” Company, 4th. (Territorial) Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, together with his brother 2391. Private Dennis Botting, as reported in 8th. September issue of the “Mid-Sussex Times”. Transferred to “B” Company, 7th. (Service) Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment in December 1914, the first of the Kitchener “New Army” Battalions to be raised in the County. The Battalion went over to France on 30th. - 31st. May 1915 and trained at Armentieres before going into the line in front of Le Touquet and Houplines. Killed in Action by German Artillery fire on Saturday 31st. July 1915, aged 19. Buried in Houplines Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord, France, Plot III, Row B, Grave 36. Fourth son of Mr. George Botting and Mrs. Mary Ann Botting of 10 London Road, Balcombe, Sussex.

Jasper is also named on The War Memorial in Balcombe Parish Church, together with 38 other Balcombe Servicemen who also Fell during The Great War.

Jasper’s Medal Roll Index Card notes:

K in A. 31-7-15

Theatre of War first served in (1) France

Date of entry therein 31-5-15

Jasper was entitled to The Victory Medal, British War Medal and 1915 Star.

His Memorial Plaque and Scroll and the following personal items were all sent to his mother:- 7 letters, 3 cards, 1 photo, 1 belt, 2 knives, 1 tinder lighter, 1 handkerchief, 1 Bible, 1 pipe.

The Battalion War Diary notes:

31st. July 1915. “Battalion in reserve. At 6pm German 4.5” gun shelled vicinity of Chateau Le Buage . Three men killed and Lt. Richardson & Sergt. Tobutt wounded.”

Jasper’s obituary states that his death was “instantaneous” and quotes from a letter to his parents from his CO, describing him as “one of my best men.”

Jasper is flanked in the Cemetery by his 2 Comrades from the Battalion who were also Killed by the same German Artillery fire:

905. Private Hugh Simmons, buried in Plot III, Row B, Grave 35

132. Private Douglas Crouch, buried in Plot III, Row B, Grave 37

Barry Jenkins