Rev John Garratt Bussell 13th March 1882 to June 28th 1915.
JGB had volunteered for service at the end of 1914 having served in the Boar war previously. At that time he was working as an Assistant Master at Marlborough College Wiltshire. At the time of his death the Battalion had only just arrived at the front for the first time.
Capt. Hugh Borolby, who was second in command of Capt. Bussell's Company (A Company 7th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment writes;
" We have been doing a spell in the trenches for four days, holding a bit of the line ourselves. It was frightfully strenuous, and I regret to say calamitous. We went in at night and the next morning Capt. Bussell, my Coy. Commander, was shot through the head, and killed instantaneously.
Three of us officers were walking together, myself in front, Capt. Bussell about half a yard behind me, and a fellow called May about two yards behind Bussell.
I had just gone down a small step, when a bullet whizzed just over my head, and caught the Captain, who was on the step.
It was a mercy that he. must have died absolutely instantaneously, and after he was hit he never spoke again.
We had an awful time, getting him away on a stretcher back to the dressing station.
We buried him in a cemetery the same night, away behind the lines.
Myself, a sergeant, a corporal, and six bearers, formed the party from the Coy, and the General and C.O. also came. The whole ceremony was delightful, simple and impressive.
The whole business was dreadfully sad, as he was absolutely enjoying life, and had only just been saying what a ripping life it was, and what an interesting sector of trench, though the most dangerous.
The men all loved him, and especially his laugh, which kept everyone going. It was just a rotten bit of bad luck, and I can't tell you how much we all miss him ; it has left a gap which all the A Coy. officers feel deeply, especially in the Mess."
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the First World war an art installation of 888,246 ceramic poppies was built at the Tower of London. One for each commonwealth death. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of John's death one of these was taken to Belgium on June 28th 2015.
Tancrez Farm Cemetery near Touquet, Belgium (Ten Miles north of Lille, France): June 28th 2015.
This Romany Wagon (called in "The Cara" within the Bussell Family) was purchased by JGB. It was build in about 1842. It has stayed in the Bussell family and was leased for care by the Gypsy community in 2011 see its Facebook Page. The Picture shows JGB and DB on a caravan trip.
JGB & Dorothea Bussel had three children Priscilla (my Mother) Jan (of Muffin the Mule Fame) and Lawrence who became a doctor.
There were four grandchildren of which three are still with us.