(26) George Edward Cowdrey, G5007 9th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment
 

26th of the Old Boys of St Wilfrid's School, Haywards Heath to lose his life in WW1.

George was born in 1880 in Portslade, Sussex, third of the eight children of James Cowdrey, a carpenter and joiner and his wife Mary Jane. In 1881 they were living in Burgess Hill and by 1891 lived in Boltro Road, Haywards Heath where his mother had a sweet shop. In 1901 they lived in New England Road and George had become a bricklayer.

In 1911 George was still living with his parents, they had moved to 2 Sydney Villas, Sydney Road and George was working as a gardener. When he joined the Army he was working for Messrs Golding who owned the Station Hotel. He was killed in action in Belgium on 14 Feb 1916 and is buried at the Menin Road South Military Cemetery grave I. G. 4.

His effects of £3 8s 9d was paid to his father on 31 Aug 1916 while the War Gratuity of £3 10s went to his mother on 2 October 1919.