Category: Military
Rank: Sergeant
Regiment or Ship: 5th Bn. Royal Sussex Regiment
Service Number(s): 5/1872
Occupation: Motor Coach Conductor
Date of Birth: 1887
Place of Birth: Hastings, Sussex
Date of Death: 14.11.1916
Place of Death: France
Place of Burial / Memorials:
Martinpuich British Cemetery, E.16. Pas-de-Calais, France.
Address: 30 Salisbury Road, Bexhill on Sea
Photos and newspaper articles
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Family Information
Parents: Edward Lusby Dash (1851-1939) and Jane Davina Dash, nee Hopkins, (1847-1929).
Siblings: Frederick Thomas (1876-1907) and Stanley (1890-1950).
John married Snowdrop Shoesmith in 1909 in Hastings. They had two children – John Edward (1910-1973) and Violet Maude Lavina (1913-1920).
The following report of Violet’s death appeared in a local Bexhill newspaper and reads:-
“Little Girl’s Death
The death of Violet Maude Lavina Dash, a little girl seven years of age, the daughter of Mrs Dash, of Edinburgh-road, occurred on Tuesday at the Isolation Hospital. Her mother was with her on Monday night and up to within a short time of her death. The child had recovered from an attack of diphtheria, but death ensued through heart weakness following her illness. An older boy and a younger girl survive. The father was a sergeant of the Royal Sussex Regiment, and was killed in the War. The little girl attended St. Peter’s Day and Sunday Schools, and was a bright child enjoying good health until her illness. The funeral will take place at Bexhill Cemetery Chapel today (Saturday) at 11.30am.”
NB The researcher cannot trace the younger girl mentioned in this report.
In 1911 John, Snowdrop, and John Edward were living at 30 Salisbury Road.
First World War Experience
All that is known of John’s war service, apart from his death, is that he enlisted on 18th February 1915 and was awarded the Victory Medal, the British War Medal, and the 15 Star.