Readers' letters about the Duke of York's reminded me of a little-known fact.
The commissionaire at "the Dukes" from 1925 to 1939 was a First World War hero. His name was Sergeant Ernest Edward Thomas and he lived in Stanley Road, a few doors from the Dukes.
Sgt Thomas had been a cavalry man serving in the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards. On the August 22, at 6.30am in a Belgian village of Casteau, the first shot of the war was fired by Thomas.
After giving chase on horseback, he shot and wounded an officer of the German Uhlams regiment. For this he was later awarded the Military Cross.
My grandfather was a friend of his and served with Sergeant Thomas in the 4th RI Guards for more than 20 years and it was he who made the arrangements for Sgt Thomas's "gun carriage" funeral, attended by Army top brass, including General Mullens.
A firing party from Aldershot marched in front of the carriage to St Martins Church, in Lewes Road, for the service and the Royal Artillery from Preston Barracks escorted the coffin up to the Brighton and Preston Cemetery.
He had a full military burial and The Last Post was played.
-Dave Burt, Patcham
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