Brigadier-General Edmund William Costello, CMG, CVO, DSO (7 August 1873 – 7 June 1949) was a British Indian Army officer and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Costello was born in Sheikhbudia on the North-West Frontier of India, the son of a colonel in the Indian Medical Service. He was educated in England at Beaumont College, Stonyhurst College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. In 1892 he was commissioned into the West Yorkshire Regiment, but transferred to the Indian Army in 1894 and was posted to the 22nd Punjab Infantry.
He was 23 years old, and attached to Punjab Infantry during the Malakand Frontier War, when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. Continue reading “Costello, Brigadier-General Edmund William CMG, CVO, DSO (7 August 1873 – 7 June 1949)”
Rowden, Diana
Diana Hope Rowden (31 January 1915 – 6 July 1944) served in the Womens Auxiliary Air Force and was an agent for the United Kingdom‘s clandestine Special Operations Executive (SOE) during World War II. Rowden was a member of SOE’s Acrobat circuit in occupied France where she operated as a courier until arrested by the Gestapo. She was subsequently executed at the Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp. Continue reading “Rowden, Diana”
Kempson, Neil
Mr Neil Patrick Kempson
14th June 1960 – 2nd September 2020
Neil was born in Oxford and moved to Crowborough during childhood , settling in Hadlow Down in the late 1980’s. He was an integral part of village life , working for many years at St Marks Primary School, a long standing Barman at the New Inn ,and a regular contributor to village events through his catering skills and Hog Roasts. He was also a much loved part of the Mayfield community working as Teaching Assistant & Site Manager of Mayfield Primary School .
Biographies
Biographies of notable village residents past and present will be added to these pages as they are acquired by the Trust.
If you can offer an existing biography or have written one or can offer additional information we will be pleased to add it to the pages.