VIDEO: Roll of honour restored to village

The watercolour was once fixed to the wall of the Assembly Rooms in Storrington’s High Street, and photos show it was later joined by two additional lists hung either side. These remain lost.

Museum secretary Patricia Wilks said the painting had been given the the museum on permanent loan by Jeremy Knight, curator of Horsham Museum.

“It was in a very fragile condition and has been retored, although you can still see the damage that the years have caused,” she said.

It was painted by Paul Hardy, a wellknown artist who lived in Church Street, and also made suits of armour, including the miniature suits in Queen Mary’s dolls house which lives in Buckingham Palace.

Mrs Wilks said: “The pictures we have show that when it was first put up in 1917 some names were there but others must have been added later.

“There was a grand celebration when all the soldiers came home in 1919, and pictures taken then show two other parts added alongside it.

“We don’t know what happened to these, but we’re hoping someone out there has information and can help us build up a clearer picture of the events.”

It is not known when the rolls were taken down, or what happened to them in the intervening years. It is believed information was lost when the old Chanctonbury Rural District Council was dissolved.

The roll of honour was unveiled at Storrington Museum, in School Lane, by Lady Emma Barnard on Sunday. It will remain on display there, and will form the centrepiece of an exhibiton planned for 2014 to commemorate the centenary of the war.

To find out more or share your information about the roll of honour, visit the museum, open 10am-4pm Wednedays, Saturdays and 10am-1pm Sundays. Tel 01903 740188.